Flight Test Engineer

About the role

As a Flight Test Engineer at Applied Intuition, you will report directly to the Head of Acuity Aerial Autonomy. You will lead planning, provisioning, execution, analysis, and reporting of flight test operations and campaigns, safely and with technical rigor. You will work closely with software developers, hardware integrators, hardware vendors, and customers to continuously develop, improve, and field aerial autonomy capabilities. You will proactively improve and adapt flight test processes within the company. You will also embed in product, project, and demo teams to understand their needs and support their flight test activities.

At Applied Intuition, you will:

Gather and clarify test requirements from stakeholders and program managers

Create test planning and test management products, such as test plans, hazard analyses, test cards, and checklists

Provision personnel, equipment, facilities, procedures, schedules, and open-air ranges for flight test operations

Execute tests as test director or test conductor, and sometimes as system operator

Analyze test results to inform post-operation decisions, and support engineering analysis of test data

Report operation and campaign progress to stakeholders, with recommendations for next actions

Coordinate with customers from planning through reporting so each test meets its objectives

Identify flight test staffing needs, and work with engineering managers to fill them

Provide aviation subject matter expertise to software developers and hardware integrators

Build productive relationships with DoD warfighter domain experts and third-party UAS vendors

Develop partnerships with test ranges to secure persistent access for flight test campaigns

We’re looking for someone who has:

3+ years of professional experience with flight test responsibilities

Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering or a related field (e.g., Mechanical Engineering, Astronautical Engineering, Physics)

Clarified, created, and refined test objectives, and led test plan working groups, test reviews, and safety reviews

Authored clear and concise test plans, hazard analyses, communication plans, checklists, and test cards

Secured personnel, equipment, and range time for test operations

Served as test conductor or test director on test missions, briefed objectives, and decided in real time whether to continue or terminate testing

Analyzed test data for system evaluation and troubleshooting

Authored clear and concise test reports and quick-look reports, and kept stakeholders informed of progress

Supported acquisition, test, and evaluation of aviation systems

Bridged the gap between technical experts and vehicle operators

Travel Requirements:

Must be willing to travel up to 50% of the time to test ranges and customer sites, often for multi-week campaigns

Security Requirements:

Must be a U.S. citizen

Must have an active U.S. security clearance

For more information about U.S. security clearances: click here.

Nice to have:

Military flight test experience

Graduate of a long or short course at NTPS, USAF TPS, Navy TPS, or equivalent

Graduate degree in aerospace engineering, computer science, data analysis, or a related technical field

Demonstrated ability to execute tests within DoD programs and organizations

sUAS operations experience in the National Airspace System (NAS)

sUAS autopilot operations experience, such as QGroundControl, Pixhawk, and MAVLink

FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate

FAA Private Pilot Certificate

Experience deploying for flight test campaigns

Proven ability as a self-starter who can adapt and define their role

Compensation at Applied Intuition for eligible roles includes base salary, equity, and benefits. Base salary is a single component of the total compensation package, which may also include equity in the form of options and/or restricted stock units, comprehensive health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance coverage, 401k retirement benefits with employer match, learning and wellness stipends, and paid time off. Note that benefits are subject to change and may vary based on jurisdiction of employment.

Applied Intuition pay ranges reflect the minimum and maximum intended target base salary for new hire salaries for the position. The actual base salary offered to a successful candidate will additionally be influenced by a variety of factors including experience, credentials & certifications, educational attainment, skill level requirements, interview performance, and the level and scope of the position.

Please reference the job posting subtitle for where this position will be located.

Don’t meet every single requirement? If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Applied Intuition is an equal opportunity employer and federal contractor or subcontractor. Consequently, the parties agree that, as applicable, they will abide by the requirements of 41 CFR 60-1.4(a), 41 CFR 60-300.5(a) and 41 CFR 60-741.5(a) and that these laws are incorporated herein by reference. These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities, and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin. These regulations require that covered prime contractors and subcontractors take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status or disability. The parties also agree that, as applicable, they will abide by the requirements of Executive Order 13496 (29 CFR Part 471, Appendix A to Subpart A), relating to the notice of employee rights under federal labor laws.

FOR US-BASED ROLES: Applied Intuition is committed to providing an accessible and inclusive application and interview experience to applicants who are disabled veterans and other applicants with disabilities or medical conditions. Reasonable accommodations are available, requesting an accommodation will not affect your candidacy in any way, and you are not required to disclose the nature of your disability or medical condition in order to make a request. If you require an accommodation please contact careers@applied.co. We will work with you!