Test Director

Readiness Delivered. Kratos engineers and deploys technology and systems that move national security forward, with the cost, speed, and reliability that make readiness certain. We are a trusted partneridriven by doing the right thing and achieving maximum success for our customers, our partners and ourselves.

Kratos is seeking a highly motivated candidate as a Test Director for a large space ground system program. The Test Director supports the program by planning, coordinating, and executing Developmental Test (DT) and Operational Test (OT) activities for satellite communications and space-ground mission systems. This role leads system integration, design verification testing and operational testing for satellite ground stations and satellite operations centers, and supports integration and end-to-end testing between the ground segment and the satellite constellation to assess mission effectiveness and suitability. The Test Director serves as the focal point for test execution, ensuring test activities are conducted in accordance with approved test strategies, Test and Evaluation Master Plans (TEMPs), and USG test policy.

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

Test Planning & DT/OT Strategy

• Develop and maintain DT and OT test strategies, plans, procedures, and schedules.
• Lead the development and execution of Test and Evaluation Master Plans (TEMPs).
• Plan and lead design verification testing to verify requirements compliance, performance, and interface functionality.
• Oversee testing of SATCOM and space mission subsystems including RF, antennas, modems, baseband processing, networks, mission planning, and control systems.
• Plan and support operational testing to evaluate mission effectiveness, operational suitability, and readiness for operational use.
• Support test readiness reviews (TRRs) and operational assessments.

Test Execution & Direction

• Serve as the Test Director during DT and OT events, directing real-time test conduct for satellite ground stations and satellite operations centers.
• Coordinate test execution across engineering, operations, cybersecurity, and program teams.
• Exercise test control authority including go/no-go decisions, configuration management enforcement, and test safety.
• Lead anomaly identification, resolution, and re-test planning during and following test events.

Ground Segment & Constellation Integration

• Direct and support integration testing between ground segment systems and the satellite constellation.
• Lead end-to-end DT/OT test events validating command and control, telemetry, tracking, mission data, and network interfaces.
• Support on-orbit test, satellite checkout, constellation commissioning, and operational rehearsals.
• Ensure interoperability and mission thread validation across space, ground, and network segments.

Coordination & Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as the primary test execution interface with program management, systems engineering, operations units, and government stakeholders.
• Coordinate with USG test organizations, operational units, and external partners as required.
• Brief test objectives, risks, status, and results to program leadership and USG decision-makers.

Documentation & Reporting

• Ensure accurate documentation of DT/OT results, deficiencies, and corrective actions.
• Lead preparation of test reports, deficiency reports, and operational assessments.
• Track findings to closure and support regression and follow-on testing.

Position is contingent upon successful contract award.

• Experience leading or directing DT and/or OT activities for space or SATCOM systems
• Strong understanding of space system architectures, satellite operations, and ground segment systems including Mission/Satellite Operations Centers and Ground Entry Points
• Familiarity with DoD and USSF test and evaluation processes
• Ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams during complex, time-sensitive test events
• Proven ability to write test plans, maintain traceability to requirements, define acceptance criteria, and craft test approaches
• Demonstrated success completing a test campaign
• Leadership of a geographically dispersed testing event
• Awareness of cybersecurity accreditation procedures
• Experience with contract execution, including control account, schedule, and risk management expertise
• Experience utilizing requirements management applications such as DOORS, Jama, etc.
• Sense of ownership, urgency, and drive to accomplish results
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including executive-level briefings
• BS in STEM degree with 7+ years of experience in test engineering roles
• Current Secret Clearance with the ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience supporting US Space Force acquisition programs
• Familiarity with TEMPs, requirements traceability matrices, and verification cross-reference matrices
• Familiarity with modern IT infrastructure capabilities to include virtualization, cloud deployment and containerization and their hardware platforms
• Experience with on-orbit testing, satellite checkout, or constellation operations
• Prior experience as a Test Director, Test Conductor, or Lead Systems Engineer
• Experience with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and/or behavior driven development concepts (testing based on activity diagrams and use cases)
• Sharp analytical abilities and capable of working effectively in a dynamic environment
• Familiarity with space ground system design and verification processes to include requirements development, validation and verification for conceptual, preliminary, and detailed design
• Ability to effectively manage a geographically dispersed team

Position is contingent upon successful contract award.

#LI-Onsite

The grade-based pay range for this job is listed below. Individual salaries within that range are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge, and skills.

Competitive salary based on experience and education
Salary Range: $135,000-$180,000

Kratos is valued for our ability to design and deliver leading edge, resilient solutions for aerospace communication, control, awareness and mission success across a continuum of offeringsifrom commercial to tailored custom solutions and integrated programs. Customers trust us to stay relevant and know we are in it for the long-haul. We bring both the capability and confidence that our customers value and depend on. And we always deliver.

This posting will close within 90 days from the Posting Date.