Hardware-in-the-Loop Systems Engineer

Overview

Job Title: Hardware-in-the-Loop Systems Engineer                                    

Location: Arnold AFB, TN

Job Family Code: O - Engineering

Function/Branch: Engineering/ID&C

Directorate: Mission Information Services

Position Type: Regular, Full-Time        

Pay Type: Exempt

Grade: L09(TA0913) - L10(TA1015)

Salary Range or Starting Hourly Rate: L09: $112,000 - $149,500; L10: $131,000 - $174,500/ per year

Overview

Beyond New Horizons, LLC (BNH) has an exciting opportunity for an HWIL Systems Engineer supporting the Test Operations and Sustainment (TOS) II contract at Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC), Arnold Air Force Base, TN.

In this role, you will be the primary operational lead for the Range Systems Support Laboratory (RSSL), an operational facility that provides AEDC with the ability to simulate complex testing environments to develop, test, and validate software and controls logic. You will oversee lab modernization, configuration management, and readiness to ensure mission-critical ground test support for key national aerospace programs. You will also maintain readiness for HWIL systems that have been deployed to test facilities.

If you are seeing this posting on an external job board, BNH highly recommends you apply directly on the Careers Center page of our business website (https://careers-bnh.icims.com/jobs). Job board applications are not always compatible with company applicant tracking systems.

Open to internal and external candidates.

Job Summary

The HWIL Systems Engineer is responsible for ensuring operational readiness of the RSSL, a critical simulation and testing environment. This includes managing lab configurations, supporting pre-test mission evaluations, driving continuous improvement, and ensuring the facility is prepared for a wide range of validation activities. The successful candidate will interface daily with System Administrators, Controls and Data SMEs, Control Systems Engineers, Facility Modeling Engineers, and external vendors like MathWorks to support development and troubleshooting.

This role is central to reducing risk and cost for AEDC by enabling robust "off-line" analysis and investigation of operational issues without requiring costly "air-on" facility time. Key strategic initiatives for this role include leading efforts in modernization, automated regression testing, reflective memory replacement, and footprint consolidation.

Job Duties:

• Maintain a stable, structured environment for plant simulation, development, and checkout activities for facilities such as the Engine Test Facility (ETF), Propulsion Wind Tunnel (PWT), and Aerodynamic and Propulsion Test Unit (APTU).
• Work with HWIL users to troubleshoot the simulation environment.
• Lead Lab Configuration Management, ensuring all hardware, software, and simulation models are under strict revision control.
• Direct and prepare lab configurations for testing and validation, including pre-test mission evaluations to ensure readiness.
• Serve as the primary interface with System Administrators, Modeling and Controls SMEs, Data SMEs, Control Systems Engineers, Facility Modeling Engineers, and software vendors (e.g., MathWorks) to support simulation, development, and issue resolution.
• Oversee and drive key lab modernization initiatives, including reflective memory replacement, automated regression testing, authoring the next generation of High-Speed Digital Interface, and footprint consolidation, using software vendors as necessary.
• Work with System Administrators to provide a consistent user experience by managing centralized services, including account management, security control, file servers, and simulation status monitoring.
• Support the training of facility operators and systems engineers on new or revised control systems, contributing to the 'Safe Reliable Effective Operation' (SREO) initiative.
• Maintain readiness for HWIL systems that have been deployed to test facilities
• Maintain awareness of emerging technologies to identify and evaluate opportunities for improving the efficiency, performance, and reliability of deployed systems.
• It is a condition of employment to wear company-issued Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in accordance with supervisory direction and company policy.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or Computer Engineering from an accredited institution and a minimum of eight (8) years of engineering experience in an aerospace, industrial test, or R&D environment, which includes:
  • Professional experience with the development, integration, or sustainment of Hardware-in-the-Loop (HWIL) systems, real-time simulation environments, or industrial control systems (ICS).
  • Experience with configuration management and troubleshooting of hardware and software within a laboratory or test facility.
• OR, in lieu of a bachelor’s degree, a high school diploma or equivalent and a minimum of twelve (12) years of professional technical experience in the same fields, which includes:
  • Professional experience with the development, integration, or sustainment of Hardware-in-the-Loop (HWIL) systems, real-time simulation environments, or industrial control systems (ICS).
  • Experience with configuration management and troubleshooting of hardware and software within a laboratory or test facility.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain an active security clearance and maintain authorized user access to the AEDC local area network.
• U.S. Citizenship is required due to federal government contract compliance requirements and the necessity to access secure federal databases and networks on Arnold Air Force Base.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Industrial Control Systems (ICS) and/or simulation environments.
• Background in a DoD, aerospace, or industrial test/R&D facility.
• Direct experience with Data Acquisition Systems (DAS/DAQ), instrumentation setup, and high-speed data capture.
• Experience with Python to support automation activities, especially the Pytest module.
• Familiarity with test cell support, sensor calibration, or wind tunnel test operations.
• Membership or certification with the International Society of Automation (ISA).
• Proficiency with engineering software and simulation tools (e.g., MATLAB/Simulink).
• Strong interpersonal communication skills and the ability to interface effectively with engineers, technicians, and government oversight personnel.
• Active DoD 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 at location Tennessee: Arnold Air Force, TN. 

L09: $112,000 - $149,500; L10: $131,000 - $174,500 / year at Arnold Air Force Base, TN. 

BNH is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action 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, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

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.