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Flight Test Director Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Socket.dev

Head of Flight Test Engineering

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

$276K - $293K/yr

Drive end-to-end flight test execution--including risk assessments, Test Readiness Reviews (TRRs), Test Director duties, and advanced flight data evaluation. * Connect flight test observations ...

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Flight Test Director information

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$115K

$137.5K

How much do flight test director jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for flight test director in the United States is $114,999.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $100,000.00 and $130,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a flight test director?

Flight Test Directors are professionals responsible for planning, coordinating, and overseeing flight test operations for aircraft or aerospace systems. They work with engineers, pilots, and other specialists to develop test plans, ensure safety protocols are followed, and analyze test data. Their role is crucial in validating the performance, safety, and compliance of new or modified aircraft before they enter service. Flight Test Directors also manage schedules, resources, and communication between teams to ensure successful test missions.

How does a flight test director typically collaborate with engineering and flight crews during a test campaign?

A Flight Test Director plays a pivotal role in coordinating between engineering teams, flight crews, and ground support staff to ensure smooth execution of flight test campaigns. They lead pre-flight briefings, set clear objectives, and facilitate effective communication among all parties to promptly address technical or safety concerns. During testing, they monitor real-time data, make critical go/no-go decisions, and adjust test plans as needed to adapt to evolving conditions. This collaborative approach ensures safety, efficiency, and accurate data collection throughout the flight test process.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a flight test director, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Flight Test Director, you need in-depth knowledge of aeronautical engineering, test planning, and flight safety, usually backed by an engineering degree and extensive flight test experience. Familiarity with flight data acquisition systems, telemetry tools, and relevant certifications like FAA DER or EASA approval is typically required. Strong leadership, problem-solving, and decision-making skills are essential for coordinating multidisciplinary teams and ensuring test objectives are met safely. These skills and qualities are crucial for managing complex flight test programs while maintaining safety, regulatory compliance, and technical performance.

What is the difference between Flight Test Director vs Flight Test Engineer?

AspectFlight Test DirectorFlight Test Engineer
CredentialsOften requires pilot certifications, engineering degrees, and test experienceTypically holds engineering degrees, specialized in aerospace or aeronautical engineering
Work EnvironmentLeads test flights, coordinates teams, and makes real-time decisions during flight testsDesigns test plans, analyzes data, and supports flight testing from ground operations
Industry UsageUsed in aerospace testing programs, especially in aircraft and spacecraft developmentCommonly employed in aerospace companies for test planning and data analysis

The Flight Test Director focuses on overseeing and executing flight tests, making critical decisions during flights, while the Flight Test Engineer primarily designs tests and analyzes data. Both roles are essential in aerospace testing but differ in responsibilities and focus areas.

What cities are hiring for Flight Test Director jobs?

Cities with the most Flight Test Director job openings:

What states have the most Flight Test Director jobs?

States with the most job openings for Flight Test Director jobs include:

What are popular job titles related to Flight Test Director jobs?

For Flight Test Director jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Flight Test Director job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 83% Full Time, 12% Part Time, 3% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 91% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $114,999 per year, or $55.3 per hour.

Director, Test Engineering - ACP Programs (R5044)

Washington, DC • On-site

Shield AI
Software Development • 11 - 50 employees
Learn more about Shield AIexternal

$210K - $310K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 20 days ago

Job description

Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube. 

Job Description:

As a Hivemind Solutions Flight Test Director (ACP Programs), you will serve as the end-to-end technical leader responsible for the integration, verification, and operational test of Hivemind AI Pilot capabilities on portfolio of group 5 UAS/Autonomous Collaborative Platforms (ACP).

You will own the strategy, planning and execution of complex, multi-phase test campaigns supporting the transition of autonomy capabilities from simulation and lab environments to full-scale flight test and operationally relevant mission scenarios, including multi-vehicle coordination. Using a disciplined fly–fix–fly methodology, you will drive rapid capability maturation while maintaining rigorous safety, configuration control, and mission assurance standards. 

This role will serve as the single technical authority for test execution across the portfolio of ACP efforts, responsible for managing risk, test readiness and driving test execution  Here, you will serve as primary focal to facilitate coordination across OEM partners, government customers and internal functional teams rs to deliver high-impact autonomy capabilities at scale.

What you'll do:
  • Act as Test Director and technical lead for integration and flight test of Hivemind autonomy on group 5 ACP systems, including multi-aircraft coordination scenarios in LVC and empirical flight test scenarios.
  • Own test strategy and execution across the full development lifecycle, including system-level verification & validation, test phasing, and prioritization across SIL, HIL, simulation, ground, and flight test environments
  • Plan and execute large-scale flight test campaigns, including complex mission scenarios involving cooperative autonomy, human-machine teaming, and distributed systems
  • Serve as the final authority during mission autonomy test operations, directing test conduct and approving test plans, procedures, and execution flow
  • Coordinate cross-functional execution across software, hardware, systems engineering, flight operations, safety, and program leadership teams
  • Define mission-level performance metrics and success criteria, ensuring traceability from requirements to test outcomes and operational effectiveness
  • Own test infrastructure strategy, including large-scale simulation environments, SIL/HIL systems, aircraft integration labs, and flight test assets
  • Lead on-aircraft integration and flight test operations with platform OEM partners, including system configuration, software deployment, real-time troubleshooting, and post-flight data analysis
  • Serve as primary coordinator working with platform OEMs to define and enforce test readiness criteria (entry/exit), define safety-of-flight and mission risk management, airspace coordination and test hazard identification, analysis, and mitigation to ultimately make go/no-go decisions for progression into ground and flight test events
  • Establish and scale test processes, standards, and best practices aligned with DoD DT&E/OT&E expectations and operational test rigor
Required qualifications:
  • Typically requires 15+ years of experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 14+ years with a Master’s; or 12+ years with a PhD; or equivalent experience
  • Demonstrated experience leading flight test or large-scale system integration efforts, including authority over test readiness, execution, and risk decisions
  • Strong background in full-scale aviation test environments, including aircraft integration, ground test, and flight operations
  • Experience with system-level verification & validation across multiple test environments (SIL, HIL, simulation, and flight)
  • Proven ability to plan and execute complex, multi-phase flight test campaigns involving multiple stakeholders and dependencies
  • Experience working cross-functionally across software, hardware, avionics, systems engineering, safety, and program teams
  • Strong understanding of safety-of-flight principles, risk management, and disciplined test execution in aviation environments
  • Proficiency in Python or similar tools for test automation, data analysis, or system validation
  • Excellent technical leadership and communication skills, including briefing to senior leadership and external customers
  • Ability to obtain and maintain a SECRET clearance; U.S. citizenship required
Preferred qualifications:
  • Experience supporting Autonomous Collaborative Platforms (ACP), loyal wingman concepts, or multi-vehicle autonomous systems
  • Prior role as Flight Test Director, Test Conductor, or Lead Flight Test Engineer on full-scale aircraft programs
  • Familiarity with military aviation test processes, including DT&E and OT&E frameworks
  • Experience operating in or supporting government flight test ranges and operational environments
  • Background in autonomy, AI/ML-enabled systems, or human-machine teaming in aviation contexts
  • Experience with airworthiness processes, flight clearance, and configuration control for aircraft systems
  • Familiarity with tools such as Git, Jira/Azure DevOps, and CI/CD pipelines
  • Active SECRET clearance
#LI-KK1
#LF

Full-time regular employee offer package:
Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity
 
Temporary employee offer package:
Pay within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment)
 
Salary compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, licenses and certifications, and specific work location. All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check. Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits. Please speak to your talent acquisition representative for more information.
 
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Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know. 

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.