Flight Test Engineer

Heven AeroTech•Bingen, WA

2d•$105,000 - $135,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Flight Test Engineer plans, executes, and analyzes ground and flight tests for prototype and pre-production vehicles and their subsystems. This role also contributes to broader engineering analysis by linking vehicle and configuration changes to updated performance and dynamics predictions, modeling and simulation outputs, and verification evidence. This is an experienced individual-contributor position that works closely with Flight Test Engineering and cross-functional Engineering teams. The Flight Test Engineer independently owns discrete test events end to end, exercises sound engineering judgment in the field, and produces test documentation and analysis that withstands technical and safety review. Success in this role requires a hungry mindset—proactively seeking the next step, anticipating needs in test execution and analysis, and continuously improving technical contributions. It also requires humility, with a focus on team success, sharing credit, and learning from others. Strong interpersonal awareness is essential to collaborate effectively across disciplines, communicate clearly, and operate in dynamic test environments. In addition to flight test responsibilities, this role supports broader engineering efforts including performance and stability assessments, modeling and simulation, and translating configuration changes into testable predictions and

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in engineering (mechanical, electrical, systems, aerospace, or a closely related technical discipline), or equivalent demonstrated experience
3–7 years of relevant experience in flight test, ground test, or complex systems test engineering, including test card development, hands-on test execution, post-test analysis
Demonstrated ability to plan, execute, and report on test events with limited supervision
Working understanding of vehicle performance, stability and control, and flight mechanics, or an equivalent depth of test engineering fundamentals in a related dynamic-systems domain
Proficiency performing engineering analysis and data processing using MATLAB and/or Python
Working knowledge of instrumentation, data acquisition, and measurement quality, including calibration, sample rates, and sources of measurement error
Strong attention to detail and commitment to high-quality documentation
Clear written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across teams and brief results to technical and non-technical audiences
Professional working proficiency in English (spoken and written) is required to perform the responsibilities of this role.
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without employer sponsorship, now or in the future.
If this role requires access to information controlled under U.S. export control laws (ITAR/EAR), applicants must also qualify as a "U.S. person" under 22 CFR §120.62 (U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual such as an asylee or refugee).

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with autopilot and ground control station ecosystems (Applied Navigation Quattro/QET, ArduPilot, PX4, or similar)
Experience serving as test conductor or safety officer for field test operations
Exposure to GNSS performance evaluation, including degraded or contested environments
Exposure to automated or vision-based landing evaluation
Experience with modeling and simulation tools relevant to vehicle performance and dynamics (six-degree-of-freedom simulation, vortex lattice methods, CFD, FEA, or equivalent)
Familiarity with requirements traceability and verification and validation practices
Familiarity with ADS-B, detect-and-avoid, and airspace integration considerations for uncrewed systems testing
Experience with test instrumentation design and integration on space- and weight-constrained platforms
FAA Part 107 certification or equivalent operational credentials
Experience working in multidisciplinary engineering teams in a rapid development environment

Responsibilities

Develop flight and ground test plans, test cards, and test procedures; identify gaps, dependencies, and next steps ahead of the schedule rather than in reaction to it
Define test objectives, success criteria, and data requirements in collaboration with cross-functional teams, emphasizing shared ownership and team success
Lead test readiness activities, including configuration verification, instrumentation checks, test article conformity, and pre-brief and debrief documentation
Own traceability between requirements, test procedures, and test results, maintaining disciplined and organized documentation
Serve as a test conductor or test engineer for on-site operations (field site and/or control room), including checklists, configuration checks, coordination with operators and maintainers, and disciplined test logging, while demonstrating strong situational awareness and sound judgment
Plan and execute envelope build-up and expansion activities, approaching work with diligence and a safety-first mindset
Execute ground and bench testing to retire risk prior to flight, consistently looking for opportunities to improve efficiency and effectiveness
Specify, set up, and validate instrumentation, sensors, data acquisition, and telemetry, ensuring data quality and completeness
Perform post-test data reduction and analysis using MATLAB and/or Python, producing clear, accurate, and actionable results
Author test reports and presentations documenting setup, procedures, results, anomalies, and follow-up actions, while appropriately recognizing team contributions
Update analysis and prediction models when vehicle or system configurations change
Perform or coordinate performance, stability, and control analysis using the modeling and simulation tools appropriate to the vehicle and test objectives
Support weight, center of gravity, and static stability analysis
Use modeling and simulation outputs to inform performance predictions, stability and control expectations, and pre-test planning
Correlate predictions to test data and clearly communicate discrepancies, root causes, and recommended actions for engineering review
Plan and execute integration testing of avionics, control systems, sensors, data links, and payload interfaces, leading structured troubleshooting efforts
Drive verification and validation activities by collecting test evidence and maintaining organized, auditable artifacts
Own discrepancy tracking and resolution in collaboration with Engineering, Quality, and Manufacturing teams, demonstrating humility, accountability, and strong teamwork
Contribute to test safety reviews, hazard analyses, and risk mitigation planning for test events
Mentor junior engineers and technicians on test discipline, data quality, and documentation standards
Other duties as assigned.