Flight Test Instrumentation Mech Design Engineer

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

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.