Senior Test Engineer

Ventus Executive Solutions is a dynamic small business at the forefront of innovation and consulting. We believe our employees’ success is integral to our mission, which is why we prioritize work-life balance, personal development, and fostering a sense of belonging. In addition to providing opportunities to thrive, we offer competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits to attract and retain top talent ready to make a meaningful impact. As part of the Ventus Solutions team, you’ll collaborate with government and industry leaders to develop constructive architecture models that inform decision-making at the highest levels of the Department of Defense. As an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) we value curiosity, collaboration, and excellence, and we’re committed to supporting your professional growth through mentorship, career development, and a culture of continuous learning. Join a team where your ideas matter, your expertise drives impact, and your work advances the mission. 

Ventus Executive Solutions is seeking a skilled Senior Test Engineer to support an innovative program office. You will provide senior technical expertise in the planning, integration, execution, and evaluation of complex test programs for advanced weapons systems. This position is intended for a seasoned defense professional with extensive experience leading Test & Evaluation efforts, developing and executing test strategies, integrating test programs into overarching test plans, and evaluating system performance against operational and technical requirements. Join our innovative team and contribute to impactful national security initiatives. 

Work Location: Washington, DC

Travel: 25%

Clearance: Secret required, must be able to obtain a Top Secret clearance

Required Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, or a related technical discipline and 11+ years of relevant defense engineering and Test & Evaluation experience.
• Master's degree in engineering, science, or a related technical discipline and 10+ years relevant defense engineering and Test & Evaluation experience. 
• Extensive experience leading or supporting complex weapons, combat systems, missile, or advanced defense system testing.
• Demonstrated experience developing, integrating, and executing comprehensive Test & Evaluation strategies, plans, and procedures.
• Experience integrating system-level test programs into overarching Test & Evaluation Master Plans (TEMPs) or equivalent test frameworks.
• Experience planning and executing developmental and/or operational testing, including complex or live-fire test events.
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate system performance, technical adequacy, requirements compliance, and operational effectiveness.
• Experience with test scenario development, modeling and analysis, event certification, test execution, and post-test assessment/reporting.
• Strong systems engineering background, including requirements development, systems integration, technical assessments, risk analysis, and architecture evaluation.
• Experience working with senior government, military, program office, and industry stakeholders.
• Ability to independently lead complex technical efforts and provide credible technical recommendations to senior leadership.

Desired Experience: 

• Direct experience supporting hypersonic weapons, missile systems, strategic weapons, or other advanced weapons technologies.
• Experience with weapons control, fire control, guidance, navigation, targeting, lethality, survivability, or combat systems.
• Experience supporting Navy, DoD, or major defense test organizations.
• Experience working within a DoD Program Office environment, supporting acquisition lifecycle activities, systems engineering reviews (SETRs), TEMP development, and Test & Evaluation efforts.
• Experience leading live-fire testing, including scenario development, modeling and analysis, event certification, execution, and post-event reporting.
• Experience assessing weapons-system performance across integrated kill chains or mission threads.
• Prior experience as a Test Director, T&E Lead, Chief Engineer, Systems Engineering Lead, Program Manager, Deputy Program Manager, or equivalent senior technical leadership position.
• Advanced degree in engineering, systems engineering, systems management, or a related technical field.
• Demonstrated experience briefing Flag Officers, SES-level leadership, PEOs, PMs, or senior DoD decision-makers.
• Experience mentoring and providing technical direction to engineering and test personnel.

The expected salary range for this position is $140,000 - $190,000. This range represents a good-faith estimate and is not a guarantee; final compensation is determined by factors such as experience, qualifications, and government contract labor rate requirements and may fall outside the stated range. In addition to base pay, Ventus offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes healthcare benefits (medical, dental, and vision), ESOP participation, retirement plans, and generous paid time off.