Flight Test Engineer - Job #1136

Reports To: Director, Flight Operations & Flight Test

Status: Full-Time, On-Site, Salary, Exempt

Location: Menominee, MI

Pay Range: $70, per year

The Flight Test Engineer is a member of the Flight Test Department and supports the planning, preparation, execution, analysis, and documentation of aircraft ground- and flight-test activities. The position supports the complete flight-test lifecycle, from initial test-request evaluation and test-plan development through test execution, data analysis, reporting, and closure.

This position may be filled at a developing or experienced level. A developing engineer will work under the guidance of senior flight-test personnel and progressively assume responsibility for assigned tests as capability is demonstrated. An experienced candidate may independently lead assigned test activities, mentor developing personnel, and serve as a technical focal point for complex development or certification work.

Placement within the published range will reflect relevant experience and demonstrated independence. The upper range is reserved for candidates able to lead complex flight-test or certification work and mentor others.

The Flight Test Engineer works closely with flight-test pilots, design engineers, certification personnel, maintenance, quality, and other technical groups to ensure testing is conducted safely and efficiently with clearly defined objectives, configurations, procedures, data requirements, and acceptance criteria. Testing may support research and development, product improvement, troubleshooting, production, continued airworthiness, and FAA certification programs.

• Support the planning, coordination, and execution of aircraft ground and flight tests for development, certification, troubleshooting, continued airworthiness, production, and other approved company programs.
• Review test requests and help define objectives, aircraft configuration, test conditions, procedures, data requirements, hazards, acceptance criteria, and deliverables.
• Develop and maintain flight-test plans, flight cards, test procedures, test reports, and flight-test inputs to certification and compliance documentation, with the level of review appropriate to the assignment and the engineer’s experience.
• Coordinate with pilots, engineering, maintenance, quality, instrumentation personnel, and program stakeholders.
• Support pre-test planning, pre-flight briefings, and post-flight debriefings.
• Program, configure, and operate data acquisition systems and related test equipment. Training may be provided for company-specific systems and methods.
• Support the selection, layout, installation, checkout, calibration, and maintenance of instrumentation, including sensors, accelerometers, strain gauges, and associated wiring.
• Reduce, analyze, and document test data.
• Identify data-quality issues, limitations, trends, and conclusions and clearly communicate results to technical and program stakeholders.
• Determine, verify, and document aircraft loading, weight, center of gravity, and test configuration for assigned ground- and flight-test activities.
• Coordinate the design and use of test fixtures, specialized test equipment, and test facilities with the appropriate engineering and technical groups.
• Participate in safety-of-flight reviews, test-readiness reviews, design reviews, and other engineering reviews requiring flight-test input.
• Support test-article conformity, certification test readiness, TIA testing, and other assigned FAA certification activities.
• Coordinate with FAA personnel, FAA designees, and other regulatory representatives when directed and in coordination with Certification Engineering and program leadership.
• Prepare and maintain test records, data packages, configuration records, and technical inputs supporting Type Inspection Reports and other certification documentation.
• Contribute to the continued development of standardized test methods, flight cards, readiness processes, configuration-control practices, data-management methods, safety reviews, and technical reporting standards.
• Perform other flight-test-related duties as assigned and progressively…