Head of Flight Test Engineering

Job description

Job responsibilities

• Manage, mentor, and grow the Flight Test Engineering team, fostering a high-performing technical culture, clear career pathways, and strong cross-functional alignment.
• Be responsible for the development of flight test evaluation strategies and plans for all aspects of the Wing Delivery System, from end-to-end system validation to novel component level technology development and…
• Apply broad systems-engineering expertise and cross-functional collaboration to architect lean, high-velocity test campaigns that maximize data quality and shorten development feedback loops.
• Advance our testing capabilities by integrating telemetry tools, test automation, novel flight test techniques and simulation to continuously expand test capabilities.
• Drive end-to-end flight test execution—including risk assessments, Test Readiness Reviews (TRRs), Test Director duties, and advanced flight data evaluation.
• Connect flight test observations directly to commercial outcomes, apply critical thinking by translating observations into actionable guidance for product, regulatory, and engineering roadmaps.
• Drive high-integrity test planning, rigorous execution, and standardized data analysis to generate the traceability and objective evidence required for FAA and global aviation safety regulatory submissions.

Job requirements

• 15+ years in flight test engineering, with extensive experience in complex or autonomous system development.
• 3+ years of hands-on experience flight testing Small Uncrewed Aerial Systems (sUAS), eVTOL, or autonomous aircraft.
• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Systems Engineering, or a related technical discipline from an accredited university, or equivalent experience.
• Demonstrated track record of technical leadership or direct people management of flight test and evaluation teams.
• Deep, end-to-end domain knowledge across autonomous aircraft systems and their integration into a real-world operational environment.
• Practical experience pairing Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) and Software-in-the-Loop (SIL) simulation with flight testing to accelerate feature validation and maximize test program efficiency.
• Proven ability to evaluate test programs for efficiency, converting raw data and observations into actionable engineering insights, and communicate the commercial and operational implications of technical test results.
• Exceptional ability to translate complex flight data into actionable feedback for cross-functional engineering partners, product leaders, regulatory bodies, and executive leadership.