Operations Engineer – Flight Test SME

Job Title

Operations Engineer – Flight Test SME

Location

EDWARDS, CA 93523 US (Primary)

Category

Engineering

Job Type

Full-Time

Compensation Minimum (USD)

$160,000

Compensation Maximum (USD)

$210,000

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Minimum Citizenship Status Required

U.S. Citizen

Security Clearance Required

Secret

Job Description

Location: NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center (AFRC), Edwards AFB, CA or Contractor Facility

Employment Type: Full-Time

Job Summary

The Operations Engineer – Flight Test Subject Matter Expert (SME) provides advanced technical leadership and engineering expertise in support of NASA Armstrong’s Flight Operations Directorate (Code 430) under the Engineering and Technical Support Services (ETSS) contract.

This position plays a critical role in flight test planning, systems integration, airworthiness, and test execution for experimental and research aircraft. The engineer applies advanced systems-engineering, operational-analysis, and configuration-control expertise to ensure safe and efficient flight operations in alignment with NASA AFRC’s test objectives and airworthiness processes.

This position supports the development and test of flight and ground systems, including autonomous and piloted vehicles, with a focus on risk reduction, system validation, and performance optimization during research and test phases.

Primary Responsibilities

• Serve as an Operations Engineer and Flight Test Subject Matter Expert (SME) supporting the Flight Operations Directorate (Code 430).
• Lead and coordinate flight test planning, integration, and readiness activities across multiple research programs.
• Participate in system design reviews, hazard analyses, and test readiness reviews, ensuring compliance with NASA flight test standards.
• Develop and maintain flight operations procedures, configuration documentation, and mission risk assessments.
• Support test execution as part of the control-room or flight-line team, ensuring real-time coordination between engineering, aircrew, and range personnel.
• Collaborate with aerodynamics, instrumentation, and systems integration engineers to resolve interface, telemetry, and control system challenges.
• Develop and review test plans, control-room procedures, and mission scripts to ensure technical accuracy and flight safety.
• Provide systems-level support for airworthiness and operational readiness reviews in compliance with NASA and FAA standards.
• Contribute to the development of autonomous flight test architectures and ground-control interfaces for advanced vehicle programs.
• Identify and mitigate operational risks using quantitative and qualitative analysis methods.
• Support flight safety, maintenance coordination, and anomaly resolution across concurrent test programs.
• Prepare technical reports, lessons learned, and risk documentation per NASA AFRC and ETSS requirements.

 

Work Environment & Schedule

On-site at NASA AFRC (Edwards AFB) or contractor facility.
Typical Schedule: 7:00 AM – 4:30 PM, 9/80 compressed schedule (80 hours over 9 workdays per two-week period).
Work may include flight line, hangar, and control-room environments requiring PPE use and coordination across multiple operational teams.
Occasional extended hours or weekend work may be required to support flight or test events.

Key Benefits and Impact

• Directly supports NASA Armstrong’s flight research and operational excellence.
• Provides systems-level engineering leadership in airworthiness, flight operations, and research test integration.
• Contributes to autonomous flight systems development and test innovation.
• Collaborates with NASA engineers, test pilots, and program managers on groundbreaking aerospace research.
• Plays a pivotal role in advancing NASA’s flight safety, test effectiveness, and operational efficiency across future missions.

Job Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Engineering or Physical Science.
• At least 20 years of relevant engineering experience, including 5 years as a Principal Investigator, Group Leader, Project Engineer, or Project Manager, or equivalent.
• A Master’s Degree may substitute for 2 years of related experience; a Doctorate may substitute for 5 years of related experience.
• Demonstrated experience with flight test engineering, including flight readiness, control-room participation, and mission data review.
• Proven understanding of aircraft systems, ground support equipment, and test instrumentation.
• Experience with NASA or DoD flight test environments, including risk management, range operations, and system configuration control.
• Familiarity with airworthiness evaluation, system safety, and test conduct procedures.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for technical documentation and reporting.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) and engineering analysis tools such as MATLAB, Simulink, or similar.
• U.S. Citizenship required (NASA facility access).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting autonomous flight systems, including software/hardware-in-the-loop test and verification.
• Experience with NASA flight test programs, particularly at AFRC or other federal research ranges.
• Knowledge of Advanced Systems Development, Operations Engineering, and Flight Dynamics principles.
• Hands-on experience in mission control-room operations, telemetry systems, and flight instrumentation.
• Experience supporting X-59 or similar experimental aircraft programs is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with range coordination, flight safety analysis, and systems certification processes.
• Ability to obtain or maintain DoD or NASA range access credentials.

We are equal opportunity/affirmative action employers, committed to diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under state or local law.