Flight Test Engineer

Modern Technology Solutions, Inc.; Nellis Air Force Base Census-Designated Place (NV); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Modern Technology Solutions, Inc. is seeking a Flight Test Engineer to lead complex flight test programs at Nellis AFB, NV.

You will plan, coordinate, and execute tests, mentor junior engineers, and collaborate across government, industry, and contractor teams to ensure safety and airworthiness compliance. The role requires 8+ years in flight test engineering, DoD experience, and strong communication skills to brief executives and stakeholders.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in flight test engineering within US DoD or partner agencies.
• Advanced knowledge of flight test engineering principles, systems integration, and test methodologies.
• Experience planning, coordinating, and executing flight test events for fixed-wing, rotary-wing, and/or UAS/RPA platforms.
• Experience evaluating aircraft systems, mission systems, avionics, sensors, and weapons integration.
• Experience across all flight test lifecycle phases: requirements, design reviews, planning, execution, data analysis, reporting.
• Experience directing or supporting MCR operations and monitoring real-time test execution.
• Proven ability to coordinate across government, industry, and contractor teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical planning, integration, and execution of complex flight test events and demonstrations.
• Develop test strategies and engineering solutions to evaluate emerging capabilities and concepts.
• Identify requirements, assess risks, and coordinate resources for test objectives.
• Serve as technical lead ensuring plans and deliverables meet standards.
• Provide technical oversight through planning, execution, analysis, and reporting.
• Coordinate activities across government, industry, subcontractors, and partners.
• Plan and safely execute tests for diverse mission sets and environments.
• Define CONOPS with stakeholders and support planning conferences.
• Analyze data and results to identify performance gaps and recommendations.
• Prepare technical reports and executive briefings with actions.

Skills

Flight test engineering

DoD program experience

Systems integration

Test planning & execution

MCR operations familiarity

Vendor coordination

Strong communication

Education

Master’s degree in a related field

Bachelor’s degree in a related field

Tools

None

Job description

MTSI is seeking a Flight Test Engineer to support the Experimental Operations Unit (EOU) responsible for leading and executing complex flight test programs at Nellis AFB, NV. This position involves strategic planning, coordination, and management of flight test activities, ensuring the successful testing and evaluation of advanced aerospace systems. The engineer will provide technical leadership, mentor junior engineers, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive innovation and ensure compliance with industry standards and safety regulations. This position requires exceptional organizational, communication, and leadership skills, with the ability to manage multiple concurrent activities, build strong customer relationships, and effectively coordinate across government, military, contractor, and industry organizations in a dynamic operational environment. In addition, prospective candidates should have excellent public speaking and presentation skills, as well as over eight years of experience serving as a Flight Test Engineer. Position requires flexibility to work occasional non-standard work hours and work weeks of more than 40 hours to meet business, customer, and contractual requirements. Additionally, position requires flexibility as duties and responsibilities may be adjusted to meet business, customer, and contractual requirements.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Lead the technical planning, integration, and execution of complex flight test events and operational demonstrations supporting customer objectives.
• Develop technical approaches, test strategies, and engineering solutions to evaluate emerging capabilities, mission systems, and operational concepts.
• Identify technical requirements, assess risks, and coordinate engineering resources to ensure successful execution of flight test objectives.
• Serve as the technical lead for assigned flight test efforts, ensuring engineering products, test plans, and deliverables meet customer requirements and technical standards.
• Provide technical oversight throughout test planning, execution, analysis, and reporting while ensuring compliance with applicable safety, airworthiness, and range requirements.
• Coordinate technical activities across government, industry, subcontractor, and mission partner organizations to integrate systems and resolve engineering challenges.
• Plan and safely execute flight test and operational events supporting air-to-air, air-to-surface, surface-to-air, and surface-to-surface mission sets.
• Collaborate with government users, industry partners, and operational stakeholders to define test objectives, refine technical requirements, and develop executable Concepts of Operations (CONOPS).
• Support major exercise and test planning conferences by developing technical support plans, identifying flight test requirements, and synchronizing engineering activities.
• Analyze flight test data and operational results to identify system performance, capability gaps, deficiencies, and recommendations for future testing and capability development.
• Prepare technical reports, engineering assessments, and executive briefings summarizing test results, operational impacts, risks, and recommended courses of action.
• Engage with industry partners to evaluate emerging technologies, conduct technical exchanges, and integrate vendor capabilities into flight test activities.
• Coordinate vendor technical support to ensure system readiness, configuration control, security compliance, and mission execution requirements are met.
• Maintain effective technical relationships with government customers, industry partners, and operational users to accelerate capability evaluation and transition.
• Develop and maintain technically focused execution plans, integrated test schedules, and engineering milestones to support successful flight test execution.
• Mentor junior engineers and technical team members by providing guidance on flight test planning, systems integration, engineering analysis, and test execution best practices.
• Apply advanced engineering principles and sound technical judgment to resolve complex flight test, integration, and system performance challenges with minimal oversight.

Required Skills

• 8+ years of experience working within, or for, US DoD or partner agencies.
• Advanced knowledge of flight test engineering principles, systems integration, and test methodologies, with the ability to solve highly complex technical and operational challenges.
• Demonstrated experience planning, coordinating, and executing developmental, operational, and/or combined flight test events for fixed-wing, rotary-wing, and/or UAS/RPA platforms.
• Experience evaluating aircraft systems, mission systems, avionics, external stores, sensors, communications systems, weapons integration, and/or flight sciences.
• Experience supporting all phases of the flight test lifecycle, including requirements development, design reviews, test planning, test card development, mission execution, data analysis, and post-flight reporting.
• Experience directing or supporting Mission Control Room (MCR) operations, monitoring real-time test execution, system performance, and mission objectives.
• Proven ability to integrate multidisciplinary engineering teams, government stakeholders, and industry partners to execute technically complex flight test activities.
• Experience coordinating and executing flight test events on Department of Defense open-air test ranges while ensuring compliance with applicable range, safety, security, and airworthiness requirements.
• Ability to rapidly assess technical challenges, identify risks, develop mitigation strategies, and recommend engineering solutions before issues impact mission execution.
• Recognized technical expertise with the ability to independently apply advanced engineering principles, sound judgment, and lessons learned to new and evolving mission requirements.
• Experience supporting operational exercises, experimentation events, and capability demonstrations involving Combatant Commands, MAJCOMs, and joint mission partners.
• Working knowledge of Department of Defense test, evaluation, and exercise planning policies, processes, and procedures.
• Experience working with Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) and operating within classified test and operational environments.
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical planning meetings, engineering working groups, design reviews, technical interchange meetings, and executive-level briefings.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret technical data, evaluate system performance, and communicate engineering findings to government leadership and operational users.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with experience preparing technical documentation, engineering assessments, flight test reports, and executive briefings.
• Proven ability to work independently in dynamic, fast-paced operational environments while managing multiple concurrent technical priorities.
• Strong customer engagement and technical collaboration skills with experience serving as the engineering interface between government organizations, industry partners, and contractor teams.
• Experience developing integrated technical execution plans, engineering schedules, test milestones, and status reporting to support flight test activities.
• Ability to mentor junior engineers and provide technical guidance across multiple engineering disciplines and flight test efforts.
• Valid driver's license with an insurable driving record.
• Ability to travel and maintain a flexible work schedule in support of flight test operations, exercises, and mission execution.

Desired Skills

• Familiarity with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) concepts, including Large Language Models (LLMs), computer vision, autonomous systems, and decision-support technologies as applied to defense and flight test environments.
• Experience evaluating, integrating, or testing AI-enabled capabilities, autonomous systems, or advanced data analytics within operational test, experimentation, or rapid capability development efforts.
• Experience with multi-domain test, training, and exercise
• Previous experience as aircrew flight test member (Pilot, EWO, NAV, FTE, etc.)

Education Requirements

Minimum of Master’s degree and 5+ years’ Program Management experience, or Bachelor’s degree and 7+ years’ Program Management experience, or Associate’s degree and 9+ years’ Program Management experience.

Travel Requirements

Routine travel is expected. Candidates should anticipate two weeks per quarter but additional travel may be required based on mission requirements. Non-traditional work hours will be required. Expectation is that work will be performed onsite, with frequent local travel to range site(s).

Security Clearance

Current Top Secret Security Clearance with SCI eligibility and the ability to obtain access to Special Access Programs (SAP), SCI, and Special Technical Operations (STO) required.

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