Flight Test Engineer & Onsite Test Coordinator (all genders)

NIF; Berlin; Hybrid; EUR 70.000 - 100.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

STARK is seeking a Flight Test Engineer & Onsite Test Coordinator to lead end-to-end flight test campaigns. You will plan hazards, execute tests, and analyze data to turn raw flight insights into actionable outcomes.

You will serve as the on-site leader, ensuring testing priorities are crystal clear and that all team members—from pilots to software engineers—understand the schedule and test objectives. The role demands strong coordination under pressure and a disciplined testing mindset.

Qualifikationen

• Bachelor’s or higher in Aerospace, Electrical, Mechanical, or Systems Engineering.
• NATO citizenship required due to export control and security regulations.
• Professional-level written and verbal English.

Aufgaben

• Act as the Onsite Test Coordinator: Lead daily operations on the range, ensuring the team stays focused on the primary test objectives.
• Clarify Priorities: Maintain and communicate the Daily Flight Schedule and current testing priorities.
• Lead Briefings: Drive the Pre-Flight and Debrief sessions, capturing feedback and setting goals.
• Resource Management: Coordinate airframes, ground support equipment, and personnel to maximize range time efficiency.
• Coordinate and execute UAV flight tests in compliance with regulatory requirements and STARK safety standards.
• Ensure all flight activities and anomalies are documented with high fidelity.
• Develop specific Flight Test Techniques and instrumentation requirements.
• Lead Flight Readiness Reviews (FRR) and contribute to safety reviews.

Kenntnisse

Coordination

Data analysis

UAV Systems

Ausbildung

Bachelor’s or higher in Aerospace / Electrical / Mechanical / Systems Engineering

Tools

MATLAB

Python

ArduPilot / PX4

GCS & Telemetry

DAQ systems

Jobbeschreibung

STARK is a new kind of defence technology company, revolutionizing the way autonomous systems are deployed across multiple domains. We design, develop and manufacture high-performance unmanned systems that are software-defined, mass-scalable, and cost-effective. This provides our operators with a decisive edge in highly contested environments.
We’re focused on delivering deployable, high-performance systems. In a time of rising threats, STARK is bolstering the technological edge of NATO Allies and their Partners to deter aggression and defend Europe. You will be working closely with the Flight Test Team and reporting to the Technical Director.

As a Flight Test Engineer & Onsite Test Coordinator, you are the "Conductor of the Flight Line." Depending on your seniority, you will be responsible for the end-to-end lifecycle of our flight test campaigns, from initial planning and hazard assessment to execution and deep-dive data analysis.
Beyond the technical data, you serve as the primary Onsite Leader. You are the person who ensures testing priorities are crystal clear to everyone on the range. You manage the daily tempo, coordinate the crew, and ensure that every person, from pilots to software engineers, knows exactly which tests are being conducted and when. Your mission is to transform raw flight data into actionable insights while maintaining a high-tempo, disciplined, and safe testing environment.

Onsite Test Coordination & Leadership

• Act as the Onsite Test Coordinator: Lead daily operations on the range, ensuring the team stays focused on the primary test objectives.
• Clarify Priorities: Maintain and communicate the "Daily Flight Schedule," ensuring everyone knows the sequence of events and current testing priorities.
• Lead Briefings: Drive the morning "Pre-Flight Brief" and the evening "Debrief," capturing critical feedback and setting goals for the following day.
• Resource Management: Coordinate the availability of airframes, ground support equipment, and personnel to maximize range time efficiency.

Flight Execution & Safety

• Coordinate and execute UAV flight tests in compliance with regulatory requirements and STARK safety standards.
• Ensure all flight activities and anomalies are documented with high fidelity.
• Develop specific Flight Test Techniques (FTTs) and instrumentation requirements to capture critical performance metrics.
• Lead Flight Readiness Reviews (FRR) and contribute to safety review boards.

Test Design & Data Analysis

• Develop comprehensive flight test plans, test cards, and rigorous flight test hazard assessments (FTHA).
• Process and analyze flight data using MATLAB or Python to validate system performance against requirements.
• Work closely with Ardupilot and PX4-based flight control systems to iterate on flight behavior and performance.

Educational & Legal Background

• Degree: Bachelor’s or higher in Aerospace, Electrical, Mechanical, or Systems Engineering.
• NATO Citizenship: Must be a citizen of a NATO member state (due to export control and security regulations).
• Communication: Professional-level written and verbal English.

Technical & Leadership Toolkit

• Coordination Skills: Proven ability to lead a technical team on-site (three pilots and one engineer), manage schedules, and communicate priorities clearly under pressure.
• Data Mastery: Practical experience in data reduction and analysis using MATLAB or Python.
• UAV Systems: Familiarity with Ground Control Stations (GCS), telemetry systems, and mission planning tools.

Mindset & Style

• The "General" Mindset: You are naturally organized and can work through ambiguity on the flight line.
• Analytical & Decisive: You can analyze a data anomaly quickly and decide whether to continue testing.
• Meticulous Documenter: You believe that if it wasn't documented with high fidelity, the test never happened.

Preferred Experience

• Active experience with uncrewed aviation.
• Hands-on experience with flight test instrumentation (FTI) and DAQ systems.
• Experience with Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) simulation environments.