Specialist Flight Test Engineer

As a Specialist Flight Test Engineer (FTE), you will lead ground and flight test activities. You’ll ensure the project meets mission requirements and maintains technical, budgetary and schedule integrity with zero safety incidents. You will be the communication liaison between engineers and managers by developing consistent test methods, processes, and procedures and be responsible for coordinating activities involved with planning, executing, and reporting on ground and flight tests. You will plan and conduct test flights, provide timely test reports, and provide some analysis as required. The FTE works closely with Engineering to turn their requirements into specific test procedures and plans in order to verify the safe and effective operations of our flight test vehicles. Configuration control, test conduct, and reporting are standard duties.

Responsibilities

• Lead ground test and flight test activities

• Gather and develop the test requirements from the different engineering disciplines

• Work with engineering to turn requirements into test configuration, procedures, conditions, and maneuvers

• Develop test plans

• Develop the test schedules with project engineers and program managers

• Coordinate test schedules with maintenance, engineering, and flight ops

• Define control room display requirements and updates

• Define and monitor configurations for tests

• Monitor and conduct tests on the aircraft and spaceships

• Provide daily reports on vehicle progress and reports on tests as flown and completed

• Update flight logs and test documentation

• Write test reports to document results

• Travel is 50-70% in 2025/2026

Required Skills and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, preferably in aerospace

• ~10 years of test flight experience – Knowledge of flight test and aerospace – Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills

• Energetic, passionate, and organized team member ready to support complex test operations

• Able to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and thrive in a complex product development environment with multiple priorities

• Excellent verbal and written communication, excellent computer skills including Microsoft Word, Excel, Project, and PowerPoint

• Experience with IMP/IMS, risk management, configuration management, requirements management processes preferred

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a high attention to detail – Team player with excellent organizational and interpersonal skills

• Ability to handle multiple tasks while maintaining attention to detail and accuracy and working under tight time deadlines.

• Preferences:

• A general understanding of aerospace drawings, specifications, and manufacturing processes

• Test Pilot School graduate, or flight test course work

The annual U.S. base salary range for this full-time position is $132,100.00–$201,550.00. The base pay actually offered will vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, location, and experience and take into account internal equity. Other forms of pay (e.g., bonus or long term incentive) may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and other benefits, dependent on the position offered. For more information regarding Virgin Galactic benefits, please visit

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