Flight Test Engineer Planner

Honda Aircraft Company; Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point (NC, NC, NC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Honda Aircraft Company seeks a Flight Test Engineering Planner to coordinate type design and instrumentation efforts for safe, efficient flight test operations. The role supports readiness, data‑driven activities, and integration across engineering disciplines to enable timely flight testing and certification progress.

This position emphasizes planning, build sequence management, and continuous improvement in a hands‑on environment with exposure to office and production settings.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience creating and maintaining planning documentation (visual and/or written).
• 5+ years of manufacturing experience in fabrication, assembly, or installations.
• Flight test experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver installation, assembly, and fabrication planning aligned with flight test schedules.
• Create clear, accurate, and timely work instructions to ensure execution readiness.
• Ensure all planning outputs meet quality, safety, and schedule requirements.
• Own and maintain the master build sequence within Teamcenter.
• Develop visual work instructions that improve clarity and execution efficiency.
• Identify and implement cost, flow, and efficiency improvements.
• Reduce travelled work, unnecessary disassembly, and planning-related non‑conformances.
• Review daily Engineering releases for flight test applicability.
• Manage Engineering backlog and prioritize planning activities.
• Develop and release planning to support design changes for development and certification testing.
• Ensure timely incorporation of Engineering updates into the build sequence.
• Support root cause investigations and corrective actions.
• Develop and revise work instructions based on quality notifications.
• Partner with maintenance teams to support inspection and modification activities.
• Continuously improve planning documentation based on feedback and lessons learned.

Skills

Planning experience

Documentation

Flight test familiarity

Education

Engineering degree

Job description

The Flight Test Engineering Planner drives seamless coordination, readiness, and integration of type design and instrumentation engineering to support safe, efficient, and data‑driven flight test operations. This role directly enables AHM’s mission to deliver high‑quality, innovative mobility solutions.

Qualifications

Education

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Industrial, Manufacturing Engineering, or Engineering Technology preferred

Experience

• 5+ years of experience creating and maintaining planning documentation (visual and/or written)
• 5+ years of manufacturing experience in fabrication, assembly, or installations
• Flight test experience preferred

Key Accountabilities

1. Planning & Execution

• Develop and deliver installation, assembly, and fabrication planning aligned with flight test schedules
• Create clear, accurate, and timely work instructions to ensure execution readiness
• Ensure all planning outputs meet quality, safety, and schedule requirements

2. Build Sequence & Process Optimization

• Own and maintain the master build sequence within Teamcenter
• Develop visual work instructions that improve clarity and execution efficiency
• Identify and implement cost, flow, and efficiency improvements
• Reduce travelled work, unnecessary disassembly, and planning-related non‑conformances
• Review daily Engineering releases for flight test applicability
• Manage Engineering backlog and prioritize planning activities
• Develop and release planning to support design changes for development and certification testing
• Ensure timely incorporation of Engineering updates into the build sequence

4. Quality & Continuous Improvement Support

• Support root cause investigations and corrective actions
• Develop and revise work instructions based on quality notifications
• Partner with maintenance teams to support inspection and modification activities
• Continuously improve planning documentation based on feedback and lessons learned

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• On‑time, in‑full delivery of planning packages supporting flight test schedules
• Reduction in travelled work and planning‑related rework
• First‑pass yield and reduction of planning‑related non‑conformances
• Engineering change lead time and backlog aging

Work Environment & Conditions

• Work performed in both office and aircraft/production environments
• Exposure to noise, temperature variations, and aircraft systems
• Requires physical activity including standing, bending, climbing, and reaching
• Compliance with FAA, OSHA, DOT, EPA, and company safety standards required
• Occasional overtime or off‑shift support to meet flight test schedules