Principal Engineer - Flight Test Systems

QinetiQ Group plc; Salisbury; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Matched pension scheme

Generous holiday allowance

Private Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Employee discount portal

Armed Forces Covenant support

Volunteering opportunities

Job summary

QinetiQ Group plc is seeking a Principal Engineer - Flight Test Systems to ensure the flight test organisation has access to advanced flight test systems, instrumentation and data acquisition capabilities for safe and rapid programme delivery.

You will lead system architectures, develop capabilities, and provide technical guidance across the AEC Project Delivery Teams, while working with Flight Test Engineers and Test Pilots to optimize instrumentation and data capture in complex flight tests.

Qualifications

• Essential qualifications include a relevant engineering degree or equivalent experience.
• Demonstrated extensive experience in flight test systems and architectures.
• Ability to lead capability development and provide technical guidance to project teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain a roadmap for flight test systems capability.
• Monitor availability and performance of flight test systems and identify improvement opportunities.
• Evaluate emerging technologies to enhance accuracy, efficiency and safety of flight test activities.
• Lead or support technology demonstrations, trials and capability development.
• Advise on instrumentation architectures, measurement techniques and telemetry solutions.

Skills

Flight test knowledge

Education

Engineering degree or equivalent

Tools

ACRA Curtiss-Wright

Safran Heim

Job description

As a Principal Engineer - Flight Test Systems, you'll be responsible for ensuring that the QinetiQ Flight Test Organisation has access to appropriate flight test systems, instrumentation, telemetry, recording and data acquisition capabilities required to support the safe, efficient and rapid delivery of flight test programmes. Day-to-day, you'll be responsible to the Head of Flight Test and ultimately to the Head of the Aviation Engineering Centre (AEC). The Flight Test Systems Engineer is also responsible for system architectures and development of Flight Test Systems for flight test and evaluation, and aircraft training aids. Your responsibilities will include:

• Develop and maintain a roadmap for flight test systems capability, ensuring that current and future flight test requirements can be met
• Monitor the availability, performance and suitability of flight test systems and identify opportunities for capability enhancement
• Identify, evaluate and implement emerging technologies with the potential to improve the accuracy, efficiency, effectiveness and safety of QinetiQ flight test activities
• Lead or support technology demonstrations, trials and capability development activities to assess the suitability of new flight test technologies
• Act as a subject matter expert and provide technical advice to the QinetiQ Flight Test Organisation and wider AEC Project Delivery Teams on all matters relating to flight test systems
• Advise Flight Test Engineers, Test Conductors, Test Pilots, AEC Solution Leads and Engineers on instrumentation architectures, measurement techniques, telemetry solutions, data acquisition systems and associated technologies Extensive knowledge and experience of flight test systems gained by working as part of a team delivering complex flight test programmes
• Knowledge and understanding of how to integrate flight test system in certified and non-certified aircraft and typical accuracy requirements
• Demonstrable evidence of competency and extensive experience of working within a flight test systems environment, developing respective system architectures
• Demonstrable evidence of competency and extensive experience knowledge of flight test system architectures, hardware and software
• Knowledge of commonly available data acquisition systems such as ACRA Curtiss-Wright and Safran Heim

Essential qualifications for the Principal Engineer - Flight Test Systems:

• Relevant Engineering Degree or equivalent experience

We value difference and we don't have a fixed idea when it comes to background or education, provided you can show the required level of experience and willingness to learn then we would like to hear from you.

This role is 37 hours per week based at our Boscombe Down site with a minimum average site attendance of four days per week.

Boscombe Down MOD Boscombe Down is a unique operational site featuring the longest military runway in the UK. Primarily focusing on providing testing, evaluation and support services for aviation and aerospace systems. Renowned for its extensive flight testing capabilities the site plays a vital role in the UK's aviation defence contributing to the development, testing and airworthiness of military aircraft enhancing operational readiness and effectiveness.

Please note that all applicants for this role must be eligible for SC clearance, as a minimum. UKSV National Security Vetting Solution: guidance for applicants - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Our Recruitment Process: At QinetiQ we are committed to building an inclusive, accessible and welcoming workplace where everyone feels valued and supported. We believe that a diverse mix of backgrounds, perspectives and experiences drives innovation and leads to better outcomes for our people, customers and communities. We encourage applications from all candidates and are a disability confident committed employer. If you have a disability or need any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know by emailing [e-mail]. One of our recruitment team will contact you. Many roles in QinetiQ are subject to national security vetting being completed, applicants who already hold the appropriate level of vetting may be able to transfer it upon appointment. A number of roles are also subject to additional restrictions, which means factors such as nationality or previous nationalities may affect the roles that you can be employed in.

Why Join QinetiQ? As we continue to grow into new markets around the world, there's never been a more exciting time to join QinetiQ. The formula for success is our appetite for innovation and having the courage to take on a wide variety of complex challenges. As a QinetiQ employee, you'll experience a unique working environment where teams from different backgrounds, disciplines and experiences enjoy collaborating widely and openly as we undertake this exciting and rewarding journey. Through effective teamwork, and pulling together, you'll get to experience what happens when we all share different perspectives, blend disciplines, and link technologies; constantly discovering new ways of solving complex problems in a diverse and inclusive environment where you can be authentic, feel valued and realise your full potential. Visit our website to read more about our diverse and inclusive workplace culture. www.qinetiq.com/en/careers/life-at-qinetiq

• Matched contribution pension scheme, with life assurance
• Generous holiday allowance, with the option to purchase additional days
• Options to join Health Cash Plan, Private Medical Insurance and Dental Insurance
• Employee discount portal: Personal Accident Insurance, Travel Insurance, Restaurants, Cinema Tickets and much more
• We are proud to support the Armed Forces community by honouring the Armed Forces Covenant and maintaining our Gold Award standard in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme
• Volunteering Opportunities - helping charities and local community