Staff Pilot Test

Northrop Grumman Corp.; Edwards Air Force Base (CA); On-site; USD 214,000 - 321,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Savings plan

Paid holidays and PTO

Job summary

Northrop Grumman at Edwards AFB seeks a Staff Test Pilot for developmental test of military aircraft. The role involves developing test techniques, planning flight tests, and coordinating with flight operations and engineering to verify airworthiness and performance.

Travel up to 10%, must hold an active secret clearance and TPS/FAA instrument-rating prerequisites. Primary salary range is listed; comprehensive benefits apply with potential bonuses.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree plus 12 years related experience or Master’s plus 10 years or PhD plus 9 years.
• Active US Government secret clearance required.
• Must maintain training qualifications per contracting requirements.
• 1,500 hours of flight experience as Pilot in Command.
• Military Test Pilot School (TPS) graduate.

Responsibilities

• Provide test pilot expertise to assigned programs and ensure air vehicle safety.
• Plan, develop and execute test flights to verify airworthiness and performance.
• Collaborate with Flight Ops Manager and Engineering on test operations.
• Engage with program IPTs and REs to validate designs and modifications.
• Contribute to safety reviews and share lessons across programs.

Skills

Pilot in Command

Flight testing

Leadership

Strong communication

Stakeholder collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

PhD

Tools

FAA instrument rating

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be availableCLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: YesCLEARANCE TYPE: SecretTRAVEL: Yes, 25% of the TimeDescriptionAt Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.Northrop Grumman’s Test and Evaluation (T&E) organization is seeking a Staff Test Pilot for developmental test of military aircraft. Candidate may conduct demonstration flights with customers, government officials or other personnel to exhibit vehicle performance, flying qualities and system capabilities.Responsibilities include developing test techniques, assisting in cockpit/workstation design, working with flight test engineers creating test plans, developing test products, evaluating systems in the laboratory environment, simulation, ground test, flight test, and reporting on test results. Selected candidate must successfully complete initial and recurrent training and qualifications as a basis for continued employment. Travel may be required up to 10% of the time.This position is located 100% on-site at Edwards AFB, CARESPONSIBILITIESProvides test pilot expertise to assigned programs; technology/research efforts to ensure man-machine interface issues and requirements are identified for new or modified aircraft designsPlan, develop and execute test flights on aircraft to verify airworthiness and performance capability; validate and verify compliance with specifications and to determine operational effectiveness and/or suitabilityPartners with Flight Ops Manager and Engineering team to ensure test team is conducting safe and effective ground and flight test operationsCollaborates with customer pilotsEngage with program IPTs and REs to ensure air vehicle and ground station designs/modifications are effective and suitableProvides test pilot inputs at FRR, TRRs and SRBs ensuring safe conduct of all NGAS flight test missionsEnsures best practices and lessons learned are shared with other program pilotsProvides engineering test pilot expertise and safety guidance to flight test engineers for design definition, simulator flights, test planning, flight test techniques, test conduct, test reporting and proposal preparationProvide test pilot inputs to System Safety to ensure safe conduct of flight test missionsProvides pilot inputs into development of preliminary flight manuals and aircrew checklistsMaintain proficiencies and currenciesPromotes active involvement in flight test professional societies and industry forums; fully supports Test Communities of Practice (CoPs) and Flight Test Safety SummitBasic Qualifications:Bachelor degree plus 12 years of related experience OR Master’s plus 10 years of related experience OR PhD plus 9 years of related experience.Must be willing to obtain and maintain the appropriate medical clearance(s), as defined per the customer’s contracting requirements, for the duration of your employment.Must be willing to obtain and maintain all training qualifications, as needed per the customer’s contracting requirements, for the duration of your employment.Must have an active US Government secret clearance (with a background investigation within the past 6 years or enrolled into Continuous Evaluation).Must have the ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program (SAP) clearance, within a reasonable amount of time as determined by business needs.FAA commercial Multi Engine instrument rated pilotMinimum of 1,500 hours of flight experience as Pilot in CommandCurrent FAA Class II Medical or higherMilitary Test Pilot School (TPS) GraduateExperience in flight testing, with ability to work with engineering to develop solutions to integration issues, and to bridge between the customer users and Northrop Grumman designersPreferred Qualifications:Current, proficient, and qualified in military aircraftCurrent DoD Top Secret clearanceStrong interpersonal and leadership skillsExcellent communications skills, including the ability to brief test results to executive leadershipPrimary Level Salary Range: $214,200.00 - $321,200.00The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions.Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.