Flight Test Engineer

Role summary

Plan, execute, and report flight and ground tests to verify aircraft and system performance against requirements and applicable standards. Having gained relevant experience, you will take ownership of defined test areas and work packages, produce high-quality test documentation and evidence, and act as a key interface between Engineering, Flight Operations, and Maintenance to ensure tests are safe, efficient, repeatable, and well‑instrumented.

Key responsibilities

• Own requirements‑to‑test traceability for assigned systems/features (test objectives, success criteria, and evidence structure).
• Develop and author flight and ground test plans, test cards/procedures, instrumentation plans, and risk assessments; drive reviews and secure approvals through the agreed safety and governance process.
• Lead day‑to‑day coordination of test readiness: aircraft configuration control, instrumentation fit, sensor calibration/validation, data acquisition setup, and pre‑test checks.
• Support flight/ground test execution in operational roles appropriate to the programme (e.g., test conductor duties, telemetry/data monitoring, real‑time analysis) while maintaining strict safety discipline.
• Analyse test data with minimal supervision; develop clear plots, statistics, and technical narratives; identify root causes and propose practical design/procedural improvements.
• Produce test reports, results summaries, and verification/validation evidence packs suitable for internal release‑to‑service decisions and, where applicable, regulatory engagement.
• Manage anomalies end‑to‑end for assigned areas: document findings, coordinate troubleshooting, support corrective actions, and define/execute re‑test plans.
• Work closely with Flight Operations and Maintenance to improve procedures, crew briefings, and operational checklists; incorporate lessons learned from every sortie.
• Mentor and support junior engineers in test preparation, data handling, and report writing; contribute to standard templates and best practice.
• Maintain compliance with applicable aviation standards and company safety management processes; actively raise hazards, implement mitigations, and exercise stop‑work authority when required.
• Support Operations, Engineering and Maintenance as needed to meet company priorities and goals.

Working relationships

• Reports to: Head of Flight Test
• Works closely with: Flight Operations (pilots/instructors), Maintenance/Quality, Systems/Design Engineering, Safety/Regulations, and end users/operators.
• Leads/coordinates: test work packages and day‑to‑day test preparation activities; may provide tasking/mentoring to junior engineers and technicians.
• External interfaces (as required): suppliers, customers, and regulators/representatives for technical inputs and evidence, under organisational guidance.

Required qualifications and experience

• Degree (or equivalent experience) in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Relevant experience in flight test, flight test support, systems/integration test, or operational test in an aviation context to the required level.
• Proven experience authoring test plans/procedures and delivering test reports/evidence against defined requirements.
• Demonstratable experience with test instrumentation and data acquisition/telemetry (setup, validation, and troubleshooting) appropriate to the aircraft and programme.
• Strong data analysis capability (e.g., Excel plus MATLAB/Python or equivalent), including producing repeatable analysis and clear engineering conclusions.
• Experience working in a safety‑managed operational environment, including risk assessment, configuration control, and disciplined documentation.
• Eligible to work in the UK and able to travel as required by the test programme.

Skills and competencies

• Strong analytical skills: able to turn complex test data into defensible conclusions and recommended actions.
• Strong systems thinking and problem‑solving; able to identify interfaces, failure modes, and practical mitigations.
• Clear technical communication: confident in briefs/debriefs, authoring procedures, and presenting results to engineers and operators.
• Planning and organisation: able to manage multiple work packages, deadlines, and dependencies in a fast‑paced test environment.
• Tooling and process discipline: comfortable with data/requirements/configuration tools and maintaining auditable records.

Desirable

• Experience acting as test conductor / mission support (as appropriate) and operating safely within flight test governance.
• Familiarity with requirements and verification management (e.g., DOORS/Jama or similar) and building structured compliance evidence.
• Exposure to aviation certification/continued airworthiness activities and engaging with regulators or approved representatives.
• Pilot licence, gliding experience, or other hands‑on aviation background (useful but not required).

Safety, conduct, and ways of working

You are expected to actively contribute to a strong safety culture and to lead by example within your work packages. This includes thorough preparation, disciplined brief/debrief participation, prompt reporting of hazards and anomalies, robust risk control, and strict adherence to company and regulatory procedures. You are empowered and expected to stop work if safety margins are unclear.