Praxis Engineering Careers

What you will be doing

The Test Engineer shall be responsible for the testing and software integration of support services, including the testing and evaluation of the software performance and feature capability of next-generation HPCs and SPDs.

What you will need

• Experience using the Linux CLI
• Experience with scripting languages like Python or Shell scripting to automate repetitive tasks, deploy test environments, and execute test suites
• Experience with software testing methodologies, including test planning, test case design, test execution, and test result analysis
• Experience with creating clear and concise documentation for test plans, procedures, configurations, and troubleshooting guides
• Effective communication skills to collaborate with cross-functional teams, report findings, discuss requirements, and present solutions
• Experience with executing test plans and the evaluation of software and system level capabilities

Desired Skills

• Familiar with parallel computing concepts, distributed systems, and cluster architectures
• Familiar with Splunk for searching, monitoring, and analyzing data
• Experience with the Atlassian Tool Suite (JIRA, Confluence)
• Experience with Git Source Control System

Clearance:
Active TS/SCI with an appropriate polygraph is required to be considered for this role

LCAT Description: Tester Engineer analyzes system requirements and concept of operations documents, acquisition plans, and system descriptions to develop evaluation and test plans and procedures, prepare for and conduct the data collection and analysis, and report status and results. Supports the development of Government test and evaluation documentation e.g., Test & Evaluation (T&E) Strategy, Test & Evaluation Master Plan, Event Test Plans, Test Readiness Assessments, and T&E Reports. Works with other test organizations to support T&E program integration. Provides specialized T&E capabilities tailored to system functions, level, maturity, and performance areas.

The Level 3 Test Engineer (TE) shall possess the following capabilities:

· Conduct research into and apply knowledge of Government test and evaluation concepts and related engineering, acquisition, and operations activities as needed to support the T&E activities

· Plan and Execute Performance Analysis

· Review planned acquisition approaches to support T&E schedule alignment with decision maker needs for T&E support

· Analyze performance risk areas to focus T&E planning

· Specify, validate, and adapt Modeling and Simulation for T&E use

· Apply Statistical Analysis of variations in performance behavior to characterize confidence in performance estimates

· Select, develop, and use analysis tools

· Execute the evaluation plan on data collected by Testing Tasks

· Plan and Execute Performance Data Collection

· Plan program and event level testing for collection of data required for analysis and to sync T&E events with supported decision points

· Establish and employ Data and Configuration Management capabilities

· Support Data Authentication group functions; and comply with program Discrepancy Reporting criteria and processes

· Assess operation and system performance requirements for testability and criticality to frame and prioritize T&E objectives and enable evaluation planning

· Coordinate with program Systems Engineering (SE) and review T&E-related SE information to leverage functional analysis, system descriptions, parameter selection and dependencies, Modeling and Simulation, and initial performance risk assessments to inform evaluation planning

· Assess operational environments and priorities for evaluation attention and scenario selection, and to coordinate user participation in T&E

· Plan program and event level risk-tailored performance estimation and analysis of system and operational Effectiveness and Suitability metrics & conditions; levels of T&E include inspection, demonstration, paper analysis, survey, simulation, and physical test

· Design surveys for evaluation of Subject Matter Expert (SME) input and user assessments of performance

· Participate in the T&E Working-level Integrated Product Team (WIPT) and/or Integrated Test Team for coordination of evaluation plans

· Produce Evaluation Plans (metric framework, scenarios/threads, timelines, requirements/T&E cross-walk), Analysis Plans, Data Requirements, Risk Assessments, Evaluation Reports, Status reports; provide input to Government T&E products (e.g., Technology Readiness Assessments, Test & Evaluation Strategy, Test & Evaluation Master Plan, T&E Plans & Procedures and Test Readiness Reports)

· Design data sampling schemes to optimize the information/resource balance and to control testing uncertainties

· Select, coordinate, and calibrate Instrumentation, collection and data management tools, targets, and facilities

· Ensure test readiness including training of test event participants re-conduct of the event; equipment readiness, and security, legal, and privacy compliance arrangements

· Participate in T&E WIPT and/or integrated Test Team for coordination of data collection plans

· Execute Testing and Data Collection per plan

· Produce associated Test Plans, Procedures, and reports/Briefings, Data management Plan

· Work directly with the Government sponsor to coordinate task implementation

· Maintain knowledge of current and evolving agency, national, and international standards applicable to the system development of interest

· Provide overall leadership of the T&E task and serve as primary liaison to the government for supporting contract coordination and task execution

· Communicate issues and solutions to the broader government and contract management structure as requested by Leadership

· Ensure the appropriate level of independence of the team from the solution provider to support government management of objectivity risk

· Manage T&E resources and tasks; ensure quality assurance of test processes and products

· Coordinate and integrate Evaluation and Testing tasks and products

· Participate in T&E WIPT and/or Integrated Test Team as needed to ensure proper coordination of T&E activities

· Drive innovation and responsiveness to program changes and evolving T&E status to help manage program risk; develop alternative courses of action, work-arounds, and fall-back positions with a recommendation course of action for each risk, monitor and re-evaluate risks at appropriate milestones.

Qualifications: Eight (8) years’ experience as a TE in programs and contracts of similar scope, type and complexity is required. Bachelor’s degree in Math, Science, Engineering, Statistics,

Engineering Management, or related discipline form an accredited college or university is required. Four (4) years of additional TE experience may be substituted for a bachelor’s degree.

Who are we?
Praxis Engineering* was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in Annapolis Junction MD - with growing offices in Chantilly VA and Aberdeen MD.

Praxis Engineering is a consulting, product, and solutions firm dedicated to the practical application of software and system engineering technologies to solve complex problems. 

With over 300 employees supporting more than 50 contracts, Praxis brings together world class engineers with proven engineering best practices, domain expertise, commercial technologies and proven agile management approaches to create high value solutions aimed at helping our customers meet their most critical business and mission objectives.  

*Praxis Engineering is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics IT.

Why Praxis? 
We are focused on continual learning and evolution. We don’t do things because “that’s the way we’ve always done things”; we listen to our employees and adapt to the changing marketplace.   We look at the big picture and encourage our engineers to get training and certifications in emerging technologies that will help shape our customer’s mission.  We've been profitable year after year.  We're always on the lookout for great engineers to join the team and we recognize that our employees are the heart and soul of what we do.   We focus on recruiting talented people, treating them right, and then allowing them to do what they do best.  No red tape. No micromanagement.  Smart people want to work with smart people, and we love people who are passionate about what they do, and finding ways to do it better.

And then there is the...

Benefits

• Attractive total compensation package to include competitive salary and medical benefits with an option for FREE employee HSA medical plan!
• Office perks such as free soft drinks and snacks (both healthy and not-so-healthy)
• Praxis swag (annual gift certificate to purchase top brand Praxis apparel)
• 401k contribution/match: combination of profit share/contribution (3.5%) and employer match (up to 4.5%) for a total of 8%.
• Annual bonus plan
• 4 weeks Paid Time Off + 10 holidays + comp time eligibility. (30+ days of leave to start!)

• We reward longevity! On your 5th work anniversary – you will receive an additional week of PTO to 5 weeks of PTO. Making it 35+ days of leave altogether!
• On your 10th work anniversary – you will receive an additional week of PTO to 6 weeks of PTO. Making it 40+ days of leave altogether!
• At any time, your unused PTO can be traded in for $$$!

• Carryover a max of 380hours of leave from year to year. You can choose to have a sabbatical one year or trade in your unused PTO for something nice!
• Student loan repayment Assistance – COMINGSOON!
• Training is a priority! Take advantage of our endless in-house training opportunities - or seek out vendor offered (paid) training opportunities like conferences, certification courses and seminars.

• Conferences (recently attended by Praxis employees): AWS Summit, IoT World, Black Hat and DefCon.
• Training & Certifications: Splunk, AWS, Big Data/Cloudera, VMWare, Scrum Master...the list of certifications goes on and on!
• Praxis University: Cyber Research, Data Analytics, IoT, AWS and RedHat course offerings and hands-on training.

• We truly believe the right work-life balance can exist, and it's here at Praxis. Our work is extremely important, but your job is just a part of who you are. When you enjoy your life outside of our walls, you're at your best the next time you walk through our doors. We do all we can to assure that happens every day.

Praxis Engineering provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status, or any other protected class.