Experimental Test Pilot Jobs Near Me

Battelle delivers when others can't. We conduct research and development, manage national laboratories, design and manufacture products and deliver critical services for our clients-whether they are a multi-national corporation, a small start-up or a government agency.
We recognize and appreciate the value and contributions of individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences and welcome all qualified individuals to apply.
Job Summary
We are seeking a Senior Test Engineer to support the development, integration, test, and evaluation of complex technical capabilities for government and mission-focused customers. This role validates system performance, interoperability, operational suitability, and mission relevance across hardware, software, communications, sensor, network, and data systems in lab, field, and distributed environments.
The ideal candidate has hands-on test engineering experience in multidisciplinary environments and can translate requirements into test plans, test procedures, data collection methods, analysis outputs, and engineering recommendations. This role is well suited for an engineer who enjoys system integration, experimentation, technical analysis, and customer-facing delivery.
This role requires domestic and international travel, including occasional multi-day or weeklong trips, to support customer meetings, site visits, technical reviews, capability assessments, and key program activities. Travel may be more frequent during startup phases or critical delivery periods.
What Will Help You Succeed

• System level thinking with the ability to connect technical details to operational outcomes.
• Strong attention to detail when executing tests, reviewing data, documenting results, and preparing deliverables.
• Ability to balance hands-on technical execution with structured planning, documentation, and customer communication.
• Comfort working in fast-paced, multidisciplinary environments with evolving priorities, field constraints, or test-event deadlines.
• Collaborative, proactive approach to identifying integration issues, communicating risks, and driving practical solutions.

Responsibilities
Test Planning and Execution

• Develop and execute test plans, procedures, cases, and scenarios for complex systems operating across physical, digital, and networked environments.
• Support prototype, pilot, experimentation, developmental, and operational test events in lab, field, and distributed settings.
• Define test objectives, success criteria, instrumentation needs, data collection methods, and pass/fail measures for integrated systems.
• Verify hardware, software, communications, sensor, network, and data system performance against technical and operational requirements.
• Conduct pre-test planning, test execution, troubleshooting, post-test analysis, and lessons-learned capture.

Systems Integration and Interoperability Testing

• Plan and support integration and interoperability testing across computing systems, networks, data flows, sensors, effectors, and related infrastructure.
• Evaluate interfaces, system behavior, latency, data transport, network performance, and operational compatibility against defined requirements.
• Work with software, hardware, systems, cybersecurity, operations, and program teams to identify, track, and resolve integration or performance issues.
• Support live, virtual, constructive, and distributed test environments when required by the program.
• Ensure assigned test activities follow cybersecurity, safety, compliance, quality, and customer requirements.

Data Analysis and Technical Reporting

• Compile, evaluate, and interpret design, test, telemetry, sensor, network, and system performance data.
• Identify trends, anomalies, root causes, performance limitations, and recommended corrective actions from technical data.
• Prepare test reports, technical summaries, briefings, and customer-ready presentations that communicate results and recommendations.
• Maintain test records, configuration details, data artifacts, and technical documentation in accordance with project and quality requirements.
• Conduct quality control reviews of technical data, test results, reports, and supporting documentation before release or delivery.

Technical Project Support

• Lead small technical projects or defined phases of larger projects while managing assigned scope, schedule, budget, and deliverables.
• Develop technical specifications, engineering documentation, test documentation, and status materials for assigned systems or test activities.
• Communicate with internal and external stakeholders on technical progress, risks, schedule impacts, deliverables, and quality expectations.
• Support proposal efforts by contributing technical content, estimates, assumptions, or solution descriptions as needed.
• Contribute to internal research and development and technical business development activities under program or technical leadership.
• Mentor lower-level staff by sharing technical guidance, test practices, documentation expectations, and review feedback.

Key Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, systems engineering, robotics, aerospace engineering, physical science, or a related technical field with 5+ years of related experience; or Master's degree in a related technical field with 2+ years of related experience; or PhD in a related technical field; or Equivalent combination of education and related experience.
• Depending on contract or business need, this role may require up to 7 years of related experience and/or specialized technical skill sets.
• Experience supporting test engineering, systems integration, verification and validation, technical evaluation, or operational test activities for complex systems.
• Experience developing and executing test plans, procedures, test cases, data collection methods, or test reports.
• Experience analyzing technical, design, test, or performance data to support engineering conclusions and recommendations.
• Experience producing technical documentation, including plans, procedures, reports, assessments, briefings, or customer-facing summaries.
• Ability to collaborate across software, hardware, systems, cybersecurity, operations, program, and customer teams.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain technical findings and recommendations clearly.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally as required for meetings, site assessments, technical reviews, and key program activities.
• Active security clearance, or ability to obtain and maintain one, as required by the program.
• Ability to satisfy contract-specific security, access, compliance, and export-related requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in defense, national security, test and evaluation, experimentation, operational integration, or mission-focused engineering environments.
• Experience testing integrated hardware/software systems, communications systems, sensors, data systems, networked platforms, or distributed systems.
• Familiarity with systems engineering practices, requirements traceability, interface verification, configuration management, and technical risk tracking.
• Familiarity with cybersecurity requirements, secure communications, controlled environments, restricted environments, or compliance-driven testing.
• Experience with scripting, automation, simulation, telemetry analysis, data visualization, instrumentation, or distributed test infrastructure.
• Experience contributing to customer-facing technical presentations, proposal content, estimates, or solution development.

Compensation Data
Battelle is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. The base compensation range for this role is $105,600 - $195,300, in addition to eligibility for an annual short term incentive compensation target and comprehensive benefits package. A candidate's salary is determined by various factors, including but not limited to education, relevant work experience, skills, and certifications. Salary ranges may vary based on geographic location and market conditions.
Benefits: Live an Extraordinary Life
We care about your well-being, not just on the job. Battelle offers comprehensive and competitive benefits to help you live your best life.

• Balance life through a compressed work schedule: Most of our team follows a flexible, compressed work schedule that allows for every other Friday off-giving you a dedicated day to accomplish things in your personal life without using vacation time.
• Enjoy enhanced work flexibility, including a hybrid arrangement: You have options for where and when you work. Our Together with Flexibility model allows you to work 60% in-office and 40% remote, with Monday and Tuesday as common in-office days, dependent on team and position needs .
• Take time to recharge: You get paid time off to support work-life balance and keep motivated.
• Prioritize wellness: Stay healthy with medical, dental, and vision coverage with wellness incentives and benefits plus a variety of optional supplemental benefits.
• Better together: Coverage for partners, gender-affirming care and health support, and family formation support.
• Build your financial future: Build financial stability with an industry-leading 401(k) retirement savings plan. For most employees, we put in 5 percent whether you contribute or not, and match your contributions on top of that.
• Advance your education: Tuition assistance is available to pursue higher education.

A Work Environment Where You Succeed
For brilliant minds in science, technology, engineering and business operations, Battelle is the place to do the greatest good by solving humanity's most pressing challenges and creating a safer, healthier and more secure world.
You will have the opportunity to thrive in a culture that inspires you to:

• Apply your talent to challenging and meaningful projects
• Receive select funding to pursue ideas in scientific and technological discovery
• Partner with world-class experts in a collaborative environment
• Nurture and develop the next generation of scientific leaders
• Give back to and improve our communities

Vaccinations & Safety Protocols
Battelle may require employees, based on job duties, work location, and/or its clients' requirements to follow certain safety protocols and to be vaccinated against a variety of viruses, bacteria, and diseases as a condition of employment and continued employment and to provide documentation that they are fully vaccinated. If applicable, Battelle will provide reasonable accommodations based on a qualified disability or medical condition through the Americans with Disabilities Act or the Rehabilitation Act or for a sincerely held religious belief under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (and related state laws).
Battelle is an equal opportunity employer. We provide employment and opportunities for advancement, compensation, training, and growth according to individual merit, without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, age, genetic information, disability, veteran-status veteran or military status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable Federal, state, or local law. Our goal is for each staff member to have the opportunity to grow to the limits of their abilities and to achieve personal and organizational objectives. We will support positive programs for equal treatment of all staff and full utilization of all qualified employees at all levels within Battelle.
The above statements are intended to describe the nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, activities and skills required of staff members. No statement herein is intended to imply any authorities to commit Battelle unless special written permission is granted by Battelle's Legal Department.
For more information about our other openings, please visit www.battelle.org/careers