Flight Test Lead Engineer

Description

Position Summary:

The IAS Division at Leidos has an opening in Bridgewater, VA for a Flight Test Engineer / Flight Test Director. This role supports testing of OEM and integrated mission equipment onboard multiple fixed-wing aircraft. The position conducts ground and airborne test events and works closely with systems, mechanical, and electrical engineering, logistics, subcontractors, government representatives, and integrated product/test teams to ensure test requirements and required documentation are completed.

Key Responsibilities:

• Plan, coordinate, manage, and execute the full spectrum of ground and flight tests on fixed-wing aircraft.
• Review applicable requirements, system manuals, and specification documentation; coordinate cross-team, subcontractor, and customer personnel for test execution.
• Manage test equipment and calibration procedures and establish instrumentation capability, including strain-gauge installation and data logging.
• Develop test plans with mission-relevant, requirements-traceable, intuitively testable metrics, scope, and methods for system evaluation.
• Lead and execute flight test events, including on-site test management, data collection, preflight briefings, debriefings, and configuration control.
• Analyze test data and produce test reports containing results, supporting data, conclusions, and recommendations based on intended mission, stated requirements, and applicable specifications.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and a minimum of 4 years of related experience; additional related experience may be considered in lieu of a degree consistent with applicable Leidos equivalency guidelines.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret security clearance.
• Ability to obtain a Third-Class FAA Medical Certificate and complete a hypobaric altitude chamber.
• Ability to travel throughout the U.S. to support flight tests.
• Diverse test engineering experience with electronic and/or mechanical systems.
• Ability to work in an agile, fast-paced environment with strong organizational, scheduling, and documentation skills.
• Comfort presenting preflight mission briefings and program status briefings to customers and senior decision makers.
• Strong written, verbal, interpersonal, and communication skills; proficiency with Microsoft Office products.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Active Secret clearance.
• Flight Performance and Handling Qualities (FPHQ) experience.
• Knowledge and experience with aircraft systems, including ASE, IFF, radios, and systems engineering.
• Familiarity with FAA and DoD regulations.

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Original Posting:

Pay Range:

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

About Leidos

Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

Pay and Benefits

Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available at www.leidos.com/careers/pay-benefits.

Securing Your Data

Beware of fake employment opportunities using Leidos’ name. Leidos will never ask you to provide payment-related information during any part of the employment application process (i.e., ask you for money), nor will Leidos ever advance money as part of the hiring process (i.e., send you a check or money order before doing any work). Further, Leidos will only communicate with you through emails that are generated by the Leidos.com automated system – never from free commercial services (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail) or via WhatsApp, Telegram, etc. If you received an email purporting to be from Leidos that asks for payment-related information or any other personal information (e.g., about you or your previous employer), and you are concerned about its legitimacy, please make us aware immediately by emailing us at LeidosCareersFraud@leidos.com.

If you believe you are the victim of a scam, contact your local law enforcement and report the incident to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.