Flight Test Instrumentation Engineer - Mechanical Design (Level 3)

Lockheed Martin; Palmdale (CA); On-site; USD 96,000 - 178,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

Flexible work arrangements

Job summary

Lockheed Martin seeks a Flight Test Instrumentation Engineer focused on the mechanical design of instrumentation systems for flight test programs. You will design, install, and integrate sensors, mounts, brackets, and data acquisition hardware on test aircraft, ensuring robust and compliant installations.

The role requires hands-on design, 3D CAD proficiency, and collaboration with cross‑functional teams to meet safety and airworthiness standards during ground and flight tests.

Qualifications

• BS in Electronics, Electrical, Mechanical, Aerospace, Computer Science or equivalent experience.
• Technical background in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• Experience with 3-D Computer Aided design (CAD) tools/drafting software.

Responsibilities

• Design mechanical installations for flight test instrumentation systems, including sensors, probes, cameras, antennas, data acquisition units, wiring supports, brackets, trays, and mounting hardware.
• Develop detailed 3D CAD models, assemblies, and drawings for flight test installations.
• Perform mechanical integration of instrumentation hardware into aircraft structures, systems, interiors, and external surfaces.
• Create detailed design packages including installation drawings, parts lists, and fabrication instructions.
• Support the selection and placement of sensors such as strain gauges, pressure transducers, accelerometers, thermocouples, microphones, flow probes, and displacement sensors.
• Design brackets, adapter plates, fairings, housings, and structural supports to meet flight loads, vibration, thermal, and accessibility requirements.
• Work closely with flight test engineers, instrumentation engineers, stress engineers, electrical engineers, manufacturing, maintenance, and aircraft operations teams.
• Ensure designs comply with aerospace standards, internal engineering processes, airworthiness requirements, and flight safety constraints.
• Coordinate with stress and certification teams to ensure mechanical installations are safe for ground and flight test operations.
• Participate in design reviews, installation planning meetings, aircraft modification reviews, and test readiness reviews.
• Support hands‑on installation, troubleshooting, and checkout of instrumentation systems on test aircraft.
• Resolve design issues discovered during fabrication, installation, ground testing, or flight test operations.

Skills

Aerospace experience

Mechanical design

GD&T knowledge

Education

BS in Engineering

Tools

CATIA

Siemens NX

SolidWorks

Creo

Job description

We are seeking a Flight Test Instrumentation Engineer with a strong background in detailed mechanical design to support the development, installation, and operation of instrumentation systems for flight test programs. This role focuses on the mechanical design of flight test equipment, sensor installations, mounting brackets, cable routing provisions, data acquisition hardware installations, and related structural or mechanical integration hardware. The ideal candidate will have experience working in aerospace environments, understand aircraft configuration control and safety requirements, and be capable of producing high-quality mechanical designs suitable for flight test operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Design mechanical installations for flight test instrumentation systems, including sensors, probes, cameras, antennas, data acquisition units, wiring supports, brackets, trays, and mounting hardware.
• Develop detailed 3D CAD models, assemblies, and drawings for flight test installations.
• Perform mechanical integration of instrumentation hardware into aircraft structures, systems, interiors, and external surfaces.
• Create detailed design packages including installation drawings, parts lists, and fabrication instructions.
• Support the selection and placement of sensors such as strain gauges, pressure transducers, accelerometers, thermocouples, microphones, flow probes, and displacement sensors.
• Design brackets, adapter plates, fairings, housings, and structural supports to meet flight loads, vibration, thermal, and accessibility requirements.
• Work closely with flight test engineers, instrumentation engineers, stress engineers, electrical engineers, manufacturing, maintenance, and aircraft operations teams.
• Ensure designs comply with aerospace standards, internal engineering processes, airworthiness requirements, and flight safety constraints.
• Coordinate with stress and certification teams to ensure mechanical installations are safe for ground and flight test operations.
• Participate in design reviews, installation planning meetings, aircraft modification reviews, and test readiness reviews.
• Support hands‑on installation, troubleshooting, and checkout of instrumentation systems on test aircraft.
• Resolve design issues discovered during fabrication, installation, ground testing, or flight test operations.

Basic Qualifications

• BS in Electronics, Electrical, Mechanical, Aerospace, Computer Science or equivalent experience.
• Technical background in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• Experience with 3-D Computer Aided design (CAD) tools/drafting software.

Desired Skills

• Experience in mechanical design for aerospace, aviation, defense, or flight test applications.
• Proficiency with 3D CAD tools such as CATIA, Siemens NX, SolidWorks, Creo, or similar.
• Ability to create detailed engineering drawings using GD&T, standard tolerancing, and aerospace drafting practices.
• Understanding of aircraft structures, mechanical systems, fasteners, materials, and installation practices.
• Familiarity with flight test instrumentation hardware and sensor installation methods.
• Ability to design lightweight, robust, and maintainable mechanical hardware for aircraft environments.
• Knowledge of vibration, thermal, pressure, aerodynamic, and structural considerations for flight test installations.
• Strong problem‑solving skills and ability to work in a fast‑paced flight test environment.
• Ability to read and interpret aircraft drawings, wiring diagrams, structural layouts, and engineering specifications.
• Strong communication skills and ability to coordinate across multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Willingness to support aircraft modification activities, ground tests, and flight test campaigns.
• Experience supporting experimental, or developmental flight test programs.
• Knowledge of airworthiness processes.
• Experience with temporary flight test installations and aircraft modification documentation.
• Familiarity with instrumentation systems including data acquisition units, telemetry systems, sensors, and signal conditioning equipment.
• Experience with external aircraft installations such as air data booms, camera pods, antennas, external probes, and fairings.
• Familiarity with stress analysis methods, finite element analysis, or hand calculations.
• Experience with composite and metallic aircraft structures.
• Knowledge of cable harness routing, EMI/EMC considerations, bonding, grounding, and environmental protection.
• Experience working directly on aircraft in hangar, ramp, or flight line environments.
• Familiarity with PLM/PDM systems such as Teamcenter, 3DX, or similar.

Pay Information

Full-Time Salary Range: $95900.00 - $178100.00

Benefits offered

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Flexible work arrangements and schedules (e.g., 4x10)
• 401(k) match
• Paid time off
• Holidays
• Parental Leave
• EAP
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Education Assistance
• Life Insurance
• Short-Term Disability
• Long-Term Disability
• Annual short-term and/or long-term incentive compensation programs may be offered depending on the position. Payments under these annual programs are not guaranteed and can vary from year to year and are tied to a range of performance metrics.
• For (Washington state applicants only) Non-represented full-time employees: accrue at least 10 hours per month of Paid Time Off (PTO) to be used for incidental absences and other reasons; receive at least 90 hours for holidays. Represented full time employees accrue 6.67 hours of Vacation per month; accrue up to 52 hours of sick leave annually; receive at least 96 hours for holidays. PTO, Vacation, sick leave, and holiday hours are prorated based on start date during the calendar year.