Senior Level Flight Test Engineer Jobs
Senior level flight test engineer jobs put experienced engineers in charge of test program architecture, safety-of-flight decisions, and the cross-functional teams that execute them. Openings are concentrated in Aerospace & Defense, Automotive, and Transportation & Logistics, with 0% of roles offered on-site, remote, or hybrid, and employers like Joby Aviation, Raytheon, and MTSI hiring at this level now.
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Showing 5 of 14+ Senior Level Flight Test Engineer jobs
Description
At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems has an opening for a Staff Flight Test Systems Engineer to join our team of qualified, diverse individuals within our Test and Evaluation organization.
The position will be in Edwards AFB.
The candidate will develop and publish Integrated Test Plans, detailed test plans, test schedules, and test procedures for developmental testing.
Provide laboratory support for integration testing. Support and host test planning working groups. Interface with test article design and analysis teams to define test configuration and data requirements. Review and evaluate test requirements to ensure completeness of test program. Perform technical analysis of complete systems and prepares comprehensive system level evaluations.
Support test card development and review in collaboration with other engineering disciplines and test operations personnel. Support test readiness reviews, and pre/post-test briefings. Provide mission control room support and makes real-time decisions regarding safety, efficiency, and effectiveness.
Conduct and contributes to pre and post-test data analyses to support anomaly identification and resolution. Maintains metrics on status of testing and constraints. This position requires outstanding written and oral communications skills. Individual will be required to serve as either a principal subject matter focal point between maintenance, design engineering, and test site team - contractor and customer. Individual must be able to work under only general direction to determine and develop approaches to solutions; must be able to work both within a team environment and independently; must be self-motivated, thorough, and detailed; and must be willing to learn additional engineering discipline areas. Proficient in Microsoft Office and Integrated Analysis & Data System (IADS)
Overtime, odd shifts, and weekend work will occasionally be required.
Selected Candidate must be able to work multiple shifts: 4x10 schedule (Mon-Thurs) 1st shift; 4X10 (Mon-Thurs) 2nd shift; 3x10 schedule (Fri, Sa, Su) 2nd shift. 3x10 schedule (Fri, Sa, Su) 1st shift.
Basic Qualification for Staff Flight Test Engineer:
Must have a Bachelor of Science degree in a STEM discipline AND 12 years of related professional/military experience, OR a Master's degree AND 10 years of related professional/military experience , OR a Ph.D. AND 8 years of related professional/military experience.
A bachelor's in science, Technology, Engineering or Math (STEM Degree).
Must have an active US Government Secret clearance (with a background investigation within the past 6 years or enrolled into Continuous Evaluation).
Required to obtain Mission Control Room qualification and maintain currency with customer provided training requirements.
Must have the ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program (SAP) clearance, within a reasonable amount of time as determined by business needs.
In depth knowledge of or test experience, to include control room monitoring.
Preferred Qualifications:
Proven ability to brief technical presentations to stakeholders
Demonstrated technical writing skills
Experience in software/system integration, and software/system testing
Familiarization with Confluence and JIRA
Experience with test, test equipment use and troubleshooting.
Knowledge or experience with control room monitoring.
Knowledge or experience with systems test and integration.
Knowledge of creating, updating and executing test procedures
Able to work both within a team environment and independently; must be self-motivated, thorough, and detailed; and must be willing to learn additional engineering discipline areas.
Experience with Microsoft Office and Integrated Analysis & Data System (IADS)
FAA rated pilot (private/commercial), or other experience as a crewmember.
Description
At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems has an opening for a Staff Flight Test Systems Engineer to join our team of qualified, diverse individuals within our Test and Evaluation organization.
The position will be in Edwards AFB.
The candidate will develop and publish Integrated Test Plans, detailed test plans, test schedules, and test procedures for developmental testing.
Provide laboratory support for integration testing. Support and host test planning working groups. Interface with test article design and analysis teams to define test configuration and data requirements. Review and evaluate test requirements to ensure completeness of test program. Perform technical analysis of complete systems and prepares comprehensive system level evaluations.
Support test card development and review in collaboration with other engineering disciplines and test operations personnel. Support test readiness reviews, and pre/post-test briefings. Provide mission control room support and makes real-time decisions regarding safety, efficiency, and effectiveness.
Conduct and contributes to pre and post-test data analyses to support anomaly identification and resolution. Maintains metrics on status of testing and constraints. This position requires outstanding written and oral communications skills. Individual will be required to serve as either a principal subject matter focal point between maintenance, design engineering, and test site team - contractor and customer. Individual must be able to work under only general direction to determine and develop approaches to solutions; must be able to work both within a team environment and independently; must be self-motivated, thorough, and detailed; and must be willing to learn additional engineering discipline areas. Proficient in Microsoft Office and Integrated Analysis & Data System (IADS)
Overtime, odd shifts, and weekend work will occasionally be required.
Selected Candidate must be able to work multiple shifts: 4x10 schedule (Mon-Thurs) 1st shift; 4X10 (Mon-Thurs) 2nd shift; 3x10 schedule (Fri, Sa, Su) 2nd shift. 3x10 schedule (Fri, Sa, Su) 1st shift.
Basic Qualification for Staff Flight Test Engineer:
Must have a Bachelor of Science degree in a STEM discipline AND 12 years of related professional/military experience, OR a Master's degree AND 10 years of related professional/military experience , OR a Ph.D. AND 8 years of related professional/military experience.
A bachelor's in science, Technology, Engineering or Math (STEM Degree).
Must have an active US Government Secret clearance (with a background investigation within the past 6 years or enrolled into Continuous Evaluation).
Required to obtain Mission Control Room qualification and maintain currency with customer provided training requirements.
Must have the ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program (SAP) clearance, within a reasonable amount of time as determined by business needs.
In depth knowledge of or test experience, to include control room monitoring.
Preferred Qualifications:
Proven ability to brief technical presentations to stakeholders
Demonstrated technical writing skills
Experience in software/system integration, and software/system testing
Familiarization with Confluence and JIRA
Experience with test, test equipment use and troubleshooting.
Knowledge or experience with control room monitoring.
Knowledge or experience with systems test and integration.
Knowledge of creating, updating and executing test procedures
Able to work both within a team environment and independently; must be self-motivated, thorough, and detailed; and must be willing to learn additional engineering discipline areas.
Experience with Microsoft Office and Integrated Analysis & Data System (IADS)
FAA rated pilot (private/commercial), or other experience as a crewmember.
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Find JobsSenior Level Flight Test Engineer Job Market
Who's Hiring
- Joby Aviation4
- Raytheon2
- MTSI1
- Amentum1
- Anduril1
Top Industries Hiring
- Aerospace & Defense4
- Automotive2
- Transportation & Logistics2
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals2
- Technology & Software1
Senior Level Flight Test Engineer Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a senior level flight test engineer job?
Employers at this level look for engineers who have owned test programs end-to-end, not just contributed to them. Demonstrating experience leading test readiness reviews, writing and approving test plans, and mentoring junior engineers gives candidates a clear edge. Proficiency with flight test instrumentation, data analysis, and safety risk assessment is expected as a baseline, so applications that highlight specific aircraft systems or test campaigns stand out.
Which companies hire senior level flight test engineers?
Companies hiring senior level flight test engineers right now include Joby Aviation, Raytheon, and MTSI, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. Hiring at this level comes primarily from aerospace and defense primes, government contractors, and aircraft manufacturers with active flight test programs requiring experienced technical leadership.
Are there remote senior level flight test engineer jobs?
Yes, though the role is hands-on by nature and most positions require on-site or flight-line access for test execution. About 0% of senior level flight test engineer openings are remote or hybrid as of July 2026, typically covering planning, analysis, and reporting phases rather than active flight operations.
What makes a flight test engineer role senior level?
Senior level roles shift the engineer from executing test plans to authoring and approving them. At this stage, you own the technical scope of a test program, interface directly with airworthiness and certification authorities, and are accountable for safety-of-flight decisions. Mentoring junior engineers and coordinating across flight operations, systems engineering, and program management is expected, not optional.
Which industries hire the most senior level flight test engineers?
Senior Level flight test engineer roles concentrate in Aerospace & Defense, Automotive, and Transportation & Logistics, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. Those sectors drive hiring at this level because they operate active flight test programs requiring engineers with the certification experience and technical authority to lead complex, high-stakes campaigns.