Staff Flight Test Engineer – Equity & Autonomous VTOL

Apera; Texas; On-site; USD 144,000 - 262,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Equity

Job summary

Apera in Wichita, KS is seeking a Staff Flight Test Engineer to lead ground and flight test campaigns for a next-generation autonomous VTOL jet platform. You will own flight test strategy, aircraft readiness and test execution, collaborating with engineering, autonomy and flight operations teams.

This senior role requires 5–10+ years in developmental flight testing or aerospace systems, an active Secret clearance, and willingness to travel up to 80% to support non-Wichita testing windows and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a STEM discipline.
• 5–10+ years of developmental flight testing or related aerospace experience.
• Active Secret security clearance.
• Willingness to travel up to 80% for non-Wichita assignments.

Responsibilities

• Lead ground and flight test campaigns from planning through execution and analysis.
• Develop test plans, test cards, success criteria, risk assessments and safety docs.
• Coordinate mission control, telemetry monitoring, and pre/post-flight activities.
• Support hover, transition and forward-flight testing; evaluate systems and autonomy.
• Lead readiness reviews and contribute to hazard analyses and risk assessments.
• Analyze flight data, troubleshoot anomalies and drive corrective actions.
• Coordinate with engineering, avionics, instrumentation, maintenance and flight operations.
• Produce technical reports and support range operations and remote deployments.

Skills

Flight test leadership

Test planning

Data analysis

Telemetry & avionics knowledge

Technical leadership

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM

Tools

Telemetry systems

Flight test instrumentation

Job description

Apera in Wichita, KS is seeking a Staff Flight Test Engineer to lead ground and flight test campaigns for a next-generation autonomous VTOL jet platform. You will own flight test strategy, aircraft readiness and test execution, collaborating with engineering, autonomy and flight operations teams.

This senior role requires 5–10+ years in developmental flight testing or aerospace systems, an active Secret clearance, and willingness to travel up to 80% to support non-Wichita testing windows and