Early Career Test Operations Engineer

Overview

Job Title: Early Career Test Operations Engineer (Multiple Openings)

Location: Arnold AFB, TN

Function/Branch: Engineering / Multiple Areas

Directorate: Test Operations

Position Type: Regular, Full-Time

Pay Type: Exempt    

Grade: L06 (OA0614) - L07 (OA0713)

Salary Range: LO6: $80,000 - $98,000; L07: $87,000 -$113,000

Overview

Beyond New Horizons, LLC (BNH) has multiple openings for Test Operations Engineer supporting the Test Operations and Sustainment contract at Arnold Engineering Development Complex at Arnold Air Force Base, TN. The Test Operations Engineers will be working as members of an integrated team responsible for operating and maintaining ground test facilities in support of the United States Air Force Test Operations and Sustainment efforts.

Open to internal and external candidates.

Job Summary

Note: This posting is specifically for those with less than 5 years of post-degree engineering experience.

We are seeking dynamic Mechanical Engineers to join our multi-disciplinary team as "quarterbacks" in our control rooms, directly driving national defense test execution. In this pivotal role, you will provide critical technical direction for the safe integration and reliable operation of customer test articles within the Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC). You will apply practical principles of mechanics, thermodynamics, and heat transfer to author risk assessments, precise test plans, and clear work instructions. Collaboration is key, as you will interface daily with specialized engineering teams, data analysts, and skilled craft personnel to ensure seamless facility operations. Additionally, you will serve as a system engineer overseeing the installation, troubleshooting, and long-term sustainment of complex test cell equipment, including model positioning and thrust measurement systems.

This position requires flexible shift work to support varying mission-driven test schedules.

Job Duties:

Core Responsibilities (Under Senior Engineering Mentorship)

• Test Bed Operations: Operate advanced test bed systems and direct hands-on system checkouts and active testing sequences.
• System Engineering & Design: Serve as the dedicated system engineer for assigned facility equipment, executing minor design and analysis tasks to ensure optimal performance.
• Operational Planning: Develop critical test operational requirements—such as test period directives and detailed run programs—while verifying that test article mounts are structurally sound.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner directly in the test control room with a diverse team of multi-disciplinary engineers, physicists, and skilled craft technicians to seamlessly operate facility systems.
• Rapid Incident Response: Master complex systems to rapidly respond to alarms and alerts in fast-paced, high-pressure situations, ensuring the absolute safety of the crew, facility, and test article.
• Live Troubleshooting: Diagnose system malfunctions during active testing, leading immediate troubleshooting efforts, directing corrective maintenance, or escalating to specialized engineers when necessary.
• Craft Workforce Leadership: Coordinate with superintendents, supervisors, and planners to provide technical leadership to the craft workforce for work orders, Lock-Out/Tag-Out (LOTO) procedures, and critical lifts.
• Comprehensive Documentation: Ensure meticulous reporting and record-keeping, including Ops Center updates, test resumes, operating logs, and unplanned event reports.
• Facility Calibration: Perform essential facility characterizations and calibrations, continuously monitoring facility performance to maintain accurate system capability maps and envelopes.
• Operational Flexibility: Support dynamic mission requirements by maintaining the flexibility to work extra hours or off-shift testing schedules.

• It is a condition of employment to wear company issued PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) in accordance with supervisory direction and company policy.
• Perform other related duties as required

Basic Qualifications:

• BS degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering from an accredited college or university
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance and the AEDC local area network
• Due to Air Force Security requirements, U.S. Citizenship is required for employment at AEDC

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior intern or co-op experience
• Practical application of technical knowledge of mechanical engineering systems, applications of engineering methods and construction methods and materials, and application of computer aided engineering (CAE)/computer aided design (CAD) tools to engineering problems
• Multi-disciplinary knowledge or experience (electrical engineering, mechatronics, control systems, etc.) is a plus.
• Ability to work in a dynamic environment with flexibility to accomplish mission objectives
• Strong communication skills (including verbal and written)
• Demonstrated experience successfully building relationships with team across engineering and craft workforce
• Strong organizational skills to track and facilitate progress on projects
• Demonstrated proactiveness and initiative to drive to results
• Exhibits strong level of technical curiosity and desire to seek understanding
• Participates in and fosters a work environment that is based upon openness, trust, communication, teamwork, empowerment, innovation, and satisfaction.
• Active Department of Defense Secret Security Clearance

What We Offer

• Competitive salaries
• Continuing education assistance
• Multiple healthcare benefits packages
• 401K with employer matching
• Paid time off (PTO) along with a federally recognized holiday schedule

Who We Are

Beyond New Horizons (BNH) is a fully populated joint venture of Astrion and Fluor Federal Services, Inc. formed to provide unmatched Test Operations and Sustainment services for the Arnold Engineering Development Complex.

We chose our name to serve as an enduring reminder of our commitment to AEDC’s rich aerospace research and development legacy anchored in AEDC’s Toward New Horizons founding study and the unprecedented opportunities to greatly expand AEDC’s capabilities and capacity Beyond those existing today. Leveraging the capabilities of our parent companies, BNH specializes in testing and evaluation for military and space systems combined with proven capability in large-scale Government program management, integration, engineering, and construction services for specialized and technically advanced high-hazard facilities.

Join our Team!

U.S. Citizenship is required. At this time BNH will not sponsor any applicants for employment authorization or offer any immigration related support for this position (i.e. H1b, F1 OPT, F-1 STEM OPT, F-1 CPT, J-1, E-2, E-3, L-1, or other forms of work authorization that require immigration support from an employer).

The minimum and maximum full-time annual salaries for this role are listed below, by location. Please note that this salary information is solely for candidates hired to perform work within one of these locations and refers to the amount BNH is willing to pay at the time of this posting. Salaries for part-time jobs will be adjusted based upon the number of hours agreed to work.

L06: $80,000 - $98,000; L07: $87,000 - $113,000/ year at location: Arnold AFB, TN.

BNH is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, veteran status, and any other grounds for discrimination prohibited by applicable law.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.