Lead, Flight Test Engineer

Jobtailor; Richardson (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor seeks an experienced Flight Test Lead to plan and execute ground and flight tests for unmanned systems in the U.S. DoD environment.

You will develop objectives, procedures, readiness materials, and test reports, coordinating with engineering, operations, and leadership to ensure safety and mission success. You will guide airworthiness processes, review telemetry, document anomalies, and lead cross-functional coordination across test teams while traveling up to 25% and supporting

Qualifications

• Active U.S. DoD Secret Security Clearance required.
• Bachelor’s Degree in engineering or another technical field with minimum 9 years of relevant experience.
• Graduate Degree and a minimum of 7 years of related experience.
• In lieu of a degree, minimum of 13 years of prior related experience.
• Experience developing and executing test plans, procedures, and reporting for complex systems.
• Strong knowledge of test planning, data review, and anomaly resolution.
• Experience leading airworthiness and flight clearance efforts (MFR, AWR, IFC).
• Ability to manage complex assignments with general oversight and cross-functional coordination.
• Experience working across engineering, operations, maintenance, safety, and program teams.
• Willingness to travel up to 25% and work extended hours during tests.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute ground and flight test events for unmanned aircraft and missile systems.
• Develop test objectives, procedures, test cards, evaluation criteria, readiness reviews, and test reports.
• Lead or participate in readiness reviews, briefings, and debriefs to confirm readiness and capture results.
• Coordinate configuration, instrumentation, staffing, logistics, scheduling, and range support for each test event.
• Coordinate with flight operations, ground crews, ATC, range, and external stakeholders for safe execution.
• Support integration, checkout, and verification of avionics, propulsion, controls, payload interfaces, and software/hardware.
• Identify hazards, assess risk, and ensure testing within safety limits.
• Lead preparation and coordination of airworthiness and safety approval packages.
• Review telemetry and mission results, document anomalies, and support root-cause investigations.
• Work with engineering, operations, and leadership to refine requirements and improve methods.
• Support developmental through operational test efforts across hardware and software.
• Travel to test locations and support remote-site operations, including long hours during active windows.

Skills

Test Planning

Risk Assessment

Airworthiness Coordination

Technical Problem-Solving

Cross-Functional Coordination

Communication

Leadership

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering

Graduate Degree

Tools

Telemetry Systems

Test Management Tools

Flight Clearance Packages (MFR/AWR/IFC)

Job description

• Plan and execute ground and flight test events for unmanned aircraft and missile systems.
• Develop test objectives, procedures, test cards, evaluation criteria, readiness review materials, and test reports.
• Lead or participate in test readiness reviews, pre-test briefings, and post-test debriefs to confirm event readiness, communicate risk, capture results, and define follow-on actions.
• Coordinate vehicle configuration, instrumentation, staffing, logistics, scheduling, and range support for each test event.
• Lead or support complex test operations by coordinating with flight operations, ground support crews, air traffic control, range personnel, and other external stakeholders as required to maintain safe execution, strong team communication, and day-to-day technical alignment.
• Support integration, checkout, and verification of avionics, propulsion, flight controls, payload interfaces, and other hardware and software, as applicable.
• Identify hazards, assess risk, and ensure testing is conducted within approved procedures and safety limits.
• Lead preparation and coordination of airworthiness and safety approval packages required to support ground and flight test.
• Review telemetry, instrumentation, mission results, and operator observations; document anomalies; support root-cause investigations; and define follow-on testing.
• Work with engineering, operations, and program leadership to refine requirements, resolve issues, and improve test methods.
• Support developmental, integration, qualification, environmental, acceptance, and operationally focused test efforts across hardware and software.
• Travel to test locations and support remote-site operations, including extended work hours during active test windows, as required.

Requirements

• Active U.S. DoD Secret security clearance required; must be a U.S. citizen.
• Bachelor’s Degree in engineering, or another relevant technical field, and a minimum of 9 years of prior relevant experience.
• Graduate Degree and a minimum of 7 years of prior related experience.
• In lieu of a degree, minimum of 13 years of prior related experience.
• Experience developing and executing test plans, procedures, and reporting packages for technically complex systems.
• Strong knowledge of test planning, technical problem-solving, data review, and anomaly resolution.
• Experience leading airworthiness and flight clearance efforts for developmental test, including preparation and coordination of approval packages such as MFR, AWR, and IFC.
• Ability to manage complex assignments with general oversight, coordinate cross-functional test activities, and provide technical guidance within the test team.
• Experience working across engineering, operations, maintenance, safety, and program teams, with strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Familiarity with the operating rules, range constraints, and approval considerations governing unmanned aircraft or missile system test activities.
• Willingness to travel up to 25% to test locations and work extended hours during active test windows.

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in planning and executing ground and flight test events for unmanned aircraft and missile systems, with a strong focus on test planning, risk assessment, and cross-functional coordination. Proficient in developing test objectives, procedures, and reports while ensuring compliance with safety and airworthiness standards.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Test Planning
• Risk Assessment
• Airworthiness Coordination
• Technical Problem-Solving
• Cross-Functional Coordination

ATS Optimization Keywords

Hard Skills

• Test Plan Development
• Test Procedure Execution
• Data Review
• Anomaly Resolution
• Telemetry Analysis
• Integration and Checkout
• Flight Clearance Efforts
• Safety Approval Packages
• Technical Guidance
• Complex Assignment Management

Soft Skills

• Strong Communication Skills
• Team Collaboration
• Leadership

Certifications & Qualifications

• Active U.S. DoD Secret Security Clearance

Industry Keywords

• Unmanned Aircraft Systems
• Missile Systems
• Flight Test Operations
• Ground Test Operations
• Safety Limits
• Engineering Coordination
• Program Leadership
• Operational Testing
• Environmental Testing
• Acceptance Testing