Senior Flight Test Engineer

Relha LLC; Kentucky; On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401K with company match

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

AD&D

Flexible spending account

Disability insurance

Paid time off

Flexible work schedule

Career development support

Job summary

KBR, Inc. seeks a Senior Flight Test Manager to support the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Autonomous Air Refueling effort. You will guide acquisition test planning, oversee flight test activities, and manage vendor reporting across AFRL programs, ensuring compliant, timely, and technically rigorous testing.

The role requires 6+ years in T&E for DoD systems, MBSE and scheduling proficiency, and effective communication with stakeholders. On-site work at WPAFB, OH with moderate travel.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related technical field required.
• 6+ years of test & evaluation experience with DoD or similar programs.
• Ability to verify and validate system requirements.
• Proven ability to lead planning and execution events.
• Proficiency with MBSE, risk management, requirements management, scheduling, and backlog tools.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in a DoD context.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate with vendors and test organizations to develop test plans and monitor execution.
• Act as liaison to test stakeholders including units, contractors, users and program offices.
• Support development, implementation, and monitoring of T&E processes across acquisition phases.
• Provide technical briefings to government leadership and industry.
• Monitor contractor performance and provide assessments to program managers.
• Oversee flight test plans, procedures, and test cards with safety standards.

Skills

Test & Evaluation

Program management

Communication

Documentation & reporting

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Tools

MBSE

Risk management

Requirements management

Project scheduling

Software backlog management

Job description

KBR’s National Security Solutions team provides high-end engineering and advanced technology solutions to our customers in the intelligence and national security communities. In this position, your work will have a profound impact on the country’s most critical role – protecting our national security.

Why Join Us?

Innovative Projects: KBR’s work is at the forefront of engineering, logistics, operations, science, program management, mission IT and cybersecurity solutions.

Collaborative Environment: Be part of a dynamic team that thrives on collaboration and innovation, fostering a supportive and intellectually stimulating workplace.

Impactful Work: Your contributions will be pivotal in designing and optimizing defense systems that ensure national security and shape the future of space defense.

Position Summary:

KBR, Inc. is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior Flight Test Manager to support the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Autonomous Air Refueling research effort. This role will be responsible for providing expert-level flight test guidance on this complex program. This role will serve as the research and acquisition test manager responsible for developing, establishing and implementing aspects of a project/program through designated phases of the acquisition cycle for which no closely related precedents exist. The candidate will manage AFRL Flight Test processes, evaluate and manage vendor test plans, observe flight test activities and manage vendor reporting. The objective of this role is to support the Technology Transition Office (TTO) in the form of developing, producing, acquiring and testing material capabilities for the US Air Force.

Key Responsibilities:

Coordinate with vendors and test organizations such as AFRL/DO to assist in developing detailed test plans, support resource management, and monitor execution.

Act as a liaison to test stakeholders including test units, developing contractors, users, and other program offices.

Support development, implementation, and monitoring of processes to manage cost, schedule, conduct, and strategy of T&E activities across acquisition phases.

Provide technical input and briefings to government leadership and industry representatives regarding T&E status and progress.

Monitor contractor performance and provide assessments to government PMs on program objectives.

Coordinate activities among functional specialists in engineering, program scheduling, configuration/data management, test, and logistics.

Provide technical support to contractual, financial, and programmatic aspects of projects through acquisition phases.

Apply acquisition test management principles to identify technical risks and support program success across acquisition phases.

Engage with stakeholders to resolve technical issues and provide updates to government and contractor teams.

Manage the planning, coordination, and execution of complex flight test programs for various aircraft platforms and systems.

Coordinate and manage detailed flight test plans, procedures, and test cards, ensuring clear objectives, performance criteria, and safety standards.

Manage and oversee ground and flight test events, including range and airspace coordination.

Perform in-depth analysis of flight test data to evaluate system functionality.

Prepare detailed flight test reports, documenting results, highlighting key findings, and providing actionable recommendations.

Evaluate vendor deliverables to ensure contract performance and compliance.

Ensure compliance with all relevant safety standards, regulatory requirements, and program guidelines such as AFRL Manual 99-103 and AFRLI 61-103

Identify potential safety risks and technical challenges and develop mitigation strategies.

Location: On-site (WPAFB, OH)

Travel Requirements: Moderate Less than 20%

Working Hours: Standard – Core hours 0900 - 1500

Qualifications:

Required:

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related technical field.

6+ years of experience in test and evaluation with a specific focus on Air Force acquisition programs or similar DoD systems.

Demonstrated ability to manage system requirements verification and validation activities

Demonstrated ability to lead planning and execution events.

Proficiency with tools and technologies commonly used in Air Force and DoD acquisition programs, such as model based systems engineering, risk management, requirements management, project scheduling, and software backlog management tools.

Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex concepts to program managers, contractors, and non-technical stakeholders.

Exceptional problem-solving skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines within the AFRL environment.

Ability to navigate the complexities of military contracting processes and collaborate with defense contractors to ensure compliance with Air Force requirements.

Experience with prototyping and experimentation within the DoW.

DAWIA Test and Evaluation certification.

Expertise in software integration and testing.

Minimum of 2 years' experience in SCI programs.

Demonstrated ability to work well independently or as a team member.

Demonstrated ability to drive projects to closure and to assimilate and correlate project information in a fast-paced environment.

Demonstrated ability to communicate with technical and non-technical project teams.

Experience acquiring and/or testing autonomous systems.

Experience with Collaborative Combat Aircraft platforms and supporting architecture.

Experience with Air to Air Refueling test & evaluation.

KBR offers a selection of competitive lifestyle benefits which could include

• 401K plan with company match
• medical
• dental
• vision
• life insurance
• AD&D
• flexible spending account
• disability
• paid time off
• or flexible work schedule.
• We support career advancement through professional training and development.

Belong, Connect and Grow at KBR

At KBR, we are passionate about our people and our Zero Harm culture. These inform all that we do and are at the heart of our commitment to, and ongoing journey toward being a People First company. That commitment is central to our team of team’s philosophy and fosters an environment where everyone can Belong, Connect and Grow. We Deliver – Together.

KBR is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, veteran status, genetic information, union status and/or beliefs, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.