Research Engineer Test Pilot; Wing
Listed on 2026-09-14
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Engineering
Aerospace / Aviation / Avionics -
Research/Development
Research Engineer Test Pilot (Fixed Wing)
Priority will be given to the following designated employment equity groups:
Indigenous Peoples* (First Nations, Inuit and Métis), persons with disabilities and racialized persons*.
* The Employment Equity Act, which is under review, uses the terminology Aboriginal peoples and visible minorities.
Candidates are asked to self-declare when applying to this hiring process.
Organizational Unit:Aerospace
Classification:RCO
Tenure:Continuing
Work arrangements:Due to the nature of the work and operational requirements, this position will require full-time physical presence at the NRC work location identified.
Defence Industrial StrategyThe role
We are looking for a Research Engineer Test Pilot (Fixed Wing) to support the Flight Research Laboratory (FRL) with the Aerospace Research Centre. The Test Pilot would be someone who shares our core values of Integrity, Excellence, Respect and Creativity.
The Flight Research Laboratory operates a small fleet of highly specialized research aircraft to meet the flight research needs of partners and clients in the aerospace sector. Flight test and evaluation duties in support of research needs are performed by research engineer test pilots who, in addition, fulfill duties as project managers and research engineers.
In addition to serving as a fixed-wing research engineer test pilot for a wide variety of projects, the incumbent will conceive, manage, perform, and report on his/her own flight research projects with partners in Canadian and foreign aerospace industries, government agencies, and aerospace research establishments. There may be an opportunity for the incumbent to develop and apply skills related to rotary-wing aircraft as well.
KEY ACTIVITIES:
- Flying as pilot-in-command for research flight activities relating to airborne research, airborne sensing, and flight mechanics projects. Performing test and evaluation flying for research projects on multiple aircraft platforms (Approx 5 platforms concurrently);
- Act as pilot project lead, providing piloting and flight test expertise, for airborne research, flight mechanics, and aeronautical technology development projects, including the design and development of research experiments, analysis and reporting of results in technical reports, journals, and at national and international research meetings. There may be an opportunity for the incumbent to lead projects as well;
- Providing piloting and flight test expertise for the management and project engineering for collaborative flight research projects. There may be an opportunity for the incumbent to manage projects as well;
- Managing the technical development and project application of research aircraft.
Applicants must demonstrate within the content of their application that they meet the following screening criteria in order to be given further consideration as candidates:
EducationCanadian Forces fixed-wing pilot flight training or equivalent.
Bachelor’s degree in relevant engineering, science or math program. Candidates with a relevant Master’s degree will be given preference.
Completion of formal fixed-wing test pilot school training course (minimum course length 10 months) from a Society of Experimental Test Pilot (SETP) recognized test pilot school, or equivalent training.
- Extensive experience as a fixed-wing pilot (minimum of 2500 hours pilot time);
- Significant experience working as a test pilot in an aircraft test or development environment;
- Hold a valid airline transport pilot license – aeroplane; and
- Rotary-wing pilot in command experience an asset.
A thorough security clearance process will be applied.
For a Secret Clearance, verification of background information over a period of…
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