Autonomy Test/ Integration Engineer

Summary

AM Pierce & Associates and its subsidiary Applied Technologies Group provide engineering, research, cyber, C5ISR, and program and acquisition management services to government and industry clients. The company is seeking a Journeyman Autonomy Test & Integration Engineer to develop, integrate, and maintain independent test frameworks, simulation capabilities, test harnesses, automation, instrumentation, and analysis tools for evaluating third-party autonomy software and mission performance.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, integrate, and maintain third-party autonomy test frameworks and supporting software
• Analyze vendor autonomy architectures, software, interfaces, data models, decision/execution mechanisms, and feedback paths to determine appropriate integration and test approaches
• Develop adapters, test harnesses, simulation interfaces, instrumentation, test automation, data collection, analysis, visualization, and supporting tools
• Adapt the test framework to accommodate different autonomy architectures, interfaces, execution models, and system configurations
• Develop test strategies that evaluate autonomous behavior and mission performance, not simply interface or message compliance
• Create repeatable scenarios and test stimuli involving changing mission conditions, constraints, threats, failures, degraded capabilities, resource limitations, and other operational events
• Instrument and analyze autonomy decisions, plans, behaviors, commands, state transitions, feedback, and mission outcomes
• Determine whether observed anomalies originate in the autonomy implementation, integration, simulation, configuration, or test infrastructure
• Integrate autonomy software with vehicle models, mission systems, simulations, communications infrastructure, and external services
• Support software-in-the-loop, hardware-in-the-loop, distributed simulation, demonstrations, experimentation, and formal test events
• Document test architecture, procedures, assumptions, results, limitations, and technical findings

Skills

• **Active DoD Secret Clearance, required.**
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, Systems Engineering, or related technical discipline
• 3-8 years of relevant engineering experience, or equivalent demonstrated capability
• Candidates should have practical experience developing, integrating, extending, debugging, or rigorously testing autonomous system software and understand the fundamental autonomy processing chain: Mission / Task Inputs → Operational State → Planning / Decision → Execution → System Command → System Response → Observation / Feedback → Updated State
• Relevant experience may include mission autonomy, planning and replanning, decision-making, behavior execution, world models, state management, vehicle control interfaces, mission systems, multi-agent coordination, resource management, runtime feedback, or failure recovery
• The engineer must be capable of examining unfamiliar autonomy implementation and determining what must be stimulated, controlled, observed, measured, and evaluated to establish whether the autonomy is operating correctly
• Hands-on experience implementing, integrating, debugging, or testing autonomy software
• Demonstrated understanding of the architecture and operation of at least one autonomy system or significant autonomy subsystem
• Strong software development skills, preferably C++, with Python or similar languages for test automation, simulation, and analysis
• Experience with software integration, automated testing, test harnesses, simulation, instrumentation, or engineering support tools
• Experience debugging complex software and system-integration problems using logs, telemetry, runtime traces, or similar evidence
• Linux development and Git/configuration-management experience
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and technical communication skills
• On some occasions, the employee may be required to drive to offices or buildings near the work site. In rare occasions, travel may be required
• * Experience with multiple autonomy architectures; mission autonomy; robotics or uncrewed systems; AI/planning systems; multi-agent autonomy; aerospace systems; modeling and simulation; SIL/HIL testing; real-time or embedded software; vehicle dynamics; JSBSim, FlightGear, JSE/JTB, AFSIM, or similar environments; DDS/UDP/distributed communications; tactical or mission systems; MOSA; and government or defense software development

Qualifications

Must Haves

• **Active DoD Secret Clearance, required.**
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, Systems Engineering, or related technical discipline
• 3-8 years of relevant engineering experience, or equivalent demonstrated capability
• Candidates should have practical experience developing, integrating, extending, debugging, or rigorously testing autonomous system software and understand the fundamental autonomy processing chain: Mission / Task Inputs → Operational State → Planning / Decision → Execution → System Command → System Response → Observation / Feedback → Updated State
• Relevant experience may include mission autonomy, planning and replanning, decision-making, behavior execution, world models, state management, vehicle control interfaces, mission systems, multi-agent coordination, resource management, runtime feedback, or failure recovery
• The engineer must be capable of examining unfamiliar autonomy implementation and determining what must be stimulated, controlled, observed, measured, and evaluated to establish whether the autonomy is operating correctly
• Hands-on experience implementing, integrating, debugging, or testing autonomy software
• Demonstrated understanding of the architecture and operation of at least one autonomy system or significant autonomy subsystem
• Strong software development skills, preferably C++, with Python or similar languages for test automation, simulation, and analysis
• Experience with software integration, automated testing, test harnesses, simulation, instrumentation, or engineering support tools
• Experience debugging complex software and system-integration problems using logs, telemetry, runtime traces, or similar evidence
• Linux development and Git/configuration-management experience
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and technical communication skills
• On some occasions, the employee may be required to drive to offices or buildings near the work site. In rare occasions, travel may be required

Nice to Haves

• * Experience with multiple autonomy architectures; mission autonomy; robotics or uncrewed systems; AI/planning systems; multi-agent autonomy; aerospace systems; modeling and simulation; SIL/HIL testing; real-time or embedded software; vehicle dynamics; JSBSim, FlightGear, JSE/JTB, AFSIM, or similar environments; DDS/UDP/distributed communications; tactical or mission systems; MOSA; and government or defense software development

Benefits

• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Life and Accidental Death & Disability Coverage
• Traditional 401(k) and ROTH 401(k) Retirement Plans
• Paid Time Off and Holidays
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Incentive Programs, Awards and Recognition
• Employee Assistance Program
• Will Preparation
• Identity Theft Protection & Legal Support
• Referral Program
• Voluntary Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity Coverage
• Pet Insurance
• Norton Life Lock
• HSA and FSA plans
• Remote work environment