Director of Flight Test

Flight Test Director

SUMMARY
A Director of Experimental for eVTOL Flight Test (Piloted / Uncrewed) leads the teams for prototype testing, envelope expansion, and demonstrations of compliance to regulatory certification.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Managing Flight Test facilities, schedule, test pilots and engineers, overseeing safety risk assessments, and ensuring FAA compliance for the test fleet.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Test Strategy: Use team to design and execute first-flight, envelope expansion, and handling-qualities test plans for experimental electric aircraft configurations.
• Safety & Risk Management: Lead safety review boards, manage hazard analyses, and define strict knock-off criteria for manned flight operations.
• Team Leadership: Direct multidisciplinary teams including experimental test pilots, flight test engineers, technicians and ground maintenance crews.
• Regulatory Compliance: Partner with company Certification & Airworthiness, FAA and Designees to demonstrate compliance to regulations and standards, manage experimental airworthiness certificates and meet certification goals.

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS

• Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Experience: 10+ years in experimental or developmental flight test, with specific background in VTOL, fly-by-wire, or electric propulsion systems.
• Pilot/Test Background: Graduate of a recognized Test Pilot School (or equivalent deep experimental flight test direction experience).
• Regulatory Knowledge: Expert familiarity with FAA experimental flight test regulations and safety standards.