Flight Test Engineer in Frome

Location: Frome, Somerset (fully site-based)

Salary: £35,000-£40,000, depending on experience, with potential for a higher salary for candidates with relevant pilot qualifications.

The Opportunity

Certo Aerospace is looking for a motivated and organised Flight Test Engineer to join its multidisciplinary engineering team.

This is a hands‑on role combining the planning, coordination and execution of ground and flight testing with technical documentation, data analysis and regulatory compliance.

You will play an important part in developing and delivering the company's flight test programme, working closely with design engineers, workshop technicians and senior engineering leadership to prepare aircraft for testing, evaluate performance and support ongoing development.

This is an opportunity to take genuine ownership of test activities and contribute directly to the development of advanced uncrewed aircraft.

You do not need to be a pilot to apply

Key Responsibilities

• Plan, organise and coordinate ground and flight test activities.
• Produce flight test plans and maintain the overall test programme.
• Support the development of new test rigs, methods and testing equipment.
• Conduct aircraft ground testing and support flight trials across the UK and occasionally overseas.
• Capture, manage and analyse test data, producing clear technical reports.
• Prepare and maintain risk assessments, test procedures and supporting documentation.
• Manage NOTAMs, permissions, licences and relationships with test sites.
• Support Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA) applications and compliance with Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) requirements.
• Work closely with design engineers, workshop technicians and senior engineering colleagues to prepare aircraft and equipment for testing.
• Identify opportunities to improve aircraft performance, safety and future testing methods.
• Contribute to the ongoing development of Certo's flight test capability and engineering processes.

Skills and Experience

• Experience within aerospace, UAVs, defence, aviation or another highly regulated engineering environment.
• Strong organisational and planning skills.
• Excellent written communication and technical report-writing abilities.
• The ability to work independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary engineering team.
• A methodical approach to problem-solving, testing and data analysis.
• A willingness to take ownership of tasks and adapt within a fast-moving engineering environment.
• Flight test planning and execution.
• UAV or uncrewed aircraft operations.
• Aircraft systems integration and performance testing.
• CAA regulations, SORA applications, flight operations or certification.
• Test equipment development, instrumentation and data analysis.
• Pilot qualifications or relevant flying experience.

Benefits

• Private healthcare.
• 25 days' annual leave plus bank holidays.
• Holiday purchase scheme.
• Occasional UK and international travel.

Essential Requirements

• British citizenship or a valid British passport.
• A full UK driving licence.
• Ability to work on‑site in Frome, Somerset.
• Willingness to travel occasionally within the UK and internationally.

Why Join Certo Aerospace?

This is an opportunity to help develop a flight test capability within a growing aerospace engineering business, working on a distinctive heavy‑lift uncrewed aircraft platform.

You will work alongside experienced engineers, contribute directly to aircraft development and see your work progress from workshop preparation through ground testing and flight trials.

If you are an engineer with a passion for aerospace, practical testing and solving complex technical problems, we'd like to hear from you.

Interested?

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