Entry Level Flight Test Engineer Jobs in Columbus, OH

We are seeking a Senior Quality Engineer to support flight line operations in Victorville, CA before relocating to Arsenal-1 in Q1 2027. This role is on the Quality Engineering team and will focus on quality assurance and process integrity for aircraft operations, integration, and testing directly on the flight line. Your expertise will bridge development engineering, production, and field operations to ensure aircraft functionality and performance under real-world conditions. You will have direct involvement with diagnosing and resolving issues as they arise in the field, providing critical support to the aircraft's final integration, troubleshooting, and operational readiness.

In this role as a Senior Quality Engineer, the ideal candidate would support operations at our Victorville, CA facility before joining our rapidly growing team in Ashville, OH. This is a dynamic and hands-on position with opportunities in managing flight-line quality assurance activities and driving improvements in the aircraft integration process. This position is ideal for someone who thrives in a high-stakes environment, loves to implement innovative solutions, and takes ownership of ensuring precision and quality during critical phases of aircraft ground and flight operations.
**This role requires candidates to relocate to Victorville, CA until Q1 2027. Housing, transportation, etc. will be provided during your stay. Following completion of flight line duties at our Victorville site, this role would then turn into a full time position at our Arsenal-1 facility in Ashville, OH.

• Personify quality oversight and support during aircraft maintenance, ground testing, and flight testing. Monitor flight line activities to ensure adherence to stringent quality standards, safety protocols, and detailed technical procedures.
• Conduct thorough pre-flight checks and audits to verify the readiness of systems, structures, and components. Develop and execute inspection systems tailored to flight line and operational support requirements.
• Lead RCCA initiatives specifically targeting issues arising during test and maintenance, and sustainment. Address in-field non-conformance issues and resolve immediate defects impacting operational readiness.
• Partner closely with manufacturing engineers, test engineers, field operations teams, and pilots to resolve technical and quality issues. Evaluate system & process performance directly within operational environments.
• Provide real-time technical and quality support during flight testing, ensuring data is accurately captured, defects are analyzed, and adjustments are rapidly implemented in subsequent iterations.
• Drive continuous improvement of flight line processes, testing protocols, and operator procedures to mitigate risks and enhance operational efficiency.
• Support quality documentation efforts specific to flight-line activities, including inspection logs, NCR metrics, pre-flight investigation reports, and detailed performance summaries.

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or similar technical field
• 5+ years of experience in Quality, Manufacturing, flight test, sustainment, or Engineering roles with direct involvement in aircraft testing activities
• Strong working knowledge of aviation systems, subsystems integration, and mechanical/electrical manufacturing processes
• Familiarity with flight-line processes, operational readiness requirements, and troubleshooting under time constraints
• Experience working directly with DCMA and military customers from enlisted to senior officers.
• Knowledge of government regulations affecting aviation systems, defense contracts, and flight certification
• Experience with quality management of complex systems such as propulsion , flight controls, avionics, mission systems, fuel, hydraulics, and structural components
• Hands-on experience with pre-flight and post-flight inspection guidelines, quality audits, and troubleshooting processes
• Expertise in product quality methodologies such as FMEA, APQP, and FAI
• Knowledge of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) applied to aerospace systems
• Experience working with measurement tools
• Demonstrated ability to drive projects to completion in fast-paced environments requiring quick decision-making
• Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance

• 7+ years of experience with military aircraft flight line operations, quality systems, or production processes
• Working knowledge of AS9100, AS6500, and ISO 9001-based quality management systems
• Familiarity with IPC standards for electronics and MIL standards for aerial vehicle integration
• Experience with Manufacturing Readiness Levels
• Hands-on experience using Teamcenter, SolidWorks/NX, Jira, and manufacturing execution systems