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System Integration and Test Automation (SITA) Lead Engineer

Employer
General Dynamics
Location
NP12 4AA, Blackwood
Salary
Competitive, flexible benefits & bonus
Closing date
15 Jul 2019

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General Dynamics UK is a world-leader in the integration of cutting-edge defence and security systems, delivering decisive advantage to military, government and civil customers worldwide.

Our employee culture is one that thrives on innovation, embraces teamwork and possesses a strong will to succeed. The pioneering technologies and the quality of our people give us our competitive edge.  Dynamics is not just part of our name, it’s part of our spirit.

The Role:

The System Integration and Test Automation (SITA) Lead Engineer will provide technical leadership and governance for SI&T teams, focusing on Continuous Delivery within an agile, IT Service Management environment. The SI&T Engineering team is responsible for the integration, Verification and Validation, and release testing of incremental system baselines using both traditional, manual testing and enterprise-scale automated test facilities. In addition to validating the system, the SI&T team will also be responsible for conducting System-of-Systems testing to verify the performance of MORPHEUS services connected in to the wider Defence enterprise. The SITA Lead will provide governance over these programme test activities and will also be required to support ongoing bid activities, providing expertise over the scope and costing of test elements within new business opportunities.   

The Lead Engineer will be accountable for defining the integration and test standards across Unit, Product, Sub-system, System and System-of-System-level testing, assuring the build integrity through built-in quality; addressing the inherent challenges of integrating a complex tactical communications system with geographically distributed hardware and software that is often without the support of any fixed infrastructure.  Build on existing policies and processes by integrating the latest techniques, frameworks and new technologies, ensuring these are all understood, documented and employed.

The role will require strong relationships at a senior level across GD engineering functions, Customer representatives and 3rd Party organisations, leading how strategic test initiatives and ways of working are agreed and adopted throughout the enterprise. To support the MoD initiative of accessing a wider supply-base, the SITA Lead will own the System emulation/virtualisation environment which 3rd Party developers can use to demonstrate and test their code before uploading the final software baseline.

The SITA Lead will champion implementation with built-in quality, drive cost efficiencies by introducing test automation at scale using the Agile Test Quadrant to identify all aspects that would benefit from an automated environment, and ensure adherence to best test practice. In addition, they will lead exploratory / prototyping activity as required to continually improve the enterprise test environment through the adoption of the latest benefits of such technology and those that interface with it.

The role requires a candidate who has proven, in-depth system integration and test automation capability and experience in planning, resourcing, and executing an SITA programme

Responsibilities:

  • Analyse bid requirements and transpose those in to a cost effective, compliant System Integration and Test Automation solution.
  • Lead, direct and evolve the evolution of test environments to continuously deliver operational capability improvements, increase efficiency and reduce overall cost.
  • Oversee the definition of test requirements, specifications, procedures and scripts, utilizing system and product-level specifications, design collateral and System Use Cases.
  • Test and assure products, subsystems and systems to agreed requirements and performance envelopes.
  • Foster a continuous improvement culture to progressively evolve the SITA capability.
  • Execution of an enterprise-scale SITA solution within an agile, ITSM framework.
  • Provide leadership to and governance over the SITA team operating within a contracted ITSM framework.
  • Provide advice and governance over 3rd Party test organisations.
  • Work with the management team to define appropriate OLAs that will be required to ensure successful delivery of the solutions across the enterprise.
  • Build and maintain productive relationships with senior stakeholders internally within GD and externally across Customer representatives and 3rd Part organisations.
  • Accountable for ensuring and reporting on adherence to processes, OLAs, SLAs, KPIs, XLAs and required metrics
  • Define & publish all integration, automation, test and acceptance processes.
  • Manage all test results and associated data, including Bug management and resolution.
  • Oversee the production of test reports and associated test conclusions - including provision of metrics data.
  • Evangelise and train test and automation techniques that enable quality, increase efficiency, and reduce cost and waste.
  • Support the System Engineering team in defining a software architecture strategy and associated requirements in support of Test Driven Development.
  • Evaluate system performance, conformance to Non-Functional requirements, suggesting improvements and corrective actions where appropriate.
  • Proven capability as a Technical lead or manager of a large Systems Integration and Test team on a complex C4I development programme with a track record of delivery. 
  • Understanding of tactical network infrastructures including networks, radios, routers, switches and system management considerations

Education/Experience:

  • Ability to act within a SITA leadership role operating inside an enterprise-scale ITSM environment.
  • Experience for manual and automated testing
  • Advanced ISTQB Certified
  • Strong influencing skills to work with external stakeholders where no direct contractual framework can be used to achieve desired outcomes. 
  • Strong problem solving and decision making skills.
  • Understanding of software-centric complex systems.
  • Understanding of CI/CT/CD pipelines
  • Working knowledge of tools such as: Jenkins, Gitlab, Jira, FOSSA, Postman, DOORS & RQM  
  • Servant Leader
  • Understanding of Enterprise IT systems and technologies.
  • Understanding of tactical network infrastructures including networks, radios, routers, switches and system management considerations.
  • Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills, with proven ability to present formally to external Customers and other stakeholders.
  • Proficient in use of Microsoft applications, including Word, Excel and Visio. 
  • Self-motivated demonstrating integrity, professionalism, flexibility, commitment and innovation
  • Degree level education in IT/Engineering or related discipline.    
  • Experience of implementing integration and test automation activities at scale within enterprise-level organisations.
  • Experience in helping to define and working with OLAs, XLAs, SLAs and KPIs.
  • Proven agilest
  • Experience of defining, designing, implementing and executing at-scale test automation to reduce effort, costs and time.
  • Experience of managing the integration of changing software, hardware and firmware to build multiple system baselines. 
  • Experience in large scale, complex Systems Integration, test and acceptance.
  • Experience of Waterfall and Agile Delivery models.
  • Experience of automation and virtualization

GDUK offers a competitive compensation package with opportunities for growth and professional development. A flexible benefits package, 25 days holiday, a compressed fortnight offering every other Friday off and an attractive bonus scheme.

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