Flight Test Engineering Lead
On-siteSydney, New South Wales, Australia
Job Summary
Lead a small team of flight test engineers while personally executing test design, vehicle operations, and data analysis for autonomous aerial vehicles. Own the flight test campaign schedule from planning through post-test reporting, coordinating with program leadership and serving as the primary interface with customer test authorities during joint events. Make risk-informed decisions on test readiness and safety-of-flight matters, then brief results to stakeholders. Author and review flight test plans, test cards, and data reduction plans, while defining test points, flight envelopes, and success criteria. Execute flight tests as a conductor or operator, manage instrumentation and telemetry setups, and coordinate range operations and regulatory compliance. Support subsystem integration, operate physical test environments, and perform data reduction to evaluate vehicle performance. Provide in-field debug, repair, and maintenance support during deployments.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or a related discipline
- 7+ years of experience in flight test engineering, systems integration, or a closely related test and evaluation discipline
- Demonstrated experience planning and executing flight test campaigns, including authoring test plans and test cards
- Proven ability to lead or manage a small technical team through complex test programs
- Working knowledge of flight dynamics, aerodynamics, propulsion, or control theory as applied to flight test
- Familiarity with flight test instrumentation, data acquisition systems, and telemetry
- Experience with test hazard analysis, safety review processes, and airworthiness or flight clearance procedures (manned or unmanned)
- Proficiency with Linux, command-line interfaces, and software debugging in a test environment
- Strong written communication skills, with the ability to produce clear, defensible test plans and reports for technical and non-technical audiences
- Ability to obtain and maintain an NV1 Security Clearance
Desired Qualifications
- Experience with unmanned aerial system (UAS) flight test, including autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicles
- Background in model-based systems engineering or requirements-driven test and evaluation
- Familiarity with military test and evaluation frameworks (e.g., DT&E, OT&E) or equivalent civil certification processes
- Membership in or familiarity with SFTE, SETP, or equivalent professional flight test organisations
- Experience with range coordination, airspace management, and regulatory compliance for flight test activities
- Vehicle-level test experience across multiple domains (air, maritime, ground)
- Existing NV2 Security Clearance
- Knowledge of electronics troubleshooting and the ability to use basic test and measurement equipment
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