Sr. Engineer, Flight Test

As a Sr. 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 safety at the forefront. 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, support, and conduct test missions, 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 to verify the safe and effective operations of our flight test vehicles. Configuration control, test conduct, and reporting are standard duties. Support the company strategy by holding ourselves and one another accountable for getting the work done.

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 Operations

Define control room display requirements and updates

Define and monitor configurations for tests

Support test readiness reviews (TRRs), technical safety review boards (TSRBs), flight readiness reviews (FRRs), or support major program milestones

Conduct tests on the aircraft and in the control room

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

Continuously practice safety behavior and Foreign Object Debris (FOD) awareness/prevention; adhere to regulatory protocols and rules

Maintain focus on timeliness and execution of tasks and deliverables every day.

Work collaboratively to achieve goals and/or complete assigned tasks

Adhere to set directions and guidelines from team leader to support collaboration across teams to complete projects.

Required Skills and Experience

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, preferably in aerospace

8 years of flight test experience

General understanding of aeroelastic flutter, fly-by-wire flight controls, handling qualities, and mechanical systems.

Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills

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

Experience working in a control room environment

Able to hold an FAA Second-Class medical certificate

Strong safety forward thinking, practice good housekeeping, tool control, recognizing the importance of properly handling hazardous materials and chemicals

Familiar with the use of personal protective equipment (PPE)

Position located in Tustin, CA an required to be on-site four (4) days a week, with travel to Las Cruces, NM and Spaceport America up to 50-70% in 2026-2027.

Preferred Skills and Experience

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

Test Pilot School graduate, or flight test course work

Familiarity with the National Airspace System (NAS), Military Operating Areas (MOAs), and other Special Use Airspaces (SUAs)

Familiarity with good crew resource management (CRM) practices

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

#LI-MS2

The annual U.S. base salary range for this full-time position is $143,031.00–$218,132.00. 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 https://vgcareers.virgingalactic.com/global/en/benefits

Who We Are

Virgin Galactic is an aerospace and space travel company, pioneering human spaceflight for private individuals and researchers with its advanced air and space vehicles. We are making the dream of space travel a reality, delivering spaceflight at an unprecedented frequency, with the development of next generation space vehicles.

Export Requirements To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. Person (either a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident or a protected individual as defined 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) or be able to obtain the required authorization from either the U.S. Department of State or the U.S. Department of Commerce. The applicant must also not be included in the list of Specifically Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control. See list here .

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If you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a position, please contact the Virgin Galactic Talent Team at: VGTalent@virgingalactic.com

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