eVTOL Flight Test Engineer
The job description
Tech stack. flight test planning, test cards, telemetry systems, envelope expansion, flight test instrumentation, data analysis, experimental airworthiness
About the role
You will join an eVTOL aircraft company to plan and execute the flight test program that proves the aircraft does what the analysis promised. This team writes the test plans, builds the test cards, staffs the telemetry room, and turns raw flight data into certification evidence. Your discipline in the control room and rigor in the data room set the pace of envelope expansion, and your reports become the record the authorities review. You will work side by side with test pilots, instrumentation engineers, and analysts, and your test cards will choreograph some of the most carefully planned flying in aviation.
What you will achieve
- Write test plans and test cards for envelope expansion sorties that the test pilots and safety reviewers approve without rework.
- Staff the telemetry room during flight operations, calling test points and making real-time go or no-go decisions on test continuation.
- Expand the flight envelope methodically, from first hover through full transition, hitting program test milestones on the planned schedule.
- Turn flight data into answers within 24 hours of landing, giving the flight controls and performance teams the feedback they need for the next sortie.
- Investigate test anomalies to root cause, writing the reports that close safety review board actions and keep the program flying. Corrective actions are tracked to implementation and verified on subsequent sorties, so the same anomaly never grounds the program twice.
What you will bring
Must-haves
- 2 to 5 years in flight test engineering on rotorcraft, fixed-wing aircraft, or advanced UAVs with live operations behind you.
- Experience writing test plans, test cards, and post-flight reports to a disciplined, reviewable standard.
- Familiarity with flight test instrumentation, telemetry systems, and real-time data monitoring in a control room.
- Strong data analysis skills with tools such as MATLAB, Python, or dedicated flight test analysis software.
- Understanding of experimental airworthiness requirements and flight test safety processes, including hazard reviews.
- Calm, precise communication under the time pressure of live flight operations.
Nice-to-haves
- Experience with eVTOL or distributed propulsion flight test specifically.
- Private pilot license or other hands-on flying experience.
- Background in flight test for certification credit, not just development testing.
- Familiarity with range safety and test site coordination for experimental aircraft.
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