Director Flight Test Engineering

AALTO, a global leader in Stratospace. Based in Farnborough, AALTO is an Airbus subsidiary that manufactures, operates, and delivers services with its solar-powered, stratospheric platform:
Zephyr.

Zephyr’s persistence enables continuous flight for months at a time. Its current flight-time record of over 67 days in the stratosphere. From above 60,000+ft, or 20km above ground, AALTO can deliver several applications including direct-to-device connectivity and high-resolution Earth observation.

AALTO operates in a new operational layer between most of air traffic and low-Earth orbit, Stratospace. This is where high-altitude platforms led by Zephyr deliver services to commercial and government partners. We can help monitor environments, observe borders, track natural disasters and connect unconnected communities.

Join us as we create a new domain of aerospace:
Stratospace. You’ll be part of a highly-skilled, innovative and passionate group of people – Team AALTO. Together, we can Unlock Stratospace.

Join AALTO as Director, Flight Test Engineering and take ownership of all phases of development testing for one of the world's most innovative aerospace programmes.

This senior leadership role is responsible for managing and mentoring the Flight Test Engineering team while overseeing the planning, execution, and reporting of ground and flight test activities. Working closely with stakeholders across engineering, certification, and operations, you will ensure testing activities support development objectives, certification requirements, and safe aircraft operation.

You will play a critical role in domestic and international flight test campaigns, customer demonstrations, and operational evaluations while serving as the Flight Test Post Holder within a Part 21J Design Organisation.

• Provide inspirational leadership and technical direction to the Flight Test Engineering team.
• Manage the technical scope, priorities, and day-to-day activities of flight test engineers.
• Lead the planning and delivery of ground and flight test programmes to support certification and development objectives.
• Support domestic and international flight test campaigns, including deployment to operational locations as required.
• Act as the Flight Test Post Holder within a Part 21J Design Organisation.
• Champion a culture of safety, professionalism, compliance, and continuous improvement.
• Work with stakeholders to gather, analyse, and derive test requirements.
• Oversee the management and delivery of individual test programmes and activities.
• Ensure robust impact assessments are completed when changes are introduced.
• Verify that aircraft systems and subsystems meet defined requirements and performance expectations.
• Evaluate new functionality, system modifications, and product enhancements through structured testing activities.
• Ensure testing is conducted in accordance with AALTO development standards and processes.
• Oversee the configuration, maintenance, and utilisation of test equipment and testing tools.
• Provide clear reporting and recommendations to support programme and business decision-making.

• Proven leadership experience with the ability to inspire, develop, and motivate high-performing technical teams.
• Extensive experience within aerospace flight test, flight sciences, certification, or developmental testing environments.
• Experience working with Aviation Regulators and/or Part 21 organisations.
• Strong technical and operational judgement with the ability to make decisions in high-pressure environments.
• Willingness and ability to travel internationally in support of flight test activities.
• Experience evaluating aerospace software and hardware systems.
• Strong understanding of…