General Summary
Technical Director of Flight Test Engineering is responsible for planning and managing engineering aspects of flight and ground testing as part of the development lifecycle of our product. This includes developing and implementing testing strategies and procedures, Integrated Master Schedules and budgets; headcount analyses and plans; developing training; equipping, leading and managing flight test engineers and flight test instrumentation engineers; developing flight test engineering and instrumentation tools and processes; designing and implementing instrumentation systems; acting as a liaison and reporting status to senior leadership; and ensuring compliance with industry standards and regulations. A primary focus will be on FAA-compatible flight test procedures to ensure overall safety and compliance with certification programs.
Responsibilities
- Lead Engineering Testing Efforts: Develop, implement, and oversee independent testing strategies and procedures for the full product lifecycle, ensuring quality, reliability, and compliance with appropriate applicable standards.
- Program Management: Develop and execute flight test program schedules, instrumentation projects to support flight test programs, and prepare budgets to support execution.
- Personnel Management: Develop human resource requirements (skill mix and experience) to ensure proper staffing of the Flight Test Engineering and Flight Test Instrumentation teams.
- Manage Testing Team: Mentor, lead, and train staff while fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation. Create and maintain training programs to develop flight test engineers and instrumentation engineers in on-aircraft flight test activities, and telemetry control room operations to perform duties as test directors and test conductors.
- Ensure Regulatory Compliance: Collaborate with internal safety and compliance teams to ensure all products meet or exceed legal and industry standards, including FAA regulations.
- Serve as liaison between different engineering groups and senior leadership to ensure testing strategies and procedures align with overall business goals.
- Oversee budgeting, planning, and allocation of resources for testing efforts ensuring optimal utilization and efficiency.
- Oversee Test Data Analysis: Organize, review, and analyze test data, and test results, providing insights, and recommendations for product improvements and risk mitigation. Develop and maintain software tools to manage flight test data, including raw data from aircraft tests, analytical tools to process data, and documentation tools for flight test reports.
- Support Continuous Improvement: Monitor industry trends and best practices in testing methodologies, incorporating new techniques and technologies to maintain a leading edge in the field.
- Improve the end-to-end experience, working closely with the engineers to identify and close major issues.
- Other duties as assigned.
Requirements
- Bachelor's Degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field; Master's degree preferred.
- Minimum of 10 years in the role of Flight Test Engineer, preferably with a significant portion in leadership roles.
- Proven expertise in flight testing is essential, or relevant experience in commercial aviation, general aviation, or defense sectors is also considered applicable.
- Proven experience in developing programs including Integrated Master Schedules and budgets.
- Experience in leading diverse teams with proven results.
- Highly analytical mindset with strong problem-solving skills.
- Familiarity with data analysis tools and software commonly used in flight testing.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities.
- Detail-oriented communication and documentation skills
- Strong leadership and team management skills.