Project/Unit Description

The Flight Test Engineer (FTE) performs the research, planning, development, execution, data analysis engineering, reporting, and documentation of developmental and operational test events of aircraft, systems, and unique capabilities for DOD customers. Has a multi-disciplinary engineering approach to problem solving and experience with complex integrated systems to include aircraft, avionics, unmanned autonomous systems, radar, and defensive systems. Responsible for development of the test & evaluation strategy, integrated test & evaluation master plan framework; requirements verification and validation methods, design of experiments, test objectives, methodology, and evaluation criteria; produce lab, test facility, ground and flight test plans. Has knowledge of DoD test facilities and ranges, and be able to direct, and conduct test events (lab, facility, ground, flight) and support events as required by the customer. Responsible for the collection and instrumentation requirements of test data, review and quick look assessment of test data. Performs data analysis engineering functions to ensure verification and validation of test plans and develop the reporting requirements for test projects. Serves as the engineering subject matter expert of all customer and program test and evaluation events, lead and support all test plan working groups, test and safety boards, and program and technical meetings.

Job Purpose

This job is for a full-time research faculty position in the Force Protection Systems Branch in the Aerospace & Acoustics Technologies Division (AATD) with the Aerospace, Transportation, and Advanced Systems Laboratory (ATASL) at the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI). The Force Protection Systems Branch (FPSB) focuses on the development, integration, testing and evaluation of tactical military systems for the protection of personnel and critical infrastructure worldwide. FPSB personnel apply multi-disciplinary engineering expertise to sensors, platforms, and integrated systems, with a focus on small unmanned systems and asymmetric warfare. Program areas include small, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), Counter UAS systems, persistent tactical ISR platforms and sensors, and command and control (C2) architectures. Within the Aerospace and Acoustics Technologies Division, FPSB focuses on opportunities for transition of emerging technologies to address urgent requirements. Primary sponsors currently come from the US military acquisition community.

Key Responsibilities

• Guide team toward a test-driven development mode of execution.
• Developing plans for and facilitate successful execution of developmental and operational test programs, such as lab, integrated test facility, ground and flight test) events in accordance with guidance from the test and evaluation master plan, requirements, and test plan guidance.
• Perform data analysis engineering to support verification and validation of test objectives.
• Research and diagnose system failures and isolate the source of problems between hardware components and software applications.
• Primary author of technical reports/presentations for projects of low/moderate complexity.
• Compile report input from other researchers and prepare final report deliverable.

Additional Responsibilities

• Responsibilities include testing and evaluation of unmanned aircraft systems and related technologies; development and systems integration of innovative solutions for Force Protection applications focused on autonomous and unmanned systems; acquisition and analysis of engineering data; systems engineering for complex system-of-systems architectures addressing technical and non-technical metrics; analyzing sensor performance, involving both active and passive sensing modalities, and the physical phenomenology that determines the signatures of targets and backgrounds; modeling, simulation and analysis of military systems in a relevant environment; writing technical reports, user manuals, and software; and supporting other engineering-related work as needed.
• In support of these technical requirements, intermittent travel will be required to test ranges and other government and contractor facilities.
• At times, responsibilities will be similar to those of a program manager, as the flight test engineer is responsible for all aspects of the test program, including staffing, schedule, and technical execution.

Required Minimum Qualifications

• Five years of relevant technical experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Active Secret Clearance.
• Experience as a test engineer with test design, execution, and documentation in support of military requirements.
• Experience with design, integration, and/or testing of unmanned systems.
• Experience in a leadership role with program management responsibilities, and/or related business knowledge from prior education or work.
• Experience with data acquisition and test instrumentation in both lab and field environments.
• Experience with electronic warfare systems and/or techniques, including electronic warfare support, electronic attack (EA), and/or electronic protection (EP).
• Experience with military RDT&E, developmental testing, and/or operational testing, ideally including experience working with organizations such as AFOTEC, ATEC, and MCOTEA.
• Familiarity with tactical military operations and understanding of military requirements and the DoD acquisition process.
• Experience with quality assurance, configuration management, and/or issue tracking and resolution for complex military systems, such as electronic warfare (EW) systems, including lab and field testing.
• Experience with command-and-control architectures and military datalinks.
• Prior service in the US military.

Travel Requirements

25% - 50% travel.

Education and Length of Experience

This position vacancy is an open-rank announcement. The final job offer will be dependent on candidate qualifications in alignment with Research Faculty Extension Professional ranks as outlined in section 3.2.1 of the Georgia Tech Faculty Handbook

• 5 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, or similar technical field.
• 3 years of related experience with a Masters’ degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, or similar technical field.
• 0 years of related experience with a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, or similar technical field.

U.S. Citizenship Requirements

Due to our research contracts with the U.S. federal government, candidates for this position must be U.S. Citizens.

Clearance Type Required

Candidates must be able to obtain and maintain an active security clearance.

Benefits at GTRI

Comprehensive information on currently offered GTRI benefits, including Health & Welfare, Retirement Plans, Tuition Reimbursement, Time Off, and Professional Development, can be found through this link: https://hr.gatech.edu/benefits

Diversity & Inclusion