Senior/Experienced Military Derivative Test Pilot – Boeing Test & Evaluation (Seattle)

Pilot Assessments; Seattle, Northern (WA, KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Flexible Spending Accounts

Health Savings Accounts

Retirement savings plans

Life and disability insurance programs

Paid time off

Job summary

Boeing is seeking a skilled Flight Test Engineer to support Military Transport programs, developing and flight-testing derivatives of Boeing aircraft for U.S. and international customers.

The role spans experimental, prototype, and modified-production aircraft with diverse mission systems. The candidate will plan test flights, verify systems, assess performance and certification status, and contribute to flight manuals and reports.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, engineering technology, computer science, data science, mathematics, physics, chemistry, or related field.
• Military flight-test experience in transport-category airplanes.
• Commercial Pilot Certificate or FAA ATP with endorsements.
• Current FAA Class II medical certificate (or ability to obtain).
• Ability to obtain a U.S. security clearance (U.S. citizenship required).

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute ground, flight, and maintenance test flights for various aircraft programs.
• Verify system functionality across communications, surveillance, self-defense, aerial refueling, cargo/airdrop, and weapons-delivery systems.
• Assess aircraft performance, handling qualities, structural integrity, and certification status.
• Author and contribute to technical reports, flight manuals, and flight reports.
• Evaluate and interpret flight data on performance, handling, and malfunctions; assist resolution of anomalies.
• Provide operational input to aircraft design and recommend design changes based on flight-test findings.
• Collaborate on marketing, customer evaluation, and demonstration activities as required.

Skills

Military flight-test

Commercial Pilot Certificate

FAA ATP

U.S. citizenship

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering/related field

Job description

The mission

This role supports the Military Transport portfolio within Boeing Test & Evaluation, developing and flight-testing military derivatives of Boeing commercial aircraft for U.S. and international defense customers. Missions may involve communications, surveillance, self-defense, aerial refueling, military cargo and airdrop, and weapons-delivery systems across experimental, prototype, new-production, and modified-production aircraft.

What you’ll do

• Plan and execute ground, flight, and maintenance test flights for experimental, prototype, new-production, and modified-production aircraft.
• Verify system functionality across communications, surveillance, self-defense, aerial refueling, cargo/airdrop, and weapons-delivery systems.
• Assess aircraft performance, handling qualities, structural integrity, and certification status.
• Author and contribute to technical reports, flight manuals, and flight reports.
• Evaluate and interpret flight data on system performance, handling, and equipment malfunctions; support resolution of anomalies.
• Provide operational input to aircraft design and recommend design changes based on flight-test findings.
• Collaborate on marketing, customer evaluation, and demonstration activities as required.

Travel: 5%–20% depending on program activity.

What you bring (Required)

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, engineering technology (including manufacturing technology), computer science, data science, mathematics, physics, chemistry, or a directly related non‑U.S. equivalent.
• Military flight-test experience in transport-category airplanes.
• Commercial Pilot Certificate or FAA ATP with appropriate endorsements.
• Current FAA Class II medical certificate (or ability to obtain).
• Ability to obtain a U.S. security clearance (U.S. citizenship required).

Preferred qualifications

• Five or more years of military flight-test experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Graduate of a recognized military test pilot school.
• Flight-test experience on KC‑46, P‑8, or similar aircraft.
• Active U.S. Secret clearance.
• Prior aerial-refueling qualification and/or certification-test experience.
• Boeing commercial-model type ratings.
• Experience with aircraft certification processes and FAA and U.S. Department of Defense requirements.

Licenses, compliance & export control

• Licenses: CPL, ATP (Unrestricted or Restricted) with appropriate endorsements.
• Meets Boeing requirements for drug testing, conflict of interest, Pilot Records Database, export control, and security clearance.
• U.S. person status required for export-control compliance.
• Visa sponsorship is not available.

Why this role

• Shape the next generation of military derivatives built on proven Boeing commercial platforms.
• Fly diverse mission systems—from comms and surveillance to self-defense and aerial refueling.
• Collaborate with world‑class engineers and test professionals at Boeing Field.

Total rewards

Boeing offers a comprehensive Total Rewards package with competitive base pay and variable compensation opportunities.

• Health insurance, Flexible Spending Accounts, and Health Savings Accounts.
• Retirement savings plans.
• Life and disability insurance programs.
• Paid and unpaid time away from work.

Specific programs and options vary based on eligibility, geographic location, date of hire, and applicable collective bargaining agreements. Relocation available based on candidate eligibility.