Systems Engineer - Flight Test Director

Staff Systems Engineer

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems' Engineering & Science (E&S) Baltimore and Partnered Sites (BaPs) division is seeking a Staff Systems Engineer to serve as a Flight Test Director and join our team of qualified, diverse individuals; and to work on exciting new opportunities within the Integration and Test Directorate. This position will be located onsite in Baltimore, MD with travel to customer integration sites.

General Responsibilities for a Flight Test Director:

• Serve as the Flight Test Director with overall responsibility for planning, coordinating, and executing safe and effective flights. Generate test cards and execute testing at customer sites. Achieves the logical and systematic realization of test goals in accordance with governing documentation (MIL-HDBK-516C and NAVAIR Instruction 13034.1F / G) and programmatic goals.
• Apply extensive technical expertise with full knowledge of related disciplines and communicates effectively, clearly presenting technical approaches and findings.
• Lead a multi-disciplined team through design, fabrication, test planning, installation, test execution, operation, and maintenance. Coordinates with multiple customers and government entities to develop flight tests that achieve a variety of internal and external goals.
• Review functional analysis, timeline analysis, detailed trade studies, requirements allocation, interface definitions, and hardware and software specifications for airworthiness compliance to the appropriate regulations, standards, and/or guidelines.
• Work with minimal direction, exercising considerable latitude in determining technical objectives of assignments. Completed work is reviewed from a long-term perspective for achievement of desired results.
• Perform technical airworthiness planning and verification support, including development and negotiation of airworthiness plans, basis of certifications, means of compliance, and certification activities for complex total systems with IPT/REs as well as customer counterparts.
• Guide the successful completion of major programs and, as required, function in a project leadership role. Recognize that erroneous decisions or recommendations could result in failure to achieve major organizational objectives.
• Represent the organization as the prime technical contact on contracts and projects. Interacts with senior external personnel on significant technical matters often requiring coordination between organizations.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for the customer and government, supporting regular status briefings, milestone reviews, and deliverable coordination. Interface internally with Program IPTs and Program Management.
• Support the selection, onboarding, and oversight of suppliers and contractors, ensuring delivery of key work packages on time and to specification.
• Occasionally (up to 50% of the time) operate out of customer locations (typically military test centers; domestically only, no overseas travel anticipated).

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor of science degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM) discipline with 12 years of related experience OR Master of Science degree in a STEM discipline with 10 years of related experience or a PhD in a STEM discipline and 8 years of related experience. 4+ years of relevant operator or test experience may be considered in lieu of a degree on a case-by-case basis.
• Work experience on manned or unmanned aircraft systems with minimum 10 years professional experience, including at least 4 years in an assignment working Airworthiness (Military or Civil) or Test (Military or Civil).
• Experience leading the development of, or being a major contributor to an Unmanned Airborne System (UAS) test program, including the development of test cards.
• Experience leading large, multi-disciplined teams consisting of a diverse range of skillsets and technical specialties.
• Experience troubleshooting and resolving issues on test aircraft in both field and lab environments.
• Test and operations experience with UAS.
• Active US Government Secret clearance (with a background investigation within the past 6 years or enrollment into Continuous Evaluation).

Preferred Qualifications:

• NAVAIR Airworthiness and Cybersafe Office (formerly 4.0P) Airworthiness Experience.
• Experience performing the role of Flight Test Conductor for UAS or manned aircraft operations.
• Experience with Vehicle Management Systems (VMS) and / or Vehicle Control Functions (VCF).
• Military aircraft development or modification experience, particularly with US Navy and Marine Corps platforms.
• Ability to initiate Airworthiness Certification process improvement initiatives.
• Experience working with CAT2 or CAT1 UAS systems through operations or test.
• Design and Systems Engineering experience in one or more of the following areas:
  Flight Technology, Avionics, Mission Payload Integration, Flight Test.
• Experience with MIL-HDBK-516C and MIL-STD-882E.
• Familiarity with NAVAIR Instruction 13034.1F / .1G.
• Familiarity with System…