Flight Research Engineer — Digital Twin & Flight-Test Lead

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

Job summary

MTSI seeks a Flight Research Engineer to support CyPhER Forge and the X-62, reporting to the DARPA PM and collaborating with Edwards AFB TPS. This role blends research engineering, curriculum instruction, and flying duties to advance cutting-edge projects.

You will lead test planning, perform data analysis, and coordinate with TPS, 412th TW, and industry partners to execute missions and deliver validated results for digital twin development.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 12 years of relevant experience in planning, executing, and managing flight research and a reputation of being a team player.
• Experience with digital engineering, digital twins, physics-informed or surrogate modeling, uncertainty quantification, or data assimilation.
• Qualified/test conductor director experience or ability to achieve qualification; capable to lead flight test missions.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a senior technical lead supporting CyPhER Forge digital twin development, validation, and live demonstration.
• Lead or contribute to accelerated flight-sciences test campaigns generating high-value empirical data for digital twin assimilation and AI training/evaluation.
• Perform real-time and post-flight data analysis, compare outputs with measurements, identify anomalies, refine models, and update test plans as needed.
• Coordinate with TPS faculty, students, 412th Test Wing, Air Force Test Center elements, industry partners, modelers, and AI/ML teams for aircraft availability, range support, resources, and integrated test events.
• Develop, review, and approve test plans, safety plans/Test Hazard Analyses, test cards, instrumentation requirements, data collection strategies, and configuration control documents.

Skills

Flight research

Team leadership

Maturity

Communication

Data analysis

Stakeholder liaison

Education

Bachelor’s degree in STEM

Tools

Digital engineering

Digital twins

Physics-informed modeling

Data assimilation

Job description

MTSI seeks a Flight Research Engineer to support CyPhER Forge and the X-62, reporting to the DARPA PM and collaborating with Edwards AFB TPS. This role blends research engineering, curriculum instruction, and flying duties to advance cutting-edge projects.

You will lead test planning, perform data analysis, and coordinate with TPS, 412th TW, and industry partners to execute missions and deliver validated results for digital twin development.