Flight Test Engineer
POSITION SUMMARY
Ace Aeronautics is seeking an experienced Flight Test Engineer to support planning, execution, and reporting across all Company test and certification programs. This position operates within the Certification and Test department under the Director of Certification and Test and interfaces directly with customers, DoD stakeholders, and the FAA. The Flight Test Engineer applies engineering rigor throughout the iterative development process to ensure deliverable products achieve or exceed system performance specifications and technical requirements, on time and within budget.
PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Support and participate in the Ace Aeronautics Quality Management System (QMS).
- Provide technical insight across all Company programs, including trade studies, aircraft upgrade designs, subsystem and system-level qualifications, spiral upgrades, new product initiatives, and research and development activities.
- Plan, execute, and report on the overall test and certification requirements of each Ace Aeronautics program, ensuring appropriate engineering rigor is applied throughout the development process to enable early, salient feedback to the iterative design cycle.
- Perform duties as flight test engineer, instrumentation engineer, and data analyst across active certification programs.
- Manage instrumentation, data acquisition, and data reduction efforts for all programs; participate in engineering test flights as required.
- Maintain responsibility for all technical aspects of testing and certification, ensuring system requirements are well understood, test objectives are clearly defined, and test design will achieve the required certification basis.
- Interact with customers, DoD, and the FAA (or authorized delegates) as a company certification specialist and primary technical interface.
- Serve as an aircraft Subject Matter Expert (SME) for assigned platforms and programs.
- Adhere to Ace Aeronautics engineering and product development standards and processes.
- Maintain the Ace Aeronautics Systems Integration Laboratory (SIL) and direct complex engineering test flights via the Ace Aeronautics Telemetry Station as required.
- Support resourcing, training, development, and professional growth of subordinate personnel.
- Manage engineering activities in coordination with the Director of the Engineering Test and Certification Branch.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or Electrical Engineering (Master’s degree in Aviation Systems from an accredited flight test program such as UTSI considered equivalent).
- Previous experience as a flight test engineer supporting large, complex developmental programs for a government organization or Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM).
- Previous experience in requirements definition and assessment of design specifications.
- Previous experience in aircraft certification, including direct interface with the FAA or cognizant civil aviation authority.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a Second-Class FAA Medical Certificate.
- Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
- U.S. citizenship required due to program sensitivities.
Preferred
- Graduate of a DoD-recognized formal test pilot school or flight test engineering course (USNTPS, USAF TPS, ETPS, EPNER, or equivalent).
- Familiarity with FAA Part 27/29 rotorcraft certification regulations, Advisory Circulars, and applicable TSOs.
- Experience with DO-series standards (DO-160, DO-178, DO-254, DO-326A) in the context of avionics certification.
- Familiarity with ITAR requirements and controlled/sensitive information handling.
- Experience with flight test instrumentation systems, data acquisition hardware, and post-flight data reduction tools (DEWESoft, MATLAB, or equivalent).
WORKING CONDITIONS
This position requires regular presence at the Ace Aeronautics facility and active flight line operations. Candidate must be comfortable operating in proximity to rotorcraft during ground and airborne test operations. Participation in engineering test flights as a flight test engineer or observer is expected. Travel to customer sites, FAA offices, or contractor facilities may be required on a periodic basis.
Benefits:
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Disability insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid parental leave
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
