Test Pilot Jobs
Test Pilot jobs are open across aerospace, defense, and military contracting, from entry-level experimental to senior flight-test engineer and chief pilot, with specializations in fixed-wing, rotary-wing, and unmanned aircraft systems. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Showing 5 of 37+ Test Pilot jobs
Pilot Production Flight Test & Delivery
Textron Aviation has been inspiring the journey of flight for nine decades through the iconic and beloved Cessna and Beechcraft brands. We are passionate advocates of aviation, empowering people with the freedom of flight. As you join our legacy as a global leader in private aviation, you’ll have opportunities to try new fields, expand your skills and knowledge, stretch your abilities, and build your career. We provide a competitive and extensive total rewards package that includes pay and innovative benefits to support you and your family members – now and in the future, beginning day one. Your success is our success.
Description
JOB SUMMARY:
The production flight test and delivery pilot is responsible for conducting production flight testing and customer delivery flights to ensure a thoroughly tested, quality aircraft is delivered and ensuring all production aircraft comply with the applicable FAA, Textron Aviation specs and customer quality standards. Customer support flights involving off-site trips as well as flight testing after major repair and modification.
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Production flight testing of new Jet and Turboprop Textron Aviation products.
- Aircraft delivery of new Jet and Turboprop Textron Aviation products.
- Customer support activities to include flight testing aircraft after major modifications or repairs.
- Travel to off-site facilities for aircraft delivery and customer support.
- Adaptability to adapt to a dynamic flight schedule
- Perform production test flights, required ground inspections and aircraft delivery flights of new and pre-owned Textron Aviation aircraft in accordance with applicable FAA and Textron Aviation FT's.
- Maintain a thorough knowledge of appropriate aircraft models, systems, avionics, equipment, options, product changes and updates.
- Record aircraft discrepancies in a thorough and precise manner and maintain aircraft documentation in an accurate and timely fashion.
- Provide management with ideas and input regarding continuous improvements to products and processes.
- Adhere to and support Flight Operations policies, procedures, guidelines and responsibilities.
- Communicate with and ensure department personnel are aware of noteworthy issues.
- Maintains safety as the prime consideration for all operations at all times.
Qualifications
EDUCATION/ EXPERIENCE:
- Bachelor’s Degree required in: Business Management, Aerospace, or other related fields
- FAA Commercial Multi-engine rating required
- 2,500 hours total time required
o 500 hours multi-engine required
o 1000 Pilot in Command
- Level will be determined based on candidate’s experience and qualifications.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Ability to obtain a valid US Passport required
- Ability to support off-site travel for customer support and deliveries
- Excellent written and verbal communication
- FAA First Class Medical required, First Class Medical
- Must have valid driver's license
Textron Aviation Inc. must comply with U.S. export control laws and regulations. If a position requires access to sensitive information controlled under these laws and regulations, a successful applicant must be eligible to meet any requirements to access controlled information.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.
Kansas Tax Credit:
Join Textron Aviation’s Kansas team and you may be eligible for a $5,000 state of Kansas Aviation tax credit for up to five years. Visit https://www.aircapitaloftheworld.com/taxcredits for more information on the tax credit.
AI Readiness: Textron expects employees to use AI-enabled tools responsibly and effectively. Candidates should be comfortable learning and applying these tools, evaluating AI-generated output with sound judgment, and using AI in line with company policy and ethical standards. Prior experience with specific tools is not required — we value curiosity, adaptability, and good judgment.
EEO Statement
Textron is committed to providing Equal Opportunity in Employment, to all applicants and employees regardless of race, color, religion, age, national origin, military status, veteran status, disability, sex (including pregnancy and sexual orientation), genetic information or any other characteristic protected by law.
Recruiting Company: Textron Aviation
Primary Location: US-Kansas-Wichita
Job Function: Flight Operations
Schedule: Full-time
Job Level: Individual Contributor
Job Type: Experienced
Shift: First Shift
Travel: Yes, 5 % of the Time
Job Posting: 11/09/2026, 7:55:20 PM
Job Number: 345545
Pilot Production Flight Test & Delivery
Textron Aviation has been inspiring the journey of flight for nine decades through the iconic and beloved Cessna and Beechcraft brands. We are passionate advocates of aviation, empowering people with the freedom of flight. As you join our legacy as a global leader in private aviation, you’ll have opportunities to try new fields, expand your skills and knowledge, stretch your abilities, and build your career. We provide a competitive and extensive total rewards package that includes pay and innovative benefits to support you and your family members – now and in the future, beginning day one. Your success is our success.
Description
JOB SUMMARY:
The production flight test and delivery pilot is responsible for conducting production flight testing and customer delivery flights to ensure a thoroughly tested, quality aircraft is delivered and ensuring all production aircraft comply with the applicable FAA, Textron Aviation specs and customer quality standards. Customer support flights involving off-site trips as well as flight testing after major repair and modification.
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Production flight testing of new Jet and Turboprop Textron Aviation products.
- Aircraft delivery of new Jet and Turboprop Textron Aviation products.
- Customer support activities to include flight testing aircraft after major modifications or repairs.
- Travel to off-site facilities for aircraft delivery and customer support.
- Adaptability to adapt to a dynamic flight schedule
- Perform production test flights, required ground inspections and aircraft delivery flights of new and pre-owned Textron Aviation aircraft in accordance with applicable FAA and Textron Aviation FT's.
- Maintain a thorough knowledge of appropriate aircraft models, systems, avionics, equipment, options, product changes and updates.
- Record aircraft discrepancies in a thorough and precise manner and maintain aircraft documentation in an accurate and timely fashion.
- Provide management with ideas and input regarding continuous improvements to products and processes.
- Adhere to and support Flight Operations policies, procedures, guidelines and responsibilities.
- Communicate with and ensure department personnel are aware of noteworthy issues.
- Maintains safety as the prime consideration for all operations at all times.
Qualifications
EDUCATION/ EXPERIENCE:
- Bachelor’s Degree required in: Business Management, Aerospace, or other related fields
- FAA Commercial Multi-engine rating required
- 2,500 hours total time required
o 500 hours multi-engine required
o 1000 Pilot in Command
- Level will be determined based on candidate’s experience and qualifications.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Ability to obtain a valid US Passport required
- Ability to support off-site travel for customer support and deliveries
- Excellent written and verbal communication
- FAA First Class Medical required, First Class Medical
- Must have valid driver's license
Textron Aviation Inc. must comply with U.S. export control laws and regulations. If a position requires access to sensitive information controlled under these laws and regulations, a successful applicant must be eligible to meet any requirements to access controlled information.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.
Kansas Tax Credit:
Join Textron Aviation’s Kansas team and you may be eligible for a $5,000 state of Kansas Aviation tax credit for up to five years. Visit https://www.aircapitaloftheworld.com/taxcredits for more information on the tax credit.
AI Readiness: Textron expects employees to use AI-enabled tools responsibly and effectively. Candidates should be comfortable learning and applying these tools, evaluating AI-generated output with sound judgment, and using AI in line with company policy and ethical standards. Prior experience with specific tools is not required — we value curiosity, adaptability, and good judgment.
EEO Statement
Textron is committed to providing Equal Opportunity in Employment, to all applicants and employees regardless of race, color, religion, age, national origin, military status, veteran status, disability, sex (including pregnancy and sexual orientation), genetic information or any other characteristic protected by law.
Recruiting Company: Textron Aviation
Primary Location: US-Kansas-Wichita
Job Function: Flight Operations
Schedule: Full-time
Job Level: Individual Contributor
Job Type: Experienced
Shift: First Shift
Travel: Yes, 5 % of the Time
Job Posting: 11/09/2026, 7:55:20 PM
Job Number: 345545
Test Pilot Jobs by Experience Level
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Find Test Pilot JobsTest Pilot Job Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Science & Research
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in test pilot jobs.
- FAA Airline Transport Pilot certificate or military equivalent with current medical
- Graduation from an accredited test pilot school such as USNTPS or ETPS
- Minimum flight hours in high-performance or experimental aircraft as specified by the program
- Active U.S. security clearance, typically Secret or Top Secret with SCI eligibility
- Experience writing and executing formal flight test plans and test reports
- Proficiency with flight data acquisition systems and post-flight data analysis tools
Tips for Your Test Pilot Job Search
List every aircraft type you've flown
Hiring managers scan for specific platform experience before reading anything else. Include every airframe, engine type, and flight envelope you've logged hours in, using the exact model designations that appear in job postings, not informal nicknames.
Quantify your flight test experience precisely
Vague claims like 'extensive flight testing' don't get callbacks. List your total flight-test hours separately from general flight time, name the test programs you worked on, and note any envelope expansion or first-flight events you flew.
Get your test pilot school credentials front and center
Graduation from a recognized test pilot school is a hard filter for many defense and aerospace programs. Put your school, class year, and curriculum track in the credentials section, not buried in a paragraph under work history.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists test pilot openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Prepare a technical debrief for your interview
Most test pilot interviews include a structured debrief scenario where you walk through a test card, an anomaly, or a hazard report. Practice explaining a real flight-test finding clearly, covering what happened, what data you gathered, and what you recommended.
Negotiate your offer using flight-hour commitments
Base pay is rarely the only lever in test pilot offers. Flight-hour minimums, simulator access, and program assignment rights all affect long-term earning and career progression, so raise those specifics before you sign.
Test Pilot Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most test pilots?
The most active employers for test pilots right now are Northrop Grumman, Akima, and Garmin, and the most openings are in California, Maryland, and Florida, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Defense primes and aerospace manufacturers tend to post the highest volumes when major flight-test programs are in active development phases.
How many test pilot jobs are remote?
About 0% of test pilot openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the hands-on nature of most flight-test roles. Ground-side positions focused on test planning, data analysis, and safety review are the sub-areas most likely to offer any remote flexibility.
How do you become a test pilot?
Start by building significant flight hours in high-performance aircraft, typically through military service or civilian aerobatic and experimental flying. Apply to an accredited test pilot school, complete the structured curriculum covering flight mechanics and test techniques, then pursue a role at an aerospace manufacturer, defense contractor, or government flight-test center. Maintaining a current medical certificate and an active security clearance accelerates hiring.
Can you get hired as a test pilot without experience?
Direct entry without any flight-test background is rare, but adjacent roles such as flight-test engineer, data systems technician, or test support pilot can get you into a program. From there, internal progression to a pilot seat is achievable if you build relationships, volunteer for test card support duties, and pursue a test pilot school slot sponsored by your employer.
What does the test pilot interview process look like?
Most programs begin with a technical phone screen covering your aircraft background and test experience, followed by an in-person or panel interview that includes a structured debrief exercise and questions on flight-test methodology. Some employers add a simulator evaluation or a written exam on aerodynamics and systems. Final candidates typically go through a security review before an offer is extended.
Where can I find and apply to test pilot jobs?
You can find and apply to test pilot jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States in one place. Search the available roles, find the ones that match your aircraft background and clearance level, and apply directly to each listing that fits.
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Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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