Fighter Systems Integration Lead (R&D) – Pilot Expert

Pilot Assessments; California; On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive base pay

Medical, dental, vision coverage

Flexible spending & HSA

401(k) with company funding

Life and disability insurance

Paid time away and parental leave

Onsite role with education assistance

Job summary

ATAC | Textron Systems seeks a senior aviation/defense specialist to lead research, evaluation, and integration planning for advanced fighter and attack aircraft, aligning modernization with DoD requirements.

You will draft proposals, support R&D, and ensure airframe systems meet performance and regulatory standards, leveraging flight-test experience and Top Secret clearance.

Ideal candidates have 8+ years in fighter systems, DoD acquisition, and pilot qualifications with 700 PIC hours.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant engineering field; Test Pilot School graduate; former military service.
• 8+ years across industry and government in fighter mission/radar systems integration, test, and evaluation; DAU coursework in Test & Evaluation, Systems Engineering, Logistics, Acquisition, Risk Management, and/or IP & Data Rights. Master’s in engineering or business desired.
• Active Top Secret clearance; able to attain/maintain Special Access Program eligibility; U.S. citizenship.
• Current FAA First Class Medical; CPL single-engine with instrument privileges.
• Previously qualified DoD-trained fighter pilot and 4-ship/division flight lead; flew a tactical fighter within the past 5 years.
• Minimum pilot currency: 700 hours PIC in DoD fighter; 100 hours PIC at night; 50 hours PIC in past 12 months; 100 hours PIC in past 24 months.
• Contract-specific quals: 1,000 hours PIC in military tactical aircraft; 500 hours PIC in fixed-wing DoD fighter aircraft.

Responsibilities

• Research and compare candidate fighter/attack aircraft for cost-effective fleet integration and future proposals.
• Assist in drafting RFPs to industry and foreign governments to obtain firm pricing and schedules.
• Support the Director of R&D in evaluating aircraft acquisitions and modernization options aligned to current and future U.S. Navy/USMC/USAF CAS requirements.
• Partner with the R&D Senior Manager, Tactical Mission Systems, to integrate EO/IR sensors, EW systems, AESA radars, and HMCS onto ATAC aircraft.
• Collaborate with the R&D Chief Engineer on systems-level requirements for avionics, sensors, and aircraft systems suitable for effective subcontracting.
• Support the Capture Manager with proposal strategy, technical solution advocacy, authoring, and editing.
• Assist Program Managers with requirements derivation, management, verification/validation, and plan/execution of Test & Evaluation.

Skills

Flight test experience

DoD fighter pilot

Radar/avionics integration

Acquisition & proposals

Clearance: Top Secret

Military aviation currency

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Test Pilot School graduate

Master’s in engineering or business (desired)

Job description

ATAC | Textron Systems seeks a senior aviation/defense specialist to lead research, evaluation, and integration planning for advanced fighter and attack aircraft, aligning modernization with DoD requirements.

You will draft proposals, support R&D, and ensure airframe systems meet performance and regulatory standards, leveraging flight-test experience and Top Secret clearance.

Ideal candidates have 8+ years in fighter systems, DoD acquisition, and pilot qualifications with 700 PIC hours.