Director of Flight Test

• Lead all experimental and prototype flight test activities, from concept through certification
• Develop and execute test strategies for first flights, envelope expansion, systems validation, and performance testing
• Oversee creation of flight test plans, safety risk assessments, hazard analyses, and flight readiness reviews
• Partner closely with engineering teams to validate new designs, avionics, autonomy, propulsion, and control systems under test
• Direct the work of test pilots, flight test engineers, instrumentation specialists, and ground crews during experimental campaigns
• Ensure adherence to FAA/EASA/DoD experimental test standards and experimental certificate requirements
• Manage relationships with regulatory authorities, DERs, and other stakeholders to align test programs with certification objectives
• Provide leadership in accident/incident prevention, emergency response planning, and operational risk management
• Present technical and program-level updates to senior leadership, partners, and certification bodies
• Foster a culture of safety, innovation, and technical excellence within the test organization

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field (advanced degree preferred)
• 10 + years of aerospace flight test experience, with significant focus on experimental or developmental aircraft programs
• Demonstrated success managing first-flight and experimental test programs for prototype aircraft
• Deep knowledge of flight sciences, test instrumentation, telemetry, and data analysis specific to experimental testing
• Expertise in FAA Part 21, Part 23/25, Part 27/29, or equivalent experimental certification processes
• Proven leadership of multidisciplinary test teams in high-risk experimental environments
• Strong technical communication skills, with the ability to brief both technical teams and executive stakeholders

• Graduate of a recognized test pilot school or experimental flight test engineer program
• Pilot certification (experimental or test pilot background)

health, dental, life, unlimited vacation, and 401k with match