Aerospace Engineer; SME

Full Time Nellis AFB, NV, US

Salary Range: $84,000.00 To $ Annually

JRAD is seeking candidates for an upcoming Aerospace Engineer (Subject Matter Expert) position supporting the U.S. Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center (AFOTEC), Detachment 6 (DET
6) – Fighter Test Services (FTS). This position is located at Nellis AFB, NV.

The Aerospace Engineer (Subject Matter Expert) serves as a recognized technical authority providing expert-level aerospace engineering support to operational test and evaluation (OT&E) of fighter aircraft systems under the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center (AFOTEC) Detachment 6 Fighter Test Services contract.

Applies extensive knowledge of aeronautical engineering, aircraft systems, mission integration, and operational environments to lead complex technical analyses and evaluations. Provides authoritative guidance on aircraft performance, system integration, survivability, and mission effectiveness across live flight testing, distributed test environments, and the Joint Simulation Environment (JSE).

Establishes analytical frameworks, engineering methodologies, and evaluation strategies to support AFOTEC’s independent assessment of system effectiveness and suitability. Advises senior government leadership and contractor management on critical technical issues, risks, and operational implications.

Roles/Responsibilities:

• Serve as the principal technical authority on aerospace engineering matters related to fighter aircraft systems and operational test and evaluation
• Lead development of advanced engineering methodologies, analytical frameworks, and evaluation approaches for complex system assessments
• Oversee and perform high-level analyses of aircraft performance, system integration, and mission effectiveness in operational environments
• Provide expert evaluation of aircraft subsystems, including avionics, propulsion, weapons systems, sensors, communications, and mission systems integration
• Direct correlation and validation efforts between flight test data, modeling and simulation (M&S) outputs, and operational performance results
• Lead technical assessments, trade studies, and risk analyses to inform acquisition decisions and operational evaluations
• Identify and resolve complex technical issues, anomalies, and performance deficiencies, and provide recommendations for mitigation or further investigation
• Advise government leadership on technical findings, implications, and recommended courses of action
• Provide technical oversight and guidance to senior, journeyman, and junior engineering personnel
• Lead multidisciplinary engineering efforts and ensure integration across engineering, operations research, intelligence, and test teams
• Support development and review of high-level technical documentation, including evaluation reports, engineering assessments, and executive briefings
• Contribute to strategic planning, test design, and long-term capability development initiatives
• Ensure compliance with engineering standards, safety requirements, and security protocols

Required Skills and

Education:

• Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline
• 20 or more years of relevant professional experience in aerospace engineering, flight test, aircraft systems analysis, or related technical fields
• Experience supporting operational test and evaluation (OT&E) activities within AFOTEC or similar test organizations
• Familiarity with fighter aircraft systems (e.g., F-35, F-16, F-15) and air combat operations
• Experience with Joint Simulation Environment (JSE) or other modeling and simulation environments
• Experience with advanced modeling and simulation, digital engineering, or mission-level analysis
• Familiarity with the following tools and technologies: engineering analysis tools (e.g., MATLAB, Simulink, or equivalent); data analysis tools and programming languages (e.g., Python, MATLAB); modeling and simulation environments and tools; data visualization and reporting tools
• Demonstrated expertise in aerospace engineering principles applied to advanced aircraft systems and mission environments
• Extensive experience…