Senior Flight Test Engineer

About the role

You will orchestrate the end to end execution of ground and flight test campaigns for advanced high-speed aircraft systems, owning the detailed planning and coordination that turns engineering concepts into verified performance. This position places you at the intersection of flight operations, systems integration, mission planning, and test execution where you will interface directly with engineering, certification, operations, and flight crews to validate vehicle configurations. You will translate program objectives into executable test cards and procedures while applying rigorous safety discipline and rapid iteration practices unique to high speed flight test. You will leverage real time problem solving and strong technical judgment to adjust test sequences, manage risk, and keep the test campaign moving efficiently. Your work will directly support the generation, analysis, and reporting of flight test data that proves the performance and reliability of next generation aviation systems. You will act as a primary driver for hardware readiness, ensuring each test phase is properly planned, resourced, and documented before flight commitment. You will champion a culture where data, debriefs, and open communication drive continuous improvement in both vehicle performance and team effectiveness. In this role you will be a key architect of the test strategy that allows Hermeus to move faster than traditional defense programs while maintaining the highest standards of safety and compliance.

Key facts

What you'll do

Lead the development of comprehensive test plans and procedures that define objectives, scenarios, and acceptance criteria for each flight test campaign.

Translate program requirements and engineering models into detailed test cards, checklists, and configuration sets that crews can execute reliably in high tempo operations.

Coordinate closely with flight operations and engineering teams to schedule test points, manage aircraft availability, and minimize ground turnaround times without compromising safety.

Perform real time monitoring and evaluation during test flights, capturing initial observations and flagging anomalies immediately for timely corrective action.

Analyze flight test data using statistical and performance modeling techniques to assess system behavior, validate predictions, and refine future test objectives.

Develop and maintain traceable documentation that links test events, configurations, and results to program requirements and regulatory standards.

Collaborate with certification and engineering leads to close out test reports, justify variances, and support decisions for vehicle configuration changes.

Support the design of sensor and data acquisition setups to ensure relevant parameters are captured accurately throughout each test phase.

Partner with mission planning specialists to build realistic test profiles that reflect operational envelopes, environmental conditions, and threat scenarios.

Assist in the preparation of test readiness reviews and safety assessments, ensuring all procedural and hardware prerequisites are satisfied before flight.

Work directly with pilots and flight crews to refine cockpit procedures, verify system responses, and improve human factors for high speed regimes.

Drive continuous improvement initiatives that incorporate lessons learned from each campaign into updated test methods, tools, and standards.

Represent Hermeus in cross functional discussions, conveying technical status, risks, and decisions to both internal and external stakeholders.

Support the implementation of automation and tooling that increases test efficiency, data quality, and repeatability across successive flight campaigns.

Requirements

Must be a United States citizen due to the nature of defense aviation work and access to controlled technologies.

Must be able to obtain and maintain a Department of Defense Secret security clearance, with eligibility for Top Secret clearance preferred.

Must hold a Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, physics, or a related technical field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Must demonstrate extensive experience in flight test engineering, systems engineering, or a related discipline involving data analysis, test planning, and performance verification.

Must have a proven track record of working in safety critical, high tempo environments where rapid iteration and real time decision making are essential.

Must be comfortable interpreting and applying performance predictions, simulation results, and test data to assess vehicle behavior and system margins.

Must possess strong written and verbal communication skills to effectively collaborate with cross functional teams and present technical findings to diverse audiences.

Must be willing to travel regularly to support flight test campaigns, including both domestic and international travel as required by program needs.

Must be able to work legally in the United States without sponsorship at this time, and must meet all contractual citizenship and clearance requirements.

Must adhere to strict documentation standards, configuration control practices, and traceability methods required for defense aerospace programs.

Must exhibit strong judgment and the ability to make sound decisions in ambiguous, time sensitive situations while balancing risk, safety, and program objectives.

Must be highly organized, able to manage multiple test activities, timelines, and deliverables concurrently without sacrificing attention to detail.

Must have a strong commitment to safety and procedural compliance, actively contributing to a culture that prioritizes the well-being of the team and the integrity of the aircraft.

Nice to have

Experience with advanced high speed aircraft platforms, scramjet or turbine based propulsion systems, or hypersonic related test programs.

Familiarity with flight test instrumentation, data acquisition systems, and telemetry used to capture high rate dynamic performance parameters.

Knowledge of aviation safety standards, defense acquisition processes, and certification fundamentals relevant to military aircraft programs.

Experience with test automation, data analytics tools, and scripting for test preparation or post processing activities.

Background in rapid prototyping environments where iterative hardware development and quick turnaround test cycles are the norm.

Experience supporting systems integration activities, including hardware checkout, subsystem interfaces, and verification against requirements.

Practical notes

Travel is required, including both domestic and international travel to support flight test campaigns as needed.

Employment is contingent on meeting all citizenship, clearance, and contractual eligibility requirements.

The position requires the ability to work effectively in fast paced, deadline driven test environments where schedules can change rapidly.

All activities must be conducted in strict accordance with Hermeus safety policies, defense regulations, and contractual obligations.