Flight Research Engineer at Modern Technology Solutions Edwards, CA

Modern Technology Solutions; Edwards (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

Modern Technology Solutions (MTSI) seeks a Flight Research Engineer to support DARPA/Doolittle Labs projects at Edwards AFB, CA. The role includes research engineering, curriculum instruction, and liaison duties with TPS and USAF elements, with occasional flying responsibilities.

The candidate should possess extensive flight test planning experience, digital engineering expertise, and the ability to lead complex, cross-domain test missions with military and industry partners while maintaining

Qualifications

• Minimum of 12 years of relevant flight research experience.
• Experience with digital twins, physics-informed or surrogate modeling, uncertainty quantification, or data assimilation.
• Qualified (or skills & experience necessary to achieve qualification) test conductor/director (TC/TD).
• Ability to lead the execution of flight test missions and supervise a team of discipline engineers.

Responsibilities

• Lead CyPhER Forge digital twin development, validation, and live demonstration.
• Plan, coordinate, and execute accelerated flight-sciences test campaigns producing high-value data.
• Perform real-time and post-flight data analysis comparing digital twin outputs with measurements.
• Coordinate with TPS, USAF, industry partners, and AI/ML teams for aircraft availability and events.
• Develop, review, and approve test plans, safety analyses, and data strategies.

Skills

Flight research

Digital engineering

Data analysis

Test conductor

Mission control

Team leadership

Communication

AI/ML awareness

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM

Job description

MTSI is seeking Flight Research Engineer candidates to support various research projects to include CyPhER Forge and the X-62. This position will report to the DARPA PM but work in conjunction with the USAF Test Pilot School (TPS) at Edwards AFB. This role will perform research engineering, curriculum instruction, act as a liaison between DARPA and Doolittle Labs, and allows for flying duties. Location for this position is Edwards AFB, CA.

Specific Duties

• Serve as a senior technical lead supporting CyPhER Forge digital twin development, validation, and live demonstration.
• Lead or contribute to the planning, coordination, and execution of accelerated flight-sciences test campaigns that generate high-value empirical data for digital twin assimilation, model refinement, and AI agent training/evaluation.
• Perform real-time and post-flight data analysis, comparing digital twin outputs against measured engineering quantities of interest; identify anomalies, refine models, quantify confidence/margins in the flight envelope, and support adaptive test plan updates
• While supporting under the DARPA PM, coordinate with TPS faculty/staff, students, 412th Test Wing / Air Force Test Center elements, industry partners, modelers, and AI/ML teams for aircraft availability, modifications, range support, resources, and integrated test events.
• Upon DARPA direction, perform the research focused, operations engineering associated with the X-62 aircraft (after the extensive Mission System Upgrade (MSU) modification), which include:
• Assisting the TPS dean of flight research (DFR) to coordinate research efforts and their associated test missions efforts that could utilize the X-62, including TPS Test Management Projects (TMPs).
• Aircraft configuration control, operations security, and scheduling
• Test Execution - Conductor/Director duties
• Develop, review, and approve test plans, safety plans/Test Hazard Analyses, test cards, instrumentation requirements, data collection strategies, and configuration control documents tailored to research objectives.
• Perform curriculum based instructional activities to include onboard instruction, as required.
• Other duties in-line with MTSI’s core value to “Own and Solve our Customer’s Problems”.

Required

• Minimum of 12 years of relevant experience in all phases of planning, executing, and managing flight research and a reputation of being a team player. The demands of the DARPA/Doolittle Labs projects are unique due to their leading-edge, low-TRL research mission focus.
• Experience with digital engineering, digital twins, physics-informed or surrogate modeling, uncertainty quantification, or data assimilation.
• Experience running or executing missions from a Mission Control Room.
• Qualified (or skills & experience necessary to achieve qualification) test conductor/director (TC/TD).
• Maturity and professionalism to lead the execution of flight test missions, briefings and oversee team of discipline engineers to support Flight Test Operations.
• Work well in a team environment as well as independently.
• Skilled in making valued, trusted, defendable recommendations to leadership.
• Experience generating test plans, flight test mission material, post-mission & detailed final reports.
• Position requires willingness to accept changing and evolving roles & responsibilities in support of customers’ requirements and needs.

Qualifications Desired

• USAF Test Pilot School Graduate or similar
• Experience with AI/ML and autonomous aircraft systems
• Experience with research programs within the military flight test domain.
• Wide breadth of aircraft test related experience, examples include sensors, EW, T-2 modifications, fight dynamics/performance, aircraft systems, and system networks.
• Direct experience or extensive familiarization with DoD Class II modification processes, aircraft airworthiness & approvals, and aircraft H/W & S/W configuration control.
• Developmental Test experience

Education Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field

Travel

• Travel up to 25% may be required for this position.

Clearance Requirements

• Secret clearance is required.
• Ability to obtain TS/SCIU.
• S. Citizenship is required

The expected pay range for this position in California is $150,000/year to $220,000/year; however, base pay offered may vary depending on established government contract ranges, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience, and other factors. Base pay information is based on market location. MTSI also offers a full range of medical, financial, and other benefits, dependent on the position offered.