R&D Fighter Pilot – Tactical Aircraft Integration Lead

Pilot Assessments; California; On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive base pay

Medical, dental, vision coverage

Flexible spending & HSA

401(k) with company funding

Life and disability insurance

Paid time away and parental leave

Onsite role with education assistance

Job summary

ATAC | Textron Systems seeks a senior aviation/defense specialist to lead research, evaluation, and integration planning for advanced fighter and attack aircraft, aligning modernization with DoD requirements.

You will draft proposals, support R&D, and ensure airframe systems meet performance and regulatory standards, leveraging flight-test experience and Top Secret clearance.

Ideal candidates have 8+ years in fighter systems, DoD acquisition, and pilot qualifications with 700 PIC hours.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant engineering field; Test Pilot School graduate; former military service.
• 8+ years across industry and government in fighter mission/radar systems integration, test, and evaluation; DAU coursework in Test & Evaluation, Systems Engineering, Logistics, Acquisition, Risk Management, and/or IP & Data Rights. Master’s in engineering or business desired.
• Active Top Secret clearance; able to attain/maintain Special Access Program eligibility; U.S. citizenship.
• Current FAA First Class Medical; CPL single-engine with instrument privileges.
• Previously qualified DoD-trained fighter pilot and 4-ship/division flight lead; flew a tactical fighter within the past 5 years.
• Minimum pilot currency: 700 hours PIC in DoD fighter; 100 hours PIC at night; 50 hours PIC in past 12 months; 100 hours PIC in past 24 months.
• Contract-specific quals: 1,000 hours PIC in military tactical aircraft; 500 hours PIC in fixed-wing DoD fighter aircraft.

Responsibilities

• Research and compare candidate fighter/attack aircraft for cost-effective fleet integration and future proposals.
• Assist in drafting RFPs to industry and foreign governments to obtain firm pricing and schedules.
• Support the Director of R&D in evaluating aircraft acquisitions and modernization options aligned to current and future U.S. Navy/USMC/USAF CAS requirements.
• Partner with the R&D Senior Manager, Tactical Mission Systems, to integrate EO/IR sensors, EW systems, AESA radars, and HMCS onto ATAC aircraft.
• Collaborate with the R&D Chief Engineer on systems-level requirements for avionics, sensors, and aircraft systems suitable for effective subcontracting.
• Support the Capture Manager with proposal strategy, technical solution advocacy, authoring, and editing.
• Assist Program Managers with requirements derivation, management, verification/validation, and plan/execution of Test & Evaluation.

Skills

Flight test experience

DoD fighter pilot

Radar/avionics integration

Acquisition & proposals

Clearance: Top Secret

Military aviation currency

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Test Pilot School graduate

Master’s in engineering or business (desired)

Job description

Your mission

Lead research, evaluation, and integration planning for fighter and attack aircraft that can be cost-effectively added to ATAC’s adversary fleet. You’ll support aircraft modernization strategies, help craft winning proposals for U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force Contracted Air Services (CAS), and remain current as a fighter pilot to ground your recommendations in real-world performance.

What you'll do

• Research and compare candidate fighter/attack aircraft for cost-effective fleet integration and future proposals.


• Assist in drafting Requests for Proposals (RFPs) to industry and foreign governments to obtain firm pricing and schedules.


• Support the Director of R&D in evaluating aircraft acquisitions and modernization options aligned to current and future U.S. Navy/USMC/USAF CAS requirements.


• Partner with the R&D Senior Manager, Tactical Mission Systems, to integrate EO/IR sensors, EW systems, AESA radars, and HMCS onto ATAC aircraft.


• Collaborate with the R&D Chief Engineer on systems-level requirements for avionics, sensors, and aircraft systems suitable for effective subcontracting.


• Support the Capture Manager with proposal strategy, technical solution advocacy, authoring, and editing.


• Assist Program Managers with requirements derivation, management, verification/validation, and plan/execution of Test & Evaluation.

What you bring

• Core background: Bachelor’s degree in a relevant engineering field; Test Pilot School graduate; former military service.


• Technical/Acquisition experience: 8+ years across industry and government in fighter mission/radar systems integration, test, and evaluation; Defense Acquisition University coursework in Test & Evaluation, Systems Engineering, Logistics, Acquisition, Risk Management, and/or IP & Data Rights. Master’s in engineering or business desired.


• Clearance & citizenship: Active Top Secret clearance; able to attain/maintain Special Access Program eligibility; U.S. citizenship.


• FAA & medical: Current FAA First Class Medical; FAA Commercial Pilot License (CPL) — single-engine with instrument privileges.


• Operational pedigree: Previously qualified DoD-trained fighter pilot and previously qualified 4-ship/division flight lead; flown a tactical fighter within the past 5 years.


• Minimum pilot currency: 700 hours PIC in any fixed-wing DoD-owned/operated fighter aircraft; 100 hours PIC at night; 50 hours PIC in the past 12 months (any aircraft); 100 hours PIC in the past 24 months (any aircraft).


• Contract-specific quals (may be required by certain efforts): 1,000 hours PIC in a military tactical aircraft and 500 hours PIC in a fixed-wing DoD-owned/operated fighter aircraft.


• Desired distinctions: USAF Weapons Instructor Course (WIC) graduate and/or USAF adversary qualification; USNFWS/NAWDC/TOPGUN graduate; DoD Instructor Pilot; Mission Commander; Flight Examiner; Functional Check Flight Pilot; NVG Instructor; CRM Instructor; FAA CFI(I); FAA Authorized Experimental Aircraft privileges; DoD Safety School or Board President Course graduate; squadron command experience; active fighter flying currency; familiarity with the DoD Commercial Air Services industry.


• Preferred technical exposure: Operating 4th/5th-generation fighters with AESA radars and HMCS; testing handling qualities and systems integration of fighter aircraft.

Why ATAC | Textron Systems

• Competitive base pay


• Medical, prescription, dental, and vision coverage


• Flexible spending accounts and health savings accounts


• Retirement savings plans, including 401(k) with company funding


• Life and disability insurance


• Paid time away from work and paid parental leave


• Flexible work schedules (role is onsite), education assistance, and career development/training


• Wellness program with fitness reimbursement and mental health resources