Staff Flight Test Engineer - Experimental Aircraft

Confidential Search - Staff / Senior Staff Engineer, Flight Test

Location: Los Angeles

Employment Type: Full-time

Compensation: Competetive salary + Equity + Bonus, depending on experience and level

Key Responsibilities

• Develop detailed ground and flight-test plans, procedures, test cards, and supporting documentation.
• Lead or support execution of experimental aircraft test activities.
• Coordinate test readiness activities across engineering, flight operations, maintenance, instrumentation, and other technical functions.
• Collect, validate, analyze, and report aircraft test data and results.
• Identify technical issues and test anomalies and support root-cause investigation and resolution.
• Support flight-test safety and risk management, including hazard identification, risk mitigation, and participation in safety and test-readiness reviews.
• Support the development, integration, installation, and troubleshooting of aircraft instrumentation and data-acquisition systems.
• Provide hands-on engineering support during aircraft ground and flight operations.
• Work closely with aircraft maintenance personnel and A&P mechanics in support of aircraft configuration, troubleshooting, maintenance, and test readiness.
• Support aircraft logistics, test-site operations, facility readiness, and related operational requirements.
• Contribute technical judgement and flight-test expertise to the broader development and certification program.

Candidate Profile

We are looking for an accomplished flight-test engineer who combines strong theoretical knowledge with practical aircraft test experience.

Required Experience

• A bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related technical discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.
• At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in experimental flight-test engineering.
• Demonstrated experience planning and supporting aircraft ground and flight-test programs.
• Strong knowledge of aircraft instrumentation, data acquisition, and test-data analysis.
• Experience providing ground-based engineering support during flight-test operations.
• Familiarity with FAA certification requirements and regulations, particularly 14 CFR Part 23.
• The ability to operate effectively in a hands-on, fast-moving aircraft development and test environment.
• Strong written communication skills, including preparation of formal test plans, reports, and technical documentation.

Additional experience that would be particularly valuable includes

• A master's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
• 10+ years of progressively responsible experimental flight-test engineering experience.
• Significant responsibility for leading aircraft test programs or complex test campaigns.
• Direct on-aircraft engineering support during experimental flight testing.
• Experience working with FAA representatives, including Designated Airworthiness Representatives (DARs).
• Participation in aircraft development or test programs that achieved FAA Part 23 certification.
• Experience supporting certification test programs and producing certification-quality test evidence and reports.
• An FAA Class III medical certificate.
• Graduation from a recognized military or civilian pilot training program.
• Pilot experience or substantial experience working directly with experimental test pilots and flight crews.

What Success Looks Like

In this role, success will mean becoming a trusted technical leader within the flight-test organization who can independently take complex test objectives from engineering requirements through safe execution and defensible results.

• Improve the quality and efficiency of flight-test planning and execution.
• Maintain rigorous safety standards across experimental aircraft operations.
• Produce clear, technically robust test documentation and reports.
• Identify and resolve issues quickly during active test campaigns.
• Strengthen coordination between engineering, aircraft operations, maintenance, and flight crews.
• Support the company as its aircraft programs progress toward increasingly mature development and certification milestones.

Reporting & Working Environment

The position reports into the company's aircraft operations / flight-test leadership organization. This is primarily an on-site position due to the operational nature of the work. Regular presence around experimental aircraft, maintenance activities, instrumentation installations, ground tests, and flight-test operations will be required. Frequent travel between the company's primary facility and a nearby flight-test location should be expected.

Compensation

The anticipated base salary range is: $120,000-$190,000 per year + Equity + Bonus Final compensation and title will depend on the candidate's experience, technical depth, flight-test leadership background, and alignment with Staff or Senior Staff-level expectations.

Confidentiality

This search is being conducted on a confidential basis. Additional information regarding the company, aircraft programs, technology, and organizational structure will be shared with qualified candidates at the appropriate stage of the process.