Head of Flight Test

Volantes Technical Recruitment Ltd; United Arab Emirates; On-site; AED 700,000 - 1,100,000; Full time

Job summary

Volantes Technical Recruitment Ltd is seeking a strategic Head of Flight Test for an elite eVTOL aircraft development program based in Dubai. This senior leadership role will establish and direct the Flight Test Organisation, guiding prototype development, experimental testing, and certification activities within a regulated framework.

You will oversee flight test strategies, manage a team of pilots and engineers, ensure safety and regulatory compliance, and collaborate with engineering,

Qualifications

• 12+ years of flight test experience, including 5+ years in an approved flight test organisation or equivalent
• Strong background in rotorcraft, VTOL, tiltrotor or eVTOL flight testing
• Formal rotary-wing flight test training from a recognised school or equivalent
• Proven experience leading flight test programmes for development or certification
• Experience with Category 1 experimental flight testing and envelope expansion
• Knowledge of EASA Part 21 / GCAA CAR 21, CS-27 / CS-29 certification processes
• Demonstrated leadership and flight test safety management capabilities
• Degree in Aerospace/Aeronautical Engineering or equivalent qualification

Responsibilities

• Establish and lead the Flight Test Organisation (FTO) and FTOM ownership.
• Develop and execute flight test strategies, programmes and certification campaigns.
• Oversee experimental flight testing, envelope expansion and performance evaluation.
• Lead flight test pilots, flight test engineers and supporting teams.
• Manage flight test risk assessments, readiness reviews and approvals.
• Coordinate with engineering, airworthiness and certification teams for regulatory compliance.
• Liaise with aviation authorities (GCAA and EASA).
• Initially support the Chief Test Pilot and Chief Flight Test Engineer functions.

Skills

Flight test leadership

Regulatory compliance

Risk assessment

Program management

Decision making

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Degree in Aerospace/Aeronautical Engineering

Job description

Head of Flight Test – eVTOL Aircraft Development

Location: Dubai, UAE
Employment Type: Full-Time
Industry: Aerospace / Advanced Air Mobility / eVTOL

The Opportunity

We are recruiting for an experienced Head of Flight Test to join an exciting, next-generation eVTOL aircraft development programme based in Dubai.

This is a senior leadership opportunity to establish and lead the Flight Test Organisation (FTO), overseeing prototype development, experimental flight testing, certification activities and flight test safety.

The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in taking a new aircraft platform through development, flight testing and certification.

Key Responsibilities

• Establish, develop and lead the Flight Test Organisation (FTO), including ownership of the Flight Test Operations Manual (FTOM).

• Develop and execute flight test strategies, programmes and certification campaigns.

• Oversee experimental flight testing, envelope expansion, aircraft performance evaluation and flight test safety.

• Lead flight test pilots, flight test engineers and supporting technical teams.

• Manage flight test risk assessments, flight readiness reviews and operational approvals.

• Work closely with engineering, airworthiness and certification teams to ensure regulatory compliance.

• Liaise with aviation authorities, including GCAA and EASA.

• Initially support the Chief Test Pilot and Chief Flight Test Engineer functions.

Essential Requirements

• 12+ years of flight test experience, including at least 5 years within an approved flight test organisation or equivalent military establishment.

• Strong background in rotorcraft, VTOL, tiltrotor or eVTOL flight testing.

• Formal rotary-wing flight test training from a recognised test pilot school or equivalent approved course.

• Proven experience leading aircraft development or certification flight test programmes.

• Experience with Category 1 experimental flight testing, envelope expansion and aircraft performance evaluation.

• Strong working knowledge of EASA Part 21 / GCAA CAR 21, CS-27 / CS-29 and relevant certification processes.

• Demonstrated leadership, flight test safety management and technical decision‑making capabilities.

• Degree in Aerospace/Aeronautical Engineering or equivalent professional or military flight test qualification.

Highly Desirable

• Previous experience as Head of Flight Test, Chief Test Pilot or Chief Flight Test Engineer.

• Experience establishing a Flight Test Organisation and developing an FTOM.

• eVTOL, distributed electric propulsion or advanced air mobility development experience.

• Knowledge of SC-VTOL certification requirements.

• Experience with remotely piloted or autonomous VTOL aircraft.