As a Sr. Flight Test Engineer (FTE), you will lead ground and flight test activities. You’ll ensure the project meets mission requirements and maintains technical, budgetary and schedule integrity with safety at the forefront. You will be the communication liaison between engineers and managers by developing consistent test methods, processes, and procedures and be responsible for coordinating activities involved with planning, executing, and reporting on ground and flight tests. You will plan and conduct test flights, provide timely test reports, and provide some analysis as required.
The FTE works closely with engineering to turn their requirements into specific test procedures and plans in order to verify the safe and effective operations of our flight test vehicles. Configuration control, test conduct, and reporting are standard duties.
Job Responsibilities:
- Lead ground test and flight test activities
- Gather and develop the test requirements from the different engineering disciplines
- Work with engineering to turn requirements into test configuration, procedures, conditions, and maneuvers
- Develop test plans
- Develop the test schedules with project engineers and program managers
- Coordinate test schedules with maintenance, engineering, and flight ops
- Define control room display requirements and updates
- Define and monitor configurations for tests
- Conduct tests on the aircraft and in the control room
- Provide daily reports on vehicle progress and reports on tests as flown and completed
- Update flight logs and test documentation
- Write test reports to document results
Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, preferably in aerospace
10 years of test flight experience - Knowledge of flight test and aerospace Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills
- Able to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and thrive in a complex product development environment with multiple priorities.
- Experience with IMP/IMS, risk management, configuration management, requirements management processes preferred.
Preferred:
- A general understanding of aerospace drawings, specifications, and manufacturing processes
- Test Pilot School graduate, or flight test course work
- Hands on Flight test experience highly desired
#LI-DR1
The annual U.S. base salary range for this full-time position is $105,700.00–$161,200.00. The base pay actually offered will vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, location, and experience and take into account internal equity. Other forms of pay (e.g., bonus or long term incentive) may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and other benefits, dependent on the position offered. For more information regarding Virgin Galactic benefits, please visit https://vgcareers.virgingalactic.com/global/en/benefits
Who We Are
Virgin Galactic is transforming humanity’s relationship with space. By making it more open and accessible, we are connecting the world to the love, wonder and awe inspired by space travel, helping to create new opportunities for the benefit of life on Earth. Whether it’s supporting cutting-edge research missions for scientists and students, or offering life-changing experiences for the adventurers among us, Virgin Galactic is THE spaceline for Earth. Such an audacious vision requires a team as driven as they are curious – one capable of redefining the boundaries of what’s possible.
Export Requirements
To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. Person (either a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident or a protected individual as defined 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) or be able to obtain the required authorization from either the U.S. Department of State or the U.S. Department of Commerce. The applicant must also not be included in the list of Specifically Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control. See list here.
EEO Statement
Virgin Galactic is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Virgin Galactic is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.
DRUG FREE WORKPLACE
Virgin Galactic is committed to a Drug Free Workplace. All applicants post offer and active teammates are subject to testing for marijuana, cocaine, opioids, amphetamines, PCP, and alcohol when criteria is met as outlined in our policies. This can include pre-employment, random, reasonable suspicion, and accident related drug and alcohol testing.
