What are the responsibilities and job description for the Manager, Flight Test position at Cypress HCM?
Manager, Flight Test Engineering
The Senior Manager of Flight Test Engineering leads the team responsible for planning, executing, and evaluating flight tests that validate advanced unmanned aerial systems. This role owns the engineering strategy behind test design, system integration, instrumentation, and data analysis while driving collaboration across engineering, operations, and program teams. The position requires a strong leader who can guide technical teams, uphold safety and regulatory standards, and enable rapid, iterative development of mission-ready autonomous systems.
Responsibilities
The Senior Manager of Flight Test Engineering leads the team responsible for planning, executing, and evaluating flight tests that validate advanced unmanned aerial systems. This role owns the engineering strategy behind test design, system integration, instrumentation, and data analysis while driving collaboration across engineering, operations, and program teams. The position requires a strong leader who can guide technical teams, uphold safety and regulatory standards, and enable rapid, iterative development of mission-ready autonomous systems.
Pay Rate:
The Senior Manager of Flight Test Engineering leads the team responsible for planning, executing, and evaluating flight tests that validate advanced unmanned aerial systems. This role owns the engineering strategy behind test design, system integration, instrumentation, and data analysis while driving collaboration across engineering, operations, and program teams. The position requires a strong leader who can guide technical teams, uphold safety and regulatory standards, and enable rapid, iterative development of mission-ready autonomous systems.
Responsibilities
- Lead, mentor, and develop the Flight Test Engineering team while setting technical direction.
- Define and refine flight test methodologies, processes, and data-driven evaluation practices.
- Collaborate cross-functionally to align test activities with system development roadmaps.
- Ensure all flight testing meets safety, compliance, and regulatory requirements.
- Direct planning, scheduling, and resource allocation for test campaigns across programs.
- Partner with external agencies and stakeholders to execute complex test events.
- Establish metrics and KPIs to measure effectiveness and support continuous improvement.
- Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Systems Engineering, or related field.
- 10 years of unmanned aerial systems test experience, including 5 years in a leadership role.
- Expertise in hardware/software integration and flight test execution for autonomous systems.
- Strong understanding of aviation regulations, compliance requirements, and safety practices.
- Experience serving as a Test Director for mission-critical systems.
- Excellent problem-solving and communication skills across technical and executive audiences.
- Ability to obtain/maintain a DoD security clearance; FAA Part 107 certification or ability to obtain.
- $160-195k
The Senior Manager of Flight Test Engineering leads the team responsible for planning, executing, and evaluating flight tests that validate advanced unmanned aerial systems. This role owns the engineering strategy behind test design, system integration, instrumentation, and data analysis while driving collaboration across engineering, operations, and program teams. The position requires a strong leader who can guide technical teams, uphold safety and regulatory standards, and enable rapid, iterative development of mission-ready autonomous systems.
Pay Rate:
- $160-195k
Salary : $160,000 - $195,000