Please note that this opportunity is contingent on program funding.  Start dates are determined after funding confirmation.

Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems has an opening for a Flight Test Lead (Staff Engineer Aeronautical) to join our team of qualified, diverse individuals. This role is located in Melbourne, FL.

**This is an individual contributor role and will not have direct reports**

In this role, the successful candidate will develop Mission Systems and Air Vehicle Flight Test strategies. The selected candidate should thrive in a fast-paced work environment with high expectations, significantly diverse assignments, and collaborative/team settings across all levels of the program.

This position will provide technical leadership to engineering section managers and their team of multi-disciplined engineers who will plan and execute a first flight event and the Engineering, Manufacturing, and Development ground and flight test program that will follow. Engineering disciplines include, but are not limited to, flight dynamics, handling qualities, aircraft subsystems, vehicle management systems, avionics, navigation, weapons, low observables, and threat system testing.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develops and publishes detailed test plans, test schedules, and test procedures for developmental testing.
• Plan, develop, and perform flight tests to verify air worthiness, performance capabilities, and mission effectiveness using various simulators, surrogate aircraft, test-bed aircraft, and the program air vehicle.
• Provides laboratory support for integration testing.
• Supports and hosts test planning working groups.
• Interfaces with test article design and analysis teams to define test configuration and data requirements.
• Reviews and evaluates test requirements to ensure completeness of test program.
• Performs technical analysis of complete systems and prepares comprehensive system level evaluations.
• Supports test card development and review in collaboration with other engineering disciplines and test operations personnel.
• Supports test readiness reviews, and pre/post-test briefings.
• Provides mission control room support and makes real-time decisions regarding safety, efficiency, and effectiveness.
• Develop initial test conductor training and establishment of control room monitoring training requirements
• Conducts and contributes to pre-flight and post-test data analyses to support anomaly identification and resolution.
• Maintains metrics on status of testing and constraints.

Competitive candidates will possess an extensive aviation engineering and flight test background with strong technical and leadership skills. This position requires strong communication skills to support extensive executive-level interaction. Role will collaborate with government and contractor leaders to develop and execute test-planning schedules and drive an integrated team approach to problem solving. A thorough understanding of flight test safety planning, test operations, and test reporting is essential. These leaders will be responsible for developing resource forecasts and achieving cost and schedule performance goals. This position will be located at Melbourne test facilities with an expectation of up to 25% travel to Government test facilities. Candidates must be willing to work extended shifts, weekends and holidays as required to meet program schedule and objectives.

We offer flexible work arrangements, 9/80 work schedule with every other Friday off, phenomenal learning opportunities, exposure to a wide variety of projects and customers, and a very friendly team environment. We are looking for self-motivated, proactive, and goal-oriented people to help us grow our services and become even better at what we do.

Basic Qualifications:

• Must have a Bachelor of Science degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM) discipline AND 12 years of related professional/military experience OR a Master of Science degree in a STEM discipline AND 10 years of related professional/military experience, OR a STEM Ph.D. AND 8 years of related professional/military experience
• Your ability to transfer and maintain the final adjudicated U.S. government Secret clearance (must be in-scope or enrolled in Continuous Evaluation) and any program access(es) required for the position within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the Company.
• Your ability to obtain and/or transfer and maintain the final U.S. adjudicated government Top Secret clearance
• Must have experience in flight test and aircraft operations
• Must have thorough knowledge of flight test planning, safety planning, test operations, and test reporting
• Must have leadership experience on a DoD acquisition or test program
• Must strong ability to communicate complex technical issues and solutions
• Must be willing and able to work extended shifts, weekends, and holidays as required by the company to meet program schedule and objectives.

Preferred Qualifications:

• At least 10 years of flight test and aircraft operations experience
• Hands-on leadership experience on a recent DoD acquisition or test program (within last 10 years)
• Active Top Secret clearance
• Master’s Degree in an Engineering discipline
• Experience in a US DoD Combined Test Force
• Significant experience in a DoD developmental/operational flight test environment
• Excellent leadership, motivational, and communications skills
• Formal Flight Test training such as completion of a recognized test pilot school
• Air Vehicle and Mission Systems flight test experience
• Experience on tactical aircraft
• Experience with carrier suitability

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