Director Flight Test Engineering

Overview

As Director, Flight Test Engineering, you lead the testing discipline for one of the world’s most innovative aerospace programs. You will manage a skilled team, shaping ground and flight test activities to meet development, certification, and safe-operation goals. You’ll drive domestic and international test campaigns, customer demonstrations, and operational evaluations, while ensuring alignment with project plans and regulatory requirements. This role combines strategic leadership with hands-on testing oversight in a cutting-edge Stratospace program. You’ll partner with engineering, certification, and operations to deliver robust, validated systems that advance Zephyr’s capabilities and A‑

Pay / Benefits

• Performance Bonus
• 25 days of annual leave
• Private Healthcare
• Pension Contributions
• Income Protection & Life Assurance
• Electric Vehicle & Car Scheme

Responsibilities

• Provide inspirational leadership and technical direction to the Flight Test Engineering team
• Manage the technical scope, priorities, and day-to-day activities of flight test engineers
• Lead the planning and delivery of ground and flight test programmes to support certification and development objectives
• Support domestic and international flight test campaigns, including deployment to operational locations as required
• Act as the Flight Test Post Holder within a Part 21J Design Organisation
• Champion a culture of safety, professionalism, compliance, and continuous improvement
• Work with stakeholders to gather, analyse, and derive test requirements
• Oversee the management and delivery of individual test programmes and activities
• Ensure robust impact assessments are completed when changes are introduced
• Verify that aircraft systems and subsystems meet defined requirements and performance expectations
• Evaluate new functionality, system modifications, and product enhancements through structured testing activities
• Ensure testing is conducted in accordance with AALTO development standards and processes
• Oversee the configuration, maintenance, and utilisation of test equipment and testing tools
• Provide clear reporting and recommendations to support programme and business decision-making

Key requirements

• Proven leadership experience with the ability to inspire, develop, and motivate high-performing technical teams
• Extensive experience within aerospace flight test, flight sciences, certification, or developmental testing environments
• Experience working with Aviation Regulators and/or Part 21 organisations
• Strong technical and operational judgement with the ability to make decisions in high-pressure environments
• Willingness and ability to travel internationally in support of flight test activities
• Experience evaluating aerospace software and hardware systems
• Strong understanding of flight sciences principles and aircraft performance
• Experience testing safety-critical systems, ideally within the aerospace sector
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• Strong planning, risk management, and programme coordination capabilities
• Approximately 10 years' experience within the aviation or aerospace industry
• Experience working with uncrewed air systems (UAS)
• Experience supporting flight test programmes for aircraft under development

• leadership
• communication
• stakeholder management
• aerospace flight testing
• certification processes
• Part 21 regulatory knowledge

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