Sr. Staff Test Pilot

Wisk Aero; Hollister (CA); On-site; USD 192,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

9 Fridays off for full-time

Flexible vacation time off

11 company holidays

401(k) plan with company match

Commuter assistance

Education assistance

Free catered lunches

Flight lessons

Wellness allowances

Snacks and drinks

Job summary

Wisk Aero is seeking a Senior Staff Test Pilot for onsite work at Hollister, CA. You will lead flight test activities, author test plans, and collaborate with engineers and certification teams to validate a new all-electric aircraft.

You should bring 12+ years of test pilot experience, FAA/ATP credentials, and a strong background in safety management and UAS/test program leadership. Remote travel to offsite facilities may occur.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of test pilot experience in complex aerospace systems.
• FAA Commercial Pilot or ATP certificate (Fixed or Rotary Wing).
• Bachelor's degree in engineering or a technical field.
• Experience with flight and operations safety risk management.
• Experience in FAA/TCCA/EASA certification programs.

Responsibilities

• Author aircraft and subsystem test plans and assess test hazards with mitigations.
• Conduct flight tests and safety chase across multiple aircraft platforms.
• Develop trajectory planning for UAS mission profiles.
• Report results to certification authorities and support program docs.
• Mentor fellow testers and contribute to safety culture.

Skills

Flight test experience

Safety risk management

Team leadership mentorship

MBSE familiarity

Unmanned aircraft test

Electric propulsion tests

Formation flight training

Data-driven engineering decisions

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's in engineering/technical field

Master's in engineering/technical field

Engineering test pilot school

Tools

MBSE tools

Job description

At Wisk, we're transforming the future of urban mobility through safe, all-electric, autonomous flight. We are a passionate team working together toward a sustainable future, solving high-impact problems that have never been solved before. By delivering everyday flight for everyone, we're making it possible to spend less time getting there and more time being there. If you want to be part of shaping the future of mobility, then read on! We are looking for a Senior Staff Test Pilot to join us in the test, evaluation and certification of a new class of all-electric aircraft. As a member of our Flight Test team, you will be working closely with fellow test pilots, flight test technicians, flight test engineers, system engineers and our certification group to verify and validate a revolutionary new aircraft design. Wisk recognizes the challenges that the UAM industry faces in the certification of our vehicles. We are taking a pragmatic approach to this task and consequently are looking for experienced flight test personnel to join our talented team to make the certification process as efficient and effective as possible.

Role Summary

Due to the nature of the work required for this position, this is an onsite opportunity working from our Hollister, CA flight test facility. Occasional travel to offsite test locations and training facilities will be part of the scope of your duties.

Responsibilities

• authoring of air vehicle and subsystem test plans, evaluating hazards posed by the method and scope of test, and establishing appropriate mitigations.
• conduct flight test and safety chase, piloting our general aviation support aircraft, our surrogate flying test beds, and our un-crewed aircraft systems.
• develop, review and approve trajectory planning for our UAS mission profiles.
• report test results to a standard required by certification authorities.
• support the development of program documentation including restrictions and special instructions to test, Aircraft Flight Manuals and Standard Operating Procedures.
• mentor and lead fellow flight testers, supporting their professional development while exemplifying the elements of Wisk’s Safety Management System.

Qualifications

• 12+ years experience as a test pilot in flight testing fixed/rotary-wing aircraft or similarly complex aerospace systems.
• FAA Commercial Pilot or ATP certificate (Fixed or Rotary Wing) Minimum FAA Second Class Medical certificate
• Bachelors of Science degree in a relevant engineering or technical field
• Graduate of an engineering test pilot school or program.
• Depth of experience with both Flight and Operations Safety Risk Management
• Capability to work within the engineering organization to inform vehicle design
• Experience mission-relating engineering data to operational use cases.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills for multi-disciplinary collaboration and mentoring.
• Desired 2,500+ hours of flight experience, with 200+ hrs in flight test
• Experience conducting flight programs pursuing FAA/TCCA/EASA Certification
• Unmanned aircraft flight test experience
• Electric propulsion or high stored energy test experience
• Both fixed-wing and turbine-engine rotary-wing flight test experience
• Human-to-vehicle interface design, test and evaluation experience
• Formal formation flight training and subsequent formation flight experience
• Masters degree in a relevant engineering or technical field
• Familiarity with MBSE processes

Job Type & Salary

Job Type: Full-time

Pay range the company expects to pay: $192,000 - $240,000 per year - The starting base salary within this range for this role varies based on factors such as your geographical location, and your relevant job-related experience that is consistent with a business necessity.

Benefits

• We offer a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, 9 off Fridays for full-time employees throughout the year, flexible vacation time off, 11 company holidays, a 401(k) plan with 50% company matching vested immediately, commuter assistance, and education assistance.
• We also offer a variety of perks such as free catered lunches, flight lessons, wellness allowances, snacks, drinks, employee referral bonus, charitable giving match, patent bonus program, and more.

EEO & Diversity

Wisk Aero provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, ethnic or national origin, age, disability/handicap, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, sexual orientation, civil status, political convictions, language, social condition, or any other protected characteristics. In addition to federal law requirements, Wisk Aero abides by applicable provincial and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training Wisk Aero is an E-Verify employer.

Wisk is an Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) company dedicated to delivering safe, everyday flight for everyone. Wisk’s self-flying, eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) air taxi is the first candidate for FAA certification of a passenger carrying autonomous aircraft. Wisk is a fully-owned Boeing subsidiary and is headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, with locations around the world. With over a decade of experience and over 1750+ test flights, Wisk is shaping the future of daily commutes and urban travel, safely and sustainably.