Senior Flight Test Pilot

Garmin; Mesa (AZ); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Garmin Benefits

Job summary

Garmin in Mesa, AZ seeks a Senior Flight Test Pilot to provide technical leadership across flight test activities, develop ground and flight test plans, act as Pilot in Command during tests, and collaborate with certification authorities to resolve issues.

You will draft certification plans, contribute to flight manuals, mentor junior pilots, and represent end users in engineering discussions for complex aircraft programs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical or Aerospace Engineering; minimum GPA ≥ 3.0.
• Commercial Pilot Certificate and 2nd Class FAA Medical Certificate required.
• Minimum 1,500 hours total flight time and 200 flight test hours.
• Previous flight test experience and ability to work with certification authorities.
• Proficiency with advanced engineering and flight test tools; understanding of certification processes.

Responsibilities

• Act as Pilot in Command for experimental aircraft with significant design changes and conduct complex tests.
• Draft ground/flight test plans for complex programs, including untested scenarios.
• Define operational characteristics and represent end users in engineering reviews.

Skills

Commercial Pilot Certificate

2nd Class FAA Medical Certificate

Flight hours

Flight test experience

Flight Test Leadership

DER / ODA qualifications

Helicopter pilot qualifications

Systems engineering experience

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical or Aerospace Engineering

Job description

Overview

We are seeking a full-time Senior Flight Test Pilot for Garmin's Mesa, AZ location. In this role, you will be responsible for providing technical leadership in performance of flight test pilot activities including developing ground and flight test plans for complex projects, acting as Pilot in Command during execution of flight tests, authoring certification plans or project level documentation for flight manuals, effectively representing the end user, and working with certification authorities to resolve certification issues.

Essential Functions

• Acts as Pilot in Command for experimental aircraft with moderately significant changes to certified design and conducts complex, moderate-risk tests
• May act as Flight Test Project Lead for moderately complex projects
• Drafts ground/flight test plans for complex test programs including programs with tests not previously conducted
• Defines operational characteristics for the system under development/test and effectively represents end user of individual products
• Understands and is able to maintain moderately complex test aircraft configurations and coordinates with engineering teams
• Analyzes data to assist with development of systems, determines compliance with requirements, and provides certification data
• Addresses issues with test aircraft and installations including advanced troubleshooting and provides support to aircraft maintenance
• Identifies/tracks issues during flight test, offers quality solutions, and verifies resolution for moderately complex projects
• Leverages thorough understanding of aircraft certification process and associated regulations to author certification plans or content for complex projects, including new content
• Creates project level documentation structure for flight manuals and technical publications intended for use by pilots
• Serves as an expert in flight operations aspects of systems sufficient to communicate functional hazards and failure effects to safety analysis team
• Works with certification authorities to resolve certification issues
• Revises or authors new procedures and makes significant safety contributions to the flight test organization
• Provides reliable solutions to a wide range of difficult problems using sound problem solving techniques
• Serves as a mentor to less experienced flight test pilots (Flight Test Pilot 2)

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical or Aerospace Engineering AND a minimum of 5 years relevant experience
• Excellent academics (cumulative GPA greater than or equal to 3.0 as a general rule)
• Commercial Pilot Certificate
• 2nd Class FAA Medical Certificate
• Minimum 1,500 hours total flight time
• Minimum 200 Flight Test Hours
• Previous flight test experience
• Demonstrates proficient use of advanced engineering and flight test tools including performing advanced troubleshooting on complex avionics system installations
• Demonstrates solid and proficient understanding of certification process and associated regulations
• Demonstrates strong and effective verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills

Desired Qualifications

• Previous experience in systems engineering or software development
• Flight Test Pilot DER or ODA Unit Member Qualification
• Helicopter pilot qualifications

Garmin International is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran’s status, age or disability.

• This position is eligible for Garmin's benefit program. Details can be found here: Garmin Benefits