R&D Test Engineer, Senior

Essential Duties

Test Planning & Execution

• Plan and execute high-speed imaging campaigns for mechanism analysis (firearms cycling, feeding, extraction) and ballistic pattern capture (projectile trajectory relative to aerial targets)
• Design test setups including camera positioning, field of view, working distance, and trigger architecture
• Select operating parameters — frame rate, resolution, exposure time, pre-trigger buffer — appropriate to each test objective
• Configure and operate Photron Fastcam and Phantom high-speed camera systems
• Design and implement trigger circuits from TTL sources including pressure sensors, acoustic triggers, and hardware fire signals
• Set up and qualify lighting rigs for high-speed scientific imaging, including continuous LED systems at short exposures
• Perform on-the-spot data quality assessment immediately after capture — identify whether footage is scientifically usable before proceeding to next shot

Quantitative Analysis

• Extract kinematic data (displacement, velocity, acceleration vs. time) from high-speed footage using PFA, ProAnalyst, or equivalent motion analysis software
• Calibrate pixel-to-physical-unit conversions and apply appropriate lens distortion corrections
• Propagate measurement uncertainty through to reported kinematic quantities; characterize what the data can and cannot support
• Produce clear, actionable reports communicating findings to mechanical engineers and program leads — not footage, but data with stated confidence
• Maintain test records, data files, and calibration documentation consistent with a defensible engineering record

Instrumental & Data Acquisition

• Design and build test fixtures and instrumentation setups supporting high-speed imaging campaigns
• Integrate supplementary sensors (pressure, acoustic, accelerometers) with camera trigger and timing systems
• Own data acquisition hardware selection, setup, and operation for test programs
• Support broader test program infrastructure as the team and test scope grow

Test Program Ownership (Growth)

• Develop and maintain test plans, procedures, and data reduction protocols
• Drive test campaign planning from requirements to execution to results delivery
• Build out and maintain the team's high-speed camera infrastructure as equipment is procured
• Evaluate candidate cameras during rental evaluation sessions and provide procurement recommendations

Requirements

• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, or related technical discipline
• 3+ years of hands-on experience operating scientific high-speed cameras (Photron Fastcam, Phantom, or equivalent) in a test or research environment
• Demonstrated experience extracting quantitative kinematic data from high-speed footage — velocity, acceleration, displacement — not just producing video
• Proficiency with motion analysis software: PFA (Photron FASTCAM Analysis), ProAnalyst (Xcitex), or equivalent
• Experience designing and implementing external trigger systems for ballistic or mechanical test events
• Practical understanding of lighting for high-speed scientific imaging — exposure times, continuous vs. pulsed sources, avoiding flicker artifacts
• Ability to assess data quality in the field and make real-time setup adjustments to recover a test session
• Familiarity with data acquisition systems and multi-channel sensor integration

Nice-to-Haves

• Experience in a ballistics, weapons systems, or terminal effects test environment (government range, defense contractor, or national lab)
• Familiarity with firearms mechanics — action types, cycling dynamics, feed system behavior
• Experience with MIL-STD test documentation and defense program T&E workflows
• Background in test fixture design and fabrication
• Experience with Schlieren or shadowgraph imaging for ballistic diagnostics
• Active Secret clearance or ability to obtain one
• M.S. in a relevant engineering or physics discipline
• Passion for building robots or engineering projects as a hobby

Work Environment

• Regular work in an active test environment including indoor range and outdoor field testing with live fire
• Comfort working around firearms, muzzle blast, and associated safety protocols required
• Outdoor test sessions in central Texas conditions — including direct sun and high temperatures — are routine