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Flight Test Engineer Jobs in Tennessee (NOW HIRING)

Project Engineer Location: Arnold AFB Job Family Code: Digital Enterprise Function/Branch ... flight test. Execution of the mission requires a large team of highly qualified and dedicated ...

Project Engineer Location: Arnold AFB Job Family Code: Digital Enterprise Function/Branch ... flight test. Execution of the mission requires a large team of highly qualified and dedicated ...

Project Engineer Location: Arnold AFB Job Family Code: Digital Enterprise Function/Branch ... flight test. Execution of the mission requires a large team of highly qualified and dedicated ...

Project Engineer Location: Arnold AFB Job Family Code: Digital Enterprise Function/Branch ... flight test. Execution of the mission requires a large team of highly qualified and dedicated ...

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Flight Test Engineer information

See Tennessee salary details

$39.5K

$122.4K

$185.2K

How much do flight test engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 3, 2026, the average yearly pay for flight test engineer in Tennessee is $122,424.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $95,800.00 and $145,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What engineers make $500,000?

Senior aerospace engineers, including experienced Flight Test Engineers working in the aerospace industry, can earn salaries approaching or exceeding $500,000 annually, especially with bonuses, stock options, and extensive experience. High-level engineers with specialized skills, advanced certifications, and leadership roles in large companies or defense contractors are more likely to reach this compensation level.

What are some common challenges faced by Flight Test Engineers during the testing process?

Flight Test Engineers often encounter challenges related to balancing safety with the need to gather comprehensive data during test flights. They must coordinate closely with pilots, design teams, and regulatory bodies to ensure all test objectives are met while adhering to strict safety protocols. Weather conditions, unexpected aircraft behavior, and last-minute design changes can also impact test schedules. Effective communication, adaptability, and attention to detail are essential for overcoming these challenges and ensuring successful test outcomes.

How hard is it to become a flight test engineer?

Becoming a flight test engineer typically requires a bachelor's degree in aerospace, mechanical, or electrical engineering, along with experience in aircraft systems and testing. Strong analytical skills, knowledge of flight operations, and familiarity with testing protocols are essential, and obtaining certifications like the FAA's pilot or test pilot license can be beneficial. The role often involves rigorous training and safety procedures, making it a challenging but achievable career path for qualified engineers.

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

AspectFlight Test EngineerFlight Test Technician
CredentialsBachelor's or higher in aerospace or mechanical engineering; often requires FAA or EASA certificationsAssociate's or bachelor's in aerospace technology or related field; certifications may vary
Work EnvironmentDesigning, planning, analyzing flight tests; collaborating with engineers and pilotsAssisting with test preparations, data collection, and aircraft inspections
Industry UsagePrimarily in aerospace manufacturing, research, and developmentInvolved in testing and maintenance within aerospace companies and testing facilities

Flight Test Engineers focus on designing and analyzing flight tests, requiring advanced engineering skills and certifications. Flight Test Technicians support these activities through hands-on testing and data collection. Both roles are essential in aerospace testing environments but differ in responsibilities and qualifications.

How much do flight test engineers get paid?

Flight test engineers typically earn between $70,000 and $130,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and industry sector. Senior engineers with specialized skills or certifications can earn higher salaries, especially in aerospace or defense companies.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Flight Test Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Flight Test Engineer, you need a solid background in aerospace or mechanical engineering, strong analytical abilities, and a relevant engineering degree. Familiarity with test instrumentation, data acquisition systems, and simulation software—along with certifications like FAA DER or EASA equivalent—are often required. Exceptional problem-solving, teamwork, and communication skills help you collaborate effectively with pilots and multidisciplinary teams. These capabilities ensure accurate data collection, safe test operations, and successful validation of aircraft performance and safety standards.

What are Flight Test Engineers?

Flight Test Engineers are specialized professionals who plan, conduct, and analyze tests on aircraft and aerospace systems to ensure they meet safety, performance, and regulatory standards. They collaborate with pilots, design engineers, and technicians to develop test plans, monitor test flights, and interpret data collected during these flights. Their work is crucial in identifying potential issues, validating design changes, and certifying aircraft for operational use. Flight Test Engineers often work for aircraft manufacturers, government agencies, or research organizations.

What Does a Flight Test Engineer Do?

As a flight test engineer, your job is to oversee testing the operations and performance of aircraft in line with FAA regulations and guidelines from the manufacturer. This job frequently involves planning, managing, coordinating, and executing a full spectrum of aircraft testing, including tests on all mechanical and electronic systems. Some details of this job vary based on the kinds of aircraft with which you work. Flight test engineers may work with everything from single-engine civilian aircraft to large, military planes. Fulfilling the responsibilities and duties of a flight test engineer often requires meeting the qualifications for a security clearance, studying guides and technical manuals, contacting part manufacturers, and excellent communication skills.

What do flight test engineers do?

Flight test engineers design, plan, and oversee testing of aircraft and aerospace systems to evaluate performance, safety, and compliance with regulations. They analyze test data, troubleshoot issues, and work closely with pilots, engineers, and manufacturers using specialized tools and instrumentation. Their work often involves testing in controlled environments and requires knowledge of aerodynamics, systems integration, and safety standards.
What are the most commonly searched types of Flight Test Engineer jobs in Tennessee? The most popular types of Flight Test Engineer jobs in Tennessee are:
What are popular job titles related to Flight Test Engineer jobs in Tennessee? For Flight Test Engineer jobs in Tennessee, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What cities in Tennessee are hiring for Flight Test Engineer jobs? Cities in Tennessee with the most Flight Test Engineer job openings:
What are popular job titles related to Flight Test Engineer jobs in TN? For Flight Test Engineer jobs in TN, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Infographic showing various Flight Test Engineer job openings in Tennessee as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 75% Full Time, and 25% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $122,424 per year, or $58.9 per hour.

Digital Enterprise DevSecOps Engineer

BNH

Arnold Air Force Base, TN • On-site

$78K - $110K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 27 days ago


Job description

Job Title:                          Digital Enterprise DevSecOps Engineer

Location:                         Arnold AFB, TN

Job Family Code:             T – Software & Systems Development

Function/Branch:            Engineering/Digital Enterprise

Directorate:                     Eng & Tech Support

Position Type:                 Regular, Full-Time                                    

Pay Type:                        Exempt

Grade:                              L06 

Salary Range:                  $78,000 - $110,000 /year

 

Overview

Beyond New Horizons, LLC (BNH) has an exciting opportunity for a Digital Enterprise DevSecOps Engineer, supporting TOS II, at Arnold Air Force Base, TN. As a Digital Enterprise DevSecOps Engineer, you will work as a member of the Digital Enterprise group (DE) in the Mission Support Branch. Your primary role will be to integrate security practices into the DevOps pipeline and lead the implementation of secure, data-centered projects to improve the AEDC ground test data infrastructure, facility operations, and business systems. The person selected for this role will work closely with multidisciplinary teams to design, implement, and manage automated, secure, and resilient infrastructure and software delivery pipelines.

Open to internal and external candidates. The selected candidate for this requisition may be required to occasionally (e.g. application upgrades) work outside normal business hours.

Job Summary

Beyond New Horizons, LLC (BNH) is the team selected by the U.S. Air Force to conduct Test and Operations Sustainment at the Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC) at Arnold Air Force Base in Tennessee.  AEDC operates more than 55 aerodynamic and propulsion wind tunnels, rocket and turbine engine test cells, space environmental chambers, arc heaters, ballistic ranges and other specialized units located in six states. Many of the complex's test units have capabilities unmatched elsewhere in the United States; some are unique in the world. AEDC is one of three installations which are part of the Air Force Test Center (AFTC), one of six subordinate commands of the Air Force Materiel Command organization, and an important national resource.

AEDC’s mission is to conduct developmental test and evaluation for the Nation through modeling, simulation, and ground and flight test.  Execution of the mission requires a large team of highly qualified and dedicated professionals from multiple technical disciplines to effectively accomplish the objectives of our test customers.

Job Duties:

  • Design, build, and maintain secure and scalable CI/CD (Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery) pipelines.
  • Integrate security tools (e.g., SAST, DAST, SCA) into the software development lifecycle to identify vulnerabilities early.
  • Develop and manage Infrastructure as Code (IaC) to automate provisioning and configuration of environments.
  • Implement and manage monitoring, logging, and alerting solutions to ensure system health, security, and performance.
  • Collaborate with developers, testers, and security teams to embed security controls and best practices throughout the software development lifecycle.
  • Manage containerization and orchestration solutions (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes).
  • Automate security controls, governance processes, and compliance validation.
  • Troubleshoot and resolve complex issues in development, test, and production environments.
  • Maintain and improve the security posture of existing systems and cloud infrastructure.
  • Stay up-to-date with the latest DevSecOps technologies, security threats, and industry trends.
  • It is a condition of employment to wear company-issued PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) in accordance with supervisory direction and company policy.
  • Performs other related duties as required.

 

Basic Qualifications:

  • B.S. in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Statistics, Mathematics, Engineering or another relevant technical/engineering field from an accredited university program or at least 4 years of relevant work experience in lieu of degree. 
  • Current U.S. Citizenship is required. 

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Master’s or PhD degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Statistics, Mathematics, Physics, Engineering or another relevant technical/engineering field from an accredited university program.  
  • Experience with development lifecycle methodologies such as Agile and DevSecOps.
  • Proficiency in multiple programming languages (e.g., Python, Java, C++, C#, JavaScript).
  • Experience with database technologies (e.g., SQL, NoSQL).
  • Experience with cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud).
  • Experience with version control systems (e.g., Git, CI/CD Pipeline).
  • Experience with automated testing frameworks.
  • Strong problem-solving skills.
  • Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
  • Knowledge of a variety of machine learning techniques and their real-world advantages/drawbacks. 
  • Coding knowledge and experience with multiple languages 

 

What We Offer

  • Competitive salaries
  • Continuing education assistance
  • Multiple healthcare benefits packages
  • 401K with employer matching
  • Paid time off (PTO) along with a federally recognized holiday schedule

 

Who We Are

Beyond New Horizons (BNH) is a fully populated joint venture of Astrion and Fluor Federal Services, Inc. formed to provide unmatched Test Operations and Sustainment services for the Arnold Engineering and Development Complex.

 We chose our name to serve as an enduring reminder of our commitment to AEDC’s rich aerospace research and development legacy anchored in AEDC’s Towards New Horizons founding study and the unprecedented opportunities to greatly expand AEDC’s capabilities and capacity Beyond those existing today. Leveraging the capabilities of our parent companies, BNH specializes in testing and evaluation for military and space systems combined with proven capability in large-scale Government program management, integration, engineering, and construction services for specialized and technically advanced high-hazard facilities.

Join our Team!

BNH is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, veteran status, and any other grounds for discrimination prohibited by applicable law.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.