Flight Test Team Lead

Honda Research Institute USA, Inc.; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Honda Research Institute USA, Inc. is seeking a Flight Test Team Lead to guide the development of advanced air mobility vehicles. The position is critical in managing the flight test engineering team, ensuring safety and compliance with FAA regulations, and executing test plans.

The ideal candidate will have a STEM degree and over 10 years of experience in aircraft development, demonstrating expertise in flight test engineering. The role requires strong leadership, communication skills, and commitment to safety in all testing activities.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in aircraft development projects with hands-on flight test experience.
• Experience leading flight test programs or projects.
• Knowledge of FAA Regulations and safety procedures.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day activities of the flight test team including pilots and engineers.
• Execute flight test operations on experimental aircraft.
• Coordinate test documentation and reporting.

Skills

Flight test engineering

Aircraft performance knowledge

Team management

Communication and coordination

Safety procedures compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM

Job description

Job Number: P25F15

Honda is on a mission to revolutionize freedom of mobility by building the next generation of mobility ecosystem with the Honda eVTOL vehicle at its core. Through Honda's new mobility ecosystem, we will serve people with a vehicle which represents all of Honda's value. We are seeking a Flight Test Team Lead to accelerate the development and testing of our new advance air mobility vehicle.

San Luis Obispo, CA

The applicant is expected to lead the flight test engineering and operations team to safely perform the on-ground and in-flight duties in support of the passenger transport aircraft intended to partake in the Urban Air Mobility (UAM) / Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) and future product development.

This position is within the Test and Evaluation Group and lead the flight test engineering and operations team in performing all team activities and maintain associated deliverable reports as the project progresses. Typical responsibility includes reviewing and executing research and development test, ground and flight test requests, developing and executing test plans, test procedures, test reports, testing safety assessments, test data coordination, authoring test plans to include test specifications, defining test success criteria, and analysis methods, test data reduction and analysis, test hardware selection support, supporting desktop simulations, high-fidelity laboratory testing, research and development engineering testing, and on-airplane ground/in-flight tests to gather data and assess airplane flying and handling qualities and requirements compliance.

The applicant is expected to function well with a blended team of engineers such as a flight science, safety, aircraft systems, electrical system, facility team, aircraft maintenance team, and other disciplines, management, and airplane support staff with varying experience levels and diverse backgrounds but also complete scheduled tasks independently.

Responsibilities

• Day-to-day management of the flight test team members including pilots and engineers by maintaining a schedule of tasks and deliverables
• Apply collaborative approach with to flight test team to execute flying onboard experimental aircraft and/or unmanned flying vehicle operation as a crewmember following appropriate training.
• Communication and coordination of efforts relating to testing activities with all other disciplines
• Test documentation and reporting, including technical review and generation of test plans, instructions, test limitations and post flight reports.
• Coordination of test aircraft and experimental equipment configuration for test.
• Conduct and implement safety and risk mitigation procedures as defined by company policies, and compliance with FAA Regulations (be familiar with FAA Order 4040.26B).
• Ensure test team is adequately trained for the appropriate missions including manned and unmanned aircraft operations and telemetry room staff.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelors in Science, Technology, Engineering or Math (STEM Degree).
• A minimum of 10 years of experience working in aircraft development projects with hands-on flight test engineering or flight test pilot experience working ground and/or flight test
• Experience leading flight test programs or projects
• Fundamental knowledge of aircraft performance, mechanical, structure, material, and electrical engineering with aeronautical engineering is required.
• Full-time working on-site at the company flight test center and/or office required.

Bonus Qualifications

• Experience in the Flight Test and Certification roles or at least one full FAA certification program Part 23/25/27/29 (from first flight to certification).
• Private or commercial pilot license
• Unmanned aircraft test experience
• Electric Propulsion test experience
• Knowledge of DO-160, DO-178C, and DO-254

Desired Start Date: 7/6/2026