FLIGHT TEST ENGINEER - Contractor/Consultant

Vertical Aviation International; Moses Lake (WA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

AeroTEC is seeking a Flight Test Engineer to coordinate test and certification requirements, author test plans, and perform data analysis for various aircraft programs in Seattle, Moses Lake, and Wichita.

The role involves planning test campaigns, supporting ground operations, and potentially serving as a Test Director or Instrumentation Operator. Domestic and international travel is expected.

Qualifications

• Coordinate test and certification requirements.
• Author test plans and procedures for components and aircraft.
• Prepare test hazard analysis per FAA Order 4040.26.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate test and certification requirements.
• Plan all aspects of a test campaign (schedule, setup, logistics).
• Support ground operations, weight and balance, fuel management.
• Serve as onboard test crew (Test Director, Instrumentation Operator or Flight Test Engineer).
• Analyze test data and prepare certification reports and substantiation documentation.
• Domestic and occasional international travel.

Skills

Coordinate test coordination

Test data analysis

Flight test execution

Hazard analysis

Planning & logistics

Tools

FAA Order 4040.26

Job description

AeroTEC provides comprehensive, full-service aerospace services and solutions to customers in aircraft design, testing, instrumentation, certification, manufacturing, modifications and maintenance with facilities in Seattle, Moses Lake, and Wichita.

About the Team

AeroTEC’s Test & Evaluation Division provides comprehensive flight testing and evaluating services to customers in aircraft design and certification. The Test & Evaluation Department is responsible for test planning, instrumentation, ground operation and flight operations to meet customer needs. The Test & Evaluation Department provides expertise in Flight Test Engineering, Instrumentation Engineering and Installation, Test Pilot Support and Telemetry Operations.

About the Role

The primary role in this position is as a Flight Test Engineer who is responsible for coordinating test and certification requirements, authoring and executing flight and ground test plans for a wide variety of aircraft platforms including FAA Part 23, 25, 27 and 29 as well as new and novel technology demonstrator programs such as electric and hydrogen propulsion. This role requires the significant exercise of independent discretion and judgment in matters of significance. Additional opportunities also exist to support the design team, flight science team or other teams as company needs and personal career desires dictate.

In This Role You Will

• Coordinate test and certification requirements.
• Author component level qualification test plans and procedures, aircraft level certification plans, flight and ground test plans as well as associated test hazard analysis (FAA Order 4040.26); coordinating with the customer and regulation authorities as required.
• Author FTEO (Flight Test Engineering Order) packages for test specific installations.
• Generate and review appropriate test limitations documentation.
• Planning any and all aspects of a test campaign (test schedule, sequence, test setup requests, experimental ticket process, logistics, resources, third party support, airport and airspace coordination, test readiness, safety of flight, etc).
• Support ground operations, including weight and balance activities, fuel management, pre-flight and post-flight and ground test conduct and data collection.
• Serve as an onboard test crew member in the role of Test Director, Instrumentation Operator or Flight Test Engineer as necessary (condition specific or safety of flight data monitoring and real-time evaluation and calls).
• Analyze test data using time history plots, various analysis tools or custom solutions, evaluate compliance with regulations or internal requirements and prepare certification reports and substantiation documentation.
• Domestic and occasional international travel is required.