Manager Test Pilot Engineering 2

Northrop Grumman • Edwards AFB, CA

12d • $161,100 - $241,700 • Onsite

About The Position

Northrop Grumman is seeking a highly qualified Manager Test Pilot Engineering 2 to lead the Flight Test team on a program at Edwards AFB, CA. At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage, and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, but they’re also making history.

The role is required to: Lead a team of test pilots, flight test engineers, and flight support personnel executing ground and flight test activities in accordance with sector and company test and evaluation processes (e.g., configuration control, safety reviews, discrepancy reporting, and formal test reporting). Ensure safe, disciplined, and compliant execution of developmental and operational test events in alignment with airworthiness, range, and customer requirements. Coordinate test plans, hazard analyses, and risk mitigations with Program Management, Systems Engineering, Flight Test, Safety, Airworthiness, and Configuration/Data Management. Provide technical leadership in evaluating aircraft/vehicle performance, handling qualities, and system behavior; synthesize pilot feedback and test data into clear recommendations for design improvements and risk reduction. Own schedule and resource planning for test pilot engineering work scope, including crew assignment, training currency, simulator/aircraft availability, and integration of external resources as required. Represent the test pilot engineering function in design reviews, safety reviews, customer technical interchange meetings, and formal test readiness reviews. Drive continuous improvement in test conduct, reporting, and discrepancy resolution, ensuring timely closure of flight test findings and supporting formal test reports.

This position is critical to meeting EMD milestones and to maintaining compliance with customer, contractual, and internal flight test safety and reporting requirements.

Key Responsibilities
Lead day-to-day operations of test pilot engineering for Strike. Plan, brief, execute, and debrief flight and ground test events in accordance with approved test plans and safety processes. Ensure rigorous documentation of test results, pilot flight reports, quick-look reports, and formal test reports; track and help resolve discrepancies. Mentor and develop test pilots and flight test engineers; enforce standards for test discipline, professionalism, and safety. Interface with customer test organizations and range authorities regarding test objectives, profiles, and safety constraints. Support proposals and new business by providing test pilot engineering inputs to cost, schedule, and risk assessments.

Requirements

• A minimum of 9 years of Engineering experience with a Bachelors degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (7 years w/ Masters)
• A minimum of 10 years of combined aviation flight test experience
• Active DoD Secret clearance or ability to obtain and maintain, as required by program.
• Ability to obtain and maintain Program Access (PAR) within reasonable time
• Knowledge of Earned Value Management
• Prior test pilot / experimental / developmental test experience or military pilot experience
• Demonstrated experience leading flight or ground test activities, including planning, hazard analysis, and risk mitigation.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for customer and internal leadership engagements.
• Demonstrated leadership experience (e.g., leading crews, teams, or projects).

Nice To Haves

• Graduate of an accredited Test Pilot School and/or extensive developmental test experience.
• Experience with mission systems testing, and/or weapons integration testing.
• Prior people-leadership experience (performance management, staffing, career development).
• Experience with Northrop Grumman test and evaluation procedures and configuration/data management processes.
• Significant experience in a developmental/operational test maintenance environment
• Experience in a US Air Force Combined Test Force
• Experience leading an aircraft operation under DCMA Instruction 8210 oversight
• Strong ability to communicate complex technical issues and solutions

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of test pilots, flight test engineers, and flight support personnel executing ground and flight test activities in accordance with sector and company test and evaluation processes (e.g., configuration control, safety reviews, discrepancy reporting, and formal test reporting).
• Ensure safe, disciplined, and compliant execution of developmental and operational test events in alignment with airworthiness, range, and customer requirements.
• Coordinate test plans, hazard analyses, and risk mitigations with Program Management, Systems Engineering, Flight Test, Safety, Airworthiness, and Configuration/Data Management.
• Provide technical leadership in evaluating aircraft/vehicle performance, handling qualities, and system behavior; synthesize pilot feedback and test data into clear recommendations for design improvements and risk reduction.
• Own schedule and resource planning for test pilot engineering work scope, including crew assignment, training currency, simulator/aircraft availability, and integration of external resources as required.
• Represent the test pilot engineering function in design reviews, safety reviews, customer technical interchange meetings, and formal test readiness reviews.
• Drive continuous improvement in test conduct, reporting, and discrepancy resolution, ensuring timely closure of flight test findings and supporting formal test reports.
• Lead day-to-day operations of test pilot engineering for Strike.
• Plan, brief, execute, and debrief flight and ground test events in accordance with approved test plans and safety processes.
• Ensure rigorous documentation of test results, pilot flight reports, quick-look reports, and formal test reports; track and help resolve discrepancies.
• Mentor and develop test pilots and flight test engineers; enforce standards for test discipline, professionalism, and safety.
• Interface with customer test organizations and range authorities regarding test objectives, profiles, and safety constraints.
• Support proposals and new business by providing test pilot engineering inputs to cost, schedule, and risk assessments.

Benefits

• Relocation assistance may be available
• health insurance coverage
• life and disability insurance
• savings plan
• Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business
• exceptional benefits
• a 9/80 schedule
• a great 401K matching program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager