Project Manager – Experimental Flight Test
Overview
We are seeking an experienced Project Manager – Experimental Flight Test to support complex aircraft development, avionics integration, and certification flight test programs within a dynamic aerospace environment.
This role will lead projects from planning through execution and completion, coordinating cross-functional engineering and flight test teams while managing schedules, budgets, resources, risks, and technical priorities.
The ideal candidate will bring a strong combination of aerospace project management, experimental flight test, aircraft certification, and avionics systems experience.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and deliver complex Experimental Flight Test, aircraft development, avionics integration, and certification projects, ensuring adherence to scope, schedule, budget, safety, and quality objectives.
- Coordinate cross-functional teams to establish project plans, milestones, resource requirements, priorities, and execution strategies.
- Partner closely with avionics, electrical systems, systems engineering, flight sciences, flight test, and certification teams throughout project execution.
- Coordinate aircraft activities involving avionics system integration, aircraft modifications, ground testing, verification/validation, and experimental flight testing.
- Collaborate with engineering teams, technical specialists, suppliers, business leaders, pilots, and customer representatives to drive project success.
- Develop and maintain project schedules, priorities, and resource allocation plans across multiple concurrent projects.
- Identify technical, schedule, cost, and program risks and lead mitigation planning and execution.
- Monitor project performance and provide regular status updates to leadership and key stakeholders.
- Participate in and coordinate safety and security processes related to aircraft development and flight test activities.
- Support investigations and corrective actions associated with potential aircraft, avionics, or product deficiencies.
- Prepare budget forecasts and maintain visibility into project financial performance.
- Create and present project reports, technical program reviews, and executive-level updates.
- Coordinate activities across multiple sites and support geographically dispersed teams as required.
Requirements
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
- 5–8+ years of project or program management experience within the aerospace industry.
- Experience supporting aircraft development, experimental flight test, certification, or avionics integration programs.
- Experience working with aircraft avionics systems within a development, integration, verification, certification, or flight test environment.
- Working knowledge of avionics system integration, verification/validation, and flight test processes.
- Demonstrated ability to coordinate across avionics engineering, systems engineering, flight test engineering, pilots, certification teams, suppliers, and program leadership.
- Strong understanding of project management principles, methodologies, and best practices.
- Demonstrated experience managing project schedules, budgets, resources, risks, and competing priorities.
- Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
- Demonstrated leadership capabilities and ability to influence cross-functional technical teams.
- Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
- Self-motivated, results-oriented, and capable of working independently in a fast-paced technical environment.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, PowerPoint, and Microsoft Project.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience supporting aircraft certification and experimental flight test programs.
- Experience managing projects involving avionics integration, avionics upgrades, troubleshooting, verification, or certification testing.
- Familiarity with FAA and/or TCCA aircraft certification processes.
- Knowledge of flight test operations and aerospace product development processes.
- Experience managing multi-site or geographically dispersed engineering teams.
- Experience working with business, commercial, or transport-category aircraft programs.
What You'll Bring
- A proactive and collaborative approach to technical project leadership.
- The ability to navigate complex aircraft, avionics, engineering, and flight test environments.
- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships across engineering, operations, suppliers, customers, and leadership.
- The ability to translate technical challenges into clear project priorities and executable plans.
- A strong commitment to quality, safety, technical excellence, and continuous improvement.
Join a team where innovation, technical excellence, and collaboration drive the future of aerospace development.