Flight Test Engineer

AEVEX Corp.; Poway (CA); On-site; USD 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

AEVEX Corp. is seeking a Flight Test Engineer to lead development and execution of test programs for MQ-9 and Predator B variants in California. The role requires extensive UAS flight test experience, advisory support, and coordination with USAF and prime contractors.

The candidate must be able to travel domestically about 25% and maintain a Top Secret/SCI clearance. Strong teamwork, communication, and project management skills are essential for on-time flight test completion.

Qualifications

• Must have aerospace test and evaluation experience.
• Experience with UAS flight test preferred.
• Ability to travel domestically (approximately 25%).
• Must be able to obtain/maintain Top Secret/SCI DoD clearance.

Responsibilities

• Provide advisory, review, or draft documentation for development of test plans and safety packages for USAF and contractors.
• Perform all facets of flight testing from planning through data reduction and reporting.
• Develop briefings and reports to update program leadership on progress.
• Interface with test organizations, prime contractors, and subcontractors to prioritize test items and schedules.
• Support incident investigations and safety reviews as required.

Skills

Test & Evaluation

Aerospace

Project Execution

Communication Skills

Leadership

Security Clearance

Education

Bachelor's or Master's Engineering degree

Tools

MS Office

Job description

This is an onsite position with required domestic travel (approximately 25%)

Job Overview

This is a Flight Test Engineer support position for the MQ-9 and Predator B variants development test,designing top-level development test programs at the Medium Altitude UAS division for AFLCMC/Det 3MQ-9 sustainment efforts in California. The ideal candidate has experience with UAS flight test andproject execution and implementing management procedures and controls. This person will provideadvisory support and recommend project execution focus areas. This position requires teamwork,patience, a firm understanding of test and evaluation, and the ability to travel.

Essential Functions

• Provide advisory, review, or draft documentation for development of test plans and safetypackages generated by the USAF, prime weapon system Contractor, and associated Contractorsby attending test planning working groups and test interface meetings
• Provide advisory assistance to the Government in support of any UAS incidents that requireSafety and Accident Investigations
• Perform all facets of flight testing, from initial planning and operations through execution, datacollection, reduction and analysis, report writing and recommendations to ensure on-timecompletion
• Provide project officer leadership required to plan and execute developed test or operate asproject engineer or flight test engineer as required
• Provide advisory assistance to facilitate problem-solving and provide recommendations forGovernment consideration geared to optimize any "Course of Action" managing personnel andequipment to ensure all flight tests are accomplished and are on time
• Interface with the various test organizations to support test and safety plan approvals,communicate program office priorities and work daily scheduling issues
• Interface with the prime contractor and subcontractors to support the prioritization and schedulingof test item modifications, maintenance and flight test requirements
• Review and identify potential issues relating to modification packages for air vehicles, groundcontrol stations, and other support equipment
• Develop briefings and reports as required to update program leadership on progress
• Work with the System Program Office to obtain required air worthiness assessment, risk analysis,and military flight release
• Assess and/or evaluate both subjective and objective data acquired through test execution
• Assist the Government in planning/executing system configurations and troubleshoot thoseconfigurations to support required sorties
• Facilitate the scheduling of unique test resources (e.g., range, weapons, etc.) and flight testactivities
• Review proposals for validity and identify potential discrepancies relating to flight testrequirements
• Support the program and the other PMs by providing test advice, recommending priorities,performing resource planning, and identifying constraints, and recommending inputs intodeficiency identification and correction actions
• Perform other related duties as assigned

Standard Essential Functions

• Regular and reliable attendance on a full time basis [or in accordance with posted schedule].
• Responsible for exhibiting professional behavior with both internal and external businessassociates that reflects positively on the company and is consistent with the company's policiesand practices.
• Embodies AEVEX’s cultural values and aligns daily actions with department goals and companyculture.

Qualifications and Competencies

• Must possess test and evaluation experience in an aerospace program with knowledge,experience, and recognized ability to be considered an aviation test engineering expert
• Must possess the ability to understand new concepts quickly and apply them accuratelythroughout an evolving environment
• Strong communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills to effectively interface with otherdepartments, customers, government representatives, and/or professionals
• The capability to represent the organization as a prime technical contact
• The ability to provide leadership and guidance to less experienced professionals
• Must be able to maintain a security clearance
• Must be proficient in the MS Office productivity suite

Education / Certifications

• Bachelors or Masters Engineering degree required (see years of related experience below)

Experience

• Twelve (12) years of experience in aeronautical engineering with a bachelor's Degree, ten (10)years of related experience with a Masters Degree
• At least five (5) of which in the DoD
• Experience with UAS flight test preferred

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee tosuccessfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enableindividuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties the employee is:

Constantly required to sit, and to reach to use computers and other office equipment
Constantly required repetitive movements of wrists, hands, and/or fingers
Frequently required to stand for extended periods of time
Frequently required to lift up to 10 pounds
Occasionally required to lift up to 15 pounds
Occasionally required to view objects up close and distant range with hand eye coordination
Frequently required to reach overhead and frequently reach at/below shoulder level
Occasionally experience a high level of noise, adverse weather or temperature conditions
Occasionally required to operate hand tools, equipment, heavy machinery
Occasionally required to operate motor vehicle

Security Clearance

• Ability to obtain/maintain a Top Secret/SCI DoD clearance, U.S. Citizenship required.

The Company provides a reasonable range of compensation. Actual compensation is influenced by an array of factors including, but not limited to, skill set, level of experience, and specific location. The range of starting pay for this position is for the listed location only.

Salary Range

$125,000 - $150,000 USD

About AEVEX

AEVEX, headquartered in Solana Beach, California, supports the U.S. national security mission and partner nation needs around the world by providing full-spectrum aviation, remote sensing, and analysis solutions. The company's capabilities include custom design and engineering; rapid prototyping; sensor integration and sustainment; aircraft modification and certification; flight test instrumentation and support; mission operations service; advanced intelligence data processing, exploitation, and dissemination solutions; and tailored hardware and software mission-system tools. AEVEX uses agile and customized approaches to rapidly define, develop, and deliver specialized solutions for airborne special mission needs for the U.S. Government, partner nations, and commercial businesses. AEVEX has major offices in California, Florida, North Carolina, Ohio, and Virginia.

AEVEX provides a full suite of comprehensive benefits, including a 401(k)-retirement plan, comprehensive Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability and Life insurance group coverage with a portion of the premiums paid by the company, professional development funds, and an Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) with counseling, legal help, child and elder care support, among other benefits for qualified employees.

Recruitment Communication Notice: All official correspondence regarding your application, application status, interviews, or the AEVEX hiring process will come directly from an AEVEX representative using an @aevex.com email address or through Greenhouse, our applicant tracking system. Please use caution with communications claiming to represent AEVEX from other email domains, and always verify the sender before responding or providing personal information.

AEVEX is an Equal Opportunity employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, religious creed, color, sex (including pregnancy, breast feeding and related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, military and veteran status, marital status, age, protected medical condition, genetic information, physical disability, mental disability, or any other protected status in accordance with all applicable federal, state and local laws.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in AEVEX’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.