Rapid Air Vehicle Engineering and Flight-Test Lead (SME)

Gemini Industries Inc.; Dayton (OH); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Gemini Industries, Inc. seeks a senior aerospace engineer to lead rapid air vehicle prototype development, test planning, and technology transition in support of AFRL at Wright-Patterson AFB. This role requires mastering tasks quickly and delivering auditable work products.

Responsibilities include coordinating 12-15 annual test events, leading test plan groups, and ensuring airworthiness and test safety while guiding hardware/software/payload integration.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering and/or 10+ years of aerospace prototyping or flight-test operations.
• Ability to obtain/maintain TS/SCI access with adjudication prior to classified work.
• Proven technical leadership of ground and flight testing and prototype engineering.

Responsibilities

• Lead rapid air vehicle prototype engineering, test planning and technology transition for AFRL at Wright-Patterson AFB.
• Oversee 12-15 annual test events, readiness reviews and coordination.
• Review 25+ test plans and master plans annually; produce actionable findings.
• Oversee 3-5 complex projects with hardware/software/payload integration.
• Coordinate interfaces across CRI support functions and ensure test-safety responsibilities.

Skills

Technical leadership

Test planning

Airworthiness assessment

Travel readiness

Education

Master's in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering

Job description

Location:

Wright-Patterson Air Force Base / Dayton, Ohio area; onsite. Telework only if Government-approved.

Clearance:

TS/SCI access required for PWS §12.1; verify final DD254

Education:

Master's in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering and/or 10+ years of aerospace prototyping or flight-test experience (PWS §12.1 qualification pathway).

Outcomes:

The successful candidate is expected to accomplish the following outcomes during the first year in the position:

• Formally track all tasks, to include: assigned by, suspense, status, and comments on all assigned tasks through completion and be prepared to brief upon request.
• Develop digital continuity folders and files that include standard operating procedures, workflows and POC lists to accomplish all tasks.
• Create 2-3 products beyond the client's requirements that positively impact the client to either increase efficiency, effectiveness, or innovation.
• Master position tasks within 60 days and exceed requirements within 90 days.
• Use government provided Generative AI tools on a day-to-day basis to accelerate tasks, research, documentation, analysis, planning, reporting, and problem solving.
• Make recommendations on process improvements and practices that improve quality, speed and/or efficiency.

Responsibilities:

Lead CRI rapid air vehicle prototype engineering, test planning and technology transition in support of AFRL at Wright-Patterson AFB. Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Lead ground/flight test planning, readiness reviews and coordination for approximately 12-15 annual test events
• Facilitate test-plan working groups (historically 50+ sessions); resolve engineering interfaces and test risks.
• Review approximately 25+ test plans, roadmaps and technical master plans annually and prepare actionable technical findings.
• Oversee 3-5 complex technical projects, assess airworthiness/test safety and guide hardware/software/payload integration.
• Deliver accurate, timely and auditable work products; coordinate interfaces with other CRI support functions.
• Coordinate test-event tasker inputs, technical briefing material and test-document handoffs with the Contractor Task Lead; retain technical approval and test-safety responsibilities.
• Identify conflicting flight-test, range and engineering deadlines early; provide the Task Lead a prioritized technical-impact assessment and recovery options.
• Provide the Integrated Program Operations Lead a rolling two-week test-event forecast, test readiness dependencies, range constraints and recovery recommendations for concurrent work.
• Serve as technical owner for flight-test deliverable quality and test-safety coordination; do not assume contractor staffing management or unauthorized Government approval authority.

Qualifications:

The candidate must have the following qualifications (PWS requirements and necessary duty authorizations):

• Master's degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering and/or 10+ years of relevant aerospace prototyping/flight-test operations, per PWS §12.1.
• Ability to obtain/maintain required TS/SCI access; access must be adjudicated before classified work.
• Demonstrated technical leadership of ground and flight testing, test plans and prototype engineering.
• Ability to travel to test ranges and overseas operational evaluations as authorized.

The following qualifications are desired (Gemini recruiting preferences, not additional PWS mandates):

• 12-15+ years of directly relevant flight-test or rapid air vehicle experience (Gemini preference).
• INCOSE CSEP, DAWIA-equivalent T&E coursework or relevant test-safety/airworthiness training (preferred, not mandated).
• PMP and operational test or payload-integration experience (preferred).

Travel:

Travel to U.S. test locations and potentially OCONUS evaluation sites; frequency driven by flight-test schedule.