Flight Test Engineer, ATAS

About the Role

The Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) is seeking a Flight Test Engineer (FTE) for a full-time research faculty position within the Force Protection Systems Branch of the Aerospace & Acoustics Technologies Division (AATD) at the Aerospace, Transportation, and Advanced Systems Laboratory (ATASL). This role involves research, planning, development, execution, data analysis, reporting, and documentation of developmental and operational test events for aircraft, systems, and unique capabilities for DOD customers.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop test cases from system requirements.
• Execute tests based on documented test procedures.
• Analyze test programs for completeness and applicability.
• Develop root cause analyses for test failures or questionable test results.
• Perform data analysis engineering to support verification and validation of test metrics.
• Aggregate test results and execute complex or special case tests.
• Record results and perform system checks on success and accuracy.
• Research and diagnose system failures and isolate the source of problems between hardware components and software applications.
• Serve as primary author for sections of technical reports and presentations.
• Test and evaluate unmanned aircraft systems and related technologies.
• Develop and integrate innovative solutions for Force Protection applications focused on autonomous and unmanned systems.
• Acquire and analyze engineering data; perform systems engineering for complex system-of-systems architectures addressing technical and non-technical metrics.
• Analyze sensor performance, including active and passive sensing modalities, and the physical phenomenology that determines target and background signatures.
• Write technical reports, user manuals, and software; and support other engineering-related work.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Multi-disciplinary engineering approach to problem solving.
• Experience with complex integrated systems including aircraft, avionics, unmanned autonomous systems, weapons, radar, and electronic warfare offensive 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.
• Produces lab, test facility, ground and flight test plans.
• Knowledge of DoD test facilities and ranges.
• Ability to direct and conduct test events (lab, facility, ground, flight) and support events.
• Responsible for 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.
• Develops reporting requirements for test projects.
• Serves as the engineering subject matter expert of all sponsor and program Test and Evaluation (T&E) events.
• Leads and supports all test plan working groups, test and safety boards, and program and technical meetings.
• Intermittent CONUS and OCONUS travel will be required.

Qualifications

• Candidates currently enrolled in an accredited degree program relevant to this position will be considered. The candidate must have a graduation date of no later than December 2026.
• Experience preparing technical documentation, engineering reports, or test-related documentation.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, on technical and operational topics.
• Strong time management skills and ability to stay organized amid concurrent efforts.
• U.S. Citizenship is required due to research contracts with the U.S. federal government.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain an active security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Active Secret Clearance.
• Experience with test design, execution, and documentation in support of operational requirements.
• Experience with design, integration, and/or testing of at least one of the following sensor types: radar, electro-optical/infrared, acoustic, EW, or similar, or design/integration/testing of military unmanned systems or tactical vehicles.
• Familiarity with tactical military operations and understanding of military requirements and the DoD acquisition process.
• Experience in a relevant leadership role.

Education and Experience

• 2 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering or a similar field of study.
• 0 years of related experience with a Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering or a similar field of study.

Travel Requirements

• 25% - 50% travel.