Flight Test Director

CoAspire (https://www.coaspire.com) is a cutting-edge defense manufacturing leader in Northern Virginia, specializing in the precision assembly of advanced weapons systems. With over twelve years of a legacy of innovation, we're at the forefront of building reliable, affordable mass weapons that protect and empower our nation’s warfighters. Our tight-knit team thrives in a collaborative environment where safety, quality, and work-life balance come first with a focus on professional growth at our new 27,000 sq. ft. facility. Join us to make a tangible impact on mission-critical technology while enjoying Northern Virginia's vibrant community.

Position: You will serve as the Flight Test Director, providing technical leadership and oversight for the planning, coordination, execution, and evaluation of developmental and operational flight tests for our advanced missile and weapons systems. Working closely with multidisciplinary engineering, manufacturing, and program management teams, you will ensure test events validate system performance, safety, and mission effectiveness against customer requirements across realistic flight profiles and operational environments.

• Lead the development, coordination, and execution of comprehensive test plans for missile flight tests, including ground and open-air flight test campaigns.
• Serve as the primary Test Director during test events: direct real-time decision-making, manage test conduct, ensure safety protocols, and coordinate with range personnel, instrumentation teams, and stakeholders.
• Define test objectives, success criteria, and data requirements in concert with system engineers and chief engineers; develop test strategies that integrate modeling/simulation with live testing to verify aerodynamic performance, guidance, propulsion, and end-to-end system behavior.
• Oversee test data collection, reduction, and analysis; interpret results to assess system performance against requirements, diagnose anomalies, and recommend design or operational improvements.
• Conduct performance trade studies, flight envelope expansion, stability and control evaluations, and optimization analyses as necessary (e.g., payload-range, energy-maneuverability, endurance).
• Support multidisciplinary design optimization as necessary (MDO) by integrating test-derived data with aerodynamic, propulsion, structures, and controls models.
• Prepare detailed test reports, technical documentation, analysis summaries, charts, presentations, and readiness reviews for internal leadership and external stakeholders (e.g., government customers).
• Oversee the training and qualification of a team of Flight Test Engineers and Test Conductors.
• Ensure compliance with engineering requirements, specifications, range safety standards, and applicable aerospace/military standards.

Qualifications:

• 7–10 years of experience in aerospace test and evaluation, with significant hands-on experience as a Test Director, Flight Test Engineer, or lead for missile/weapons.
• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
• Demonstrated expertise in planning and executing complex flight tests, including real-time test direction, range operations coordination, and post-test analysis/reporting.
• Experience generating and applying aerodynamic data for 6-DoF simulations, mission analysis, stability & control assessments, trim analysis, and stability derivatives.
• Familiarity with aerospace and defense standards (e.g., MIL-STD, range safety requirements, DO-178 or equivalent).
• Strong leadership and decision-making skills in high-stakes, fast-paced test environments with rigorous attention to safety, verification, and data integrity.
• U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance background-screening requirements.
• Comfortable working in a collaborative, team-oriented environment with a focus on mission success and continuous improvement.

Desired Skills:

• Prior direct experience leading missile or hypersonic weapon flight test programs in a defense contractor or government environment.
• Graduate of a recognized test pilot school such as Empire Test Pilot School, US Naval Test Pilot School, USAF Test Pilot School or other similar schools.
• Expertise in multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO), high-performance computing for simulations, or integration of modeling with live flight testing.
• Knowledge of instrumentation, telemetry systems, data acquisition, and post-flight reconstruction techniques.
• Experience with operational test (OT) and developmental test (DT) planning and execution.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and interface with customers during test readiness reviews and mission execution.

Beyond competitive pay, we offer:

• Full benefits from day one: medical, dental and vision
• 401(k) with generous company match and immediate vesting
• PTO and Federal holidays

Apply now! We're reviewing applications on a rolling basis. Let's build the future together. No agencies, please.

#Hiring #DefenseTech #AerospaceCareers