Staff Engineer, Flight Test (R6064)

What you'll do:

• Develop and execute detailed integration and flight test plans that support the overall program verification and test strategy across simulation, SIL, HIL, ground, and flight test environments
• Coordinate readiness of simulation environments, integration laboratories, aircraft, and flight test assets required to execute program objectives
• Apply aviation knowledge, aircraft performance and operational mission understanding to develop safe, efficient, and operationally relevant integration and flight test plans
• Define test objectives, performance metrics, and success criteria, ensuring traceability from requirements to test outcomes and operational capability
• Lead and support aircraft integration and flight test activities, including system configuration, software integration, mission planning, real-time troubleshooting, flight execution support, and post-flight data analysis
• Coordinate with platform OEMs, government ranges, and flight operations personnel to establish test readiness criteria and ensure technical and safety requirements are satisfied prior to test execution
• Coordinate cross-functional execution across software, hardware, systems engineering, flight operations, safety, and program leadership teams
• Evaluate test results, identify technical issues, and recommend corrective actions to improve system performance and accelerate capability maturation

Required qualifications:

• Typically requires 8+ years of experience with a Bachelor’s degree, or 6+ years with a Master’s
• Demonstrated experience planning, conducting, and evaluating flight test of aircraft systems in military or defense aviation environments
• Strong understanding of safety-of-flight principles, risk management, and disciplined test execution in aviation environments
• Demonstrated understanding of aircraft performance, flight operations, and environmental effects influencing aircraft mission planning, test execution, and safety
• Experience with system-level verification & validation across multiple test environments (SIL, HIL, simulation, and flight)
• Experience working cross-functionally across software, hardware, avionics, systems engineering, safety, and program teams
• Experience with scripting or software tools (Python preferred) for test automation, data analysis, or system validation
• Ability to effectively communicate with pilots, operators, and engineers to develop executable flight test objectives, mission plans, and risk mitigations
• Excellent technical leadership and communication skills, including briefing to program leadership and external customers
• Ability to obtain and maintain a SECRET clearance; U.S. citizenship required

Preferred qualifications:

• Military aviation experience as aircrew, flight test engineer, mission systems operator, or engineer supporting military aircraft development or test programs
• Prior role as Flight Test Director, Test Conductor, or Lead Flight Test Engineer on full-scale aircraft programs
• Understanding of military air operations, mission planning, and Concepts of Operations (CONOPS) supporting autonomous aircraft employment
• Experience supporting Autonomous Collaborative Platforms (ACP), loyal wingman concepts, or multi-vehicle autonomous systems
• Familiarity with DoD acquisition and developmental test processes
• Experience operating in or supporting government flight test ranges and operational environments
• Background in autonomy, AI/ML-enabled systems, or human-machine teaming in aviation contexts
• Experience with airworthiness processes, flight clearance, and configuration control for aircraft systems
• Familiarity with tools such as Git, Jira/Azure DevOps, and CI/CD pipelines
• Active SECRET clearance