Lead Flight Test Engineer (all genders)

Vertical Aviation International; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

STARK is a defense-tech company delivering autonomous unmanned systems with a software-defined, scalable approach. As Flight Test Engineer & Onsite Test Coordinator, you drive end-to-end flight test campaigns from planning to data analysis, ensuring a disciplined, safe testing environment.

You act as the on-site leader, coordinating pilots, software engineers, and test crews, translating raw flight data into actionable insights while maintaining a high tempo on the range.

Qualifications

• 10+ years aerospace engineering experience.
• 5+ years Flight Test experience.
• 2+ years leading a team or mentoring engineers.
• Deutsch C1+; Englisch C1+ proficiency.

Responsibilities

• Primäre technische Autorität für FT Engineering Säule über Field Engineering, back-office Engineering und Data Analyst Sub-Tracks hinweg.
• Verantwortung für Test Planning Methodology (Test Cards, Instrumentation Plans, Telemetry Stack, Post-Flight Data Review), FRR und TRR Prozesse.
• Agiert als Flight Director Equivalent (Airbus-Modell) auf Hauptkampagnen.
• Verantwortlich für Engineering-Schnittstelle zu GNC, Autonomy und Avionics Teams.
• Führung des Engineering-Karrierepfads inkl. Selektion, Mentoring und Promotion.

Skills

Flight Test

Team Leadership

Aerospace Engineering

Education

Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering or Electrical or Control Systems Engineering

Tools

PX4 / ArduPilot Codebase

STANAG 4671 familiarity

Job description

About Us

STARK is a new kind of defence technology company, revolutionizing the way autonomous systems are deployed across multiple domains. We design, develop and manufacture high-performance unmanned systems that are software-defined, mass-scalable, and cost-effective. This provides our operators with a decisive edge in highly contested environments.
We’re focused on delivering deployable, high-performance systems. In a time of rising threats, STARK is bolstering the technological edge of NATO Allies and their Partners to deter aggression and defend Europe.

About the team

Your mission

As a Flight Test Engineer & Onsite Test Coordinator, you are the \"Conductor of the Flight Line.\" Depending on your seniority, you will be responsible for the end-to-end lifecycle of our flight test campaigns, from initial planning and hazard assessment to execution and deep-dive data analysis.

Beyond the technical data, you serve as the primary Onsite Leader. You are the person who ensures testing priorities are crystal clear to everyone on the range. You manage the daily tempo, coordinate the crew, and ensure that every person, from pilots to software engineers, knows exactly which tests are being conducted and when. Your mission is to transform raw flight data into actionable insights while maintaining a high-tempo, disciplined, and safe testing environment.

Responsibilities

• Primäre technische Autorität für die FT Engineering Säule über Field Engineering, back-office Engineering und Data Analyst Sub‑Tracks hinweg.




• Verantwortung für Test Planning Methodology (Test Cards, Instrumentation Plans, Telemetry Stack, Post-Flight Data Review), FRR und TRR Prozesse sowie die Engineering - Compliance - Evidenz-Pipeline für DOA.




• Agiert als Flight Director Equivalent (Airbus-Modell) auf Hauptkampagnen.




• Verantwortlich für Engineering-Schnittstelle zu GNC, Autonomy und Avionics Teams.




• Führung des Engineering-Karrierepfads inkl. Selektion, Mentoring und Promotion.

Qualifications

• 10+ Jahre Aerospace Engineering; 5+ Jahre Flight Test; 2+ Jahre Teamführung.




• Master-Abschluss (oder Äquivalent) in Luft- und Raumfahrt-, Elektro- oder Control Systems Engineering.




• Demonstrierte End-to-End Verantwortung für eine FT Kampagne von Test Plan bis Zertifizierungs-Evidenz.




• Deutsch C1+; Englisch C1+.

Nice to have

• PhD in Flight Dynamics, Control oder Autonomy.



• Loitering Munitions oder Live-Warhead Kampagnenerfahrung.




• STANAG 4671 Arbeitskenntnisse.




• PX4 / ArduPilot Codebase Vertrautheit.