Hardware in the Loop Test Engineer

Leidos is building and supporting advanced air and missile defense programs, and this role helps deliver the test infrastructure behind integration, verification, validation, and field-testing. As a Hardware in the Loop Test Engineer in Huntsville, AL (onsite), you will develop and integrate HWIL test systems that connect real electronic hardware to simulated environments, helping teams execute effective, configuration-controlled test activities for hypersonics programs.

Compensation: $69,550 to $125,725 per year.

Responsibilities

• Support electrical engineering development, integration, and execution of Hardware-in-the-Loop (HWIL) test systems for avionics, embedded systems, electronic hardware, and associated software.
• Develop HWIL electrical architectures that provide representative interfaces between the system under test and the simulated environment.
• Design, integrate, and troubleshoot electrical interfaces across analog, digital, discrete, serial, Ethernet, power, and other system-specific interfaces.
• Develop and integrate interface hardware including signal conditioning, switching, loads, power supplies, signal generation, and data acquisition.
• Interpret system requirements and engineering artifacts (schematics, wiring diagrams, interface control documents, and equipment specifications) to implement effective HWIL solutions.
• Develop and maintain HWIL interface designs, wiring and cable assemblies, electrical drawings, interface documentation, and configuration information.
• Select and configure lab and test equipment such as oscilloscopes, digital multimeters, power supplies, electronic loads, signal generators, and data acquisition systems.
• Support integration of real-time simulation platforms with electronic hardware and systems under test.
• Create test cases and scenarios that cover nominal, off-nominal, fault, startup, shutdown, degraded, and boundary operating conditions.
• Use test-like-you-fly methodologies to ensure HWIL environments represent operational interfaces and conditions.
• Develop automated test procedures and supporting software using Python, C/C++, C#, LabVIEW, MATLAB/Simulink, or similar tools.
• Integrate embedded software, firmware, and electronic hardware into HWIL environments to support system-level verification and validation.
• Troubleshoot complex electrical and system-level issues involving power, signal integrity, I/O, instrumentation, wiring, interfaces, communication buses, and HWIL equipment.
• Perform root-cause analysis for hardware and system failures and provide technical recommendations across electrical, software, firmware, and systems engineering teams.
• Analyze test data and instrumentation results to identify anomalies, characterize performance, and support verification activities.
• Develop and maintain test requirements, procedures, test reports, electrical documentation, configuration records, and requirements traceability.
• Support automated regression testing and integrate HWIL test activities into software development and CI/CD environments.
• Maintain configuration control of HWIL hardware, electrical interfaces, instrumentation, test software, simulation models, and associated artifacts.
• Coordinate with engineering and program organizations to resolve technical issues and improve product performance.
• Participate in design reviews, test readiness reviews, technical interchange meetings, customer meetings, and supplier discussions.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to less-experienced engineers supporting HWIL activities.
• Assist with technical planning, task estimation, scheduling, equipment selection, and execution of HWIL test activities.
• Identify opportunities to improve test efficiency, repeatability, maintainability, safety, and cost effectiveness.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• 3+ years of experience in electrical engineering, test engineering, HWIL/HIL development, avionics, embedded systems, or a related technical discipline.
• Experience developing, integrating, or troubleshooting Hardware-in-the-Loop (HWIL), Software-in-the-Loop (SIL), automated test, or comparable verification systems.
• Strong understanding of electrical system interfaces including analog, digital, discrete, serial, Ethernet, and/or power.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, interface control documents, electrical specifications, and related documentation.
• Experience integrating electronic hardware, instrumentation, data acquisition, signal conditioning, power systems, and automated test equipment.
• Hands-on experience with laboratory test equipment including oscilloscopes, digital multimeters, power supplies, signal generators, electronic loads, and data acquisition equipment.
• Experience developing or supporting automated test procedures using Python, C/C++, C#, LabVIEW, MATLAB/Simulink, or similar tools.
• Familiarity with communication protocols such as Ethernet, CAN, SPI, I2C, RS-232/422/485, ARINC-429, MIL-STD-1553, or similar.
• Experience troubleshooting complex electrical and hardware/software integration issues.
• Experience with verification and validation, automated testing, regression testing, or formal test methodologies.
• Experience using Git or another configuration-management system.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively across electrical, software, firmware, systems, and other engineering disciplines.
• Must be able to work full-time in Huntsville, AL (onsite).
• Must be a U.S. Citizen and eligible to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.

Technologies

• Python, C/C++, C#, LabVIEW, MATLAB/Simulink
• Git
• Ethernet, CAN, SPI, I2C, RS-232/422/485
• ARINC-429, MIL-STD-1553
• CI/CD

Benefits

• Competitive compensation
• Health and Wellness programs
• Income Protection
• Paid Leave
• Retirement

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field.
• Direct experience developing HWIL systems for aerospace, defense, avionics, or other safety-critical embedded systems.
• Experience with dSPACE, NI VeriStand, Speedgoat, OPAL-RT, RTDS, or similar real-time HWIL platforms.
• Experience designing custom HWIL interface electronics, signal-conditioning circuits, I/O architectures, switching systems, or load banks.
• Experience with FPGA-based systems, high-speed data acquisition, deterministic communications, or real-time I/O.
• Experience with NI PXI, cRIO, DAQ, LabVIEW, TestStand, or similar test platforms.
• Experience with MATLAB/Simulink and real-time simulation environments.
• Experience with avionics interfaces and protocols such as ARINC-429, MIL-STD-1553, CAN/CAN-FD, RS-422/485, Ethernet, or similar.
• Experience with PCB design, board-level electronics, power electronics, or electronic circuit troubleshooting.
• Experience with signal integrity, grounding, shielding, EMI/EMC, or electrical noise mitigation.
• Experience developing reusable HWIL electrical architectures and test infrastructure.
• Experience integrating embedded software and firmware into hardware verification environments.
• Experience with CI/CD and automated software regression environments.
• Experience with JIRA, Confluence, GitLab, GitHub, DOORS, or similar engineering tools.
• Experience with systems engineering, requirements traceability, verification planning, and formal test documentation.
• Experience with RF test, calibration/metrology, environmental testing, or other specialized electronic test methodologies.
• Experience applying aerospace/defense standards or military specifications.
• Experience supporting DoD programs or working within classified environments.
• Existing Secret security clearance.
• Experience representing engineering organizations during customer reviews, design reviews, technical interchange meetings, or supplier engagements.

Posting date: September 28, 2026