The Role

Mach Industries is seeking a Flight Test Engineer to support the planning, execution, and analysis of ground and flight testing for autonomous aircraft and related systems.

This role works closely with design engineering, systems engineering, manufacturing, and Flight Operations to translate technical requirements into safe, executable tests. The Flight Test Engineer will develop test procedures, configure instrumentation, support test execution, evaluate results, and document whether test objectives were achieved.

This is an entry-level role intended for an engineer who has strong technical fundamentals and wants to develop hands-on experience testing rapidly evolving aerospace systems.

Key Responsibilities

Test Planning and Development

• Translate system and subsystem requirements into measurable test objectives.
• Develop ground-test and flight-test procedures.
• Write test cards, test plans, and supporting readiness documentation.
• Define success criteria and identify the data required to evaluate them.
• Develop test matrices that account for configurations, conditions, and operating limits.
• Support the design of subsystem, integration, and vehicle-level tests.
• Coordinate test requirements with engineering and Flight Operations personnel.

Test Readiness

• Support Flight Readiness Reviews, Test Readiness Reviews, and other pre-test reviews.
• Coordinate the completion of pre-test actions and verify that test objectives are understood.
• Assist with test-hazard identification and mitigation.
• Verify that aircraft configuration, software, instrumentation, test equipment, and required personnel are ready for execution.
• Help prepare test sites, ground-support equipment, and data-acquisition systems.

Test Execution

• Support ground testing, hardware integration, and flight-test activities.
• Configure and verify instrumentation, telemetry, data-acquisition equipment, and test fixtures.
• Serve in assigned test-team positions under the direction of a Test Director or lead Flight Test Engineer.
• Monitor test progress and communicate deviations, hazards, and unexpected behavior.
• Capture test discrepancies, squawks, configuration changes, and relevant operator observations.
• Work with Flight Operations while maintaining clear ownership boundaries between test direction and vehicle operation.

Data Analysis and Reporting

• Collect, organize, and review test data.
• Perform log analysis using tools such as Nominal, Excel, Python, or MATLAB.
• Compare test results against defined requirements and success criteria.
• Support root-cause investigations and verification of corrective actions.
• Complete Flight Test Data Reports and other test records.
• Write clear test reports that document configurations, methods, results, discrepancies, and conclusions.
• Maintain traceable flight-test records and technical documentation.

Continuous Improvement

• Participate in post-test reviews and lessons-learned discussions.
• Recommend improvements to test procedures, tools, instrumentation, and workflows.
• Help improve the repeatability and efficiency of ground and flight testing.
• Maintain current templates, checklists, and test documentation.

Required Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, robotics, systems engineering, or a related technical field.
• Understanding of basic systems-engineering principles.
• Ability to interpret technical requirements and convert them into measurable test objectives.
• Familiarity with engineering data analysis using Excel, Python, MATLAB, or similar tools.
• Strong technical writing and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to read engineering drawings, schematics, specifications, and technical documentation.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to work directly with aircraft, test equipment, and field teams.
• Ability to work safely in a fast-moving development environment where configurations and schedules may change rapidly.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally and support testing outside normal business hours when required.
• Ability to meet applicable U.S. export-control requirements.

Preferred Qualifications 

• Internship, academic, military, or professional experience involving aerospace testing, robotics, UAS, or autonomous systems.
• Previous ground-test or flight-test support experience.
• Experience developing test procedures or test cards.
• Familiarity with instrumentation, telemetry, data acquisition, or sensor integration.
• Experience integrating mechanical, electrical, avionics, or communications hardware.
• Familiarity with aircraft systems, autopilots, ground-control stations, or UAS operations.
• Experience participating in requirements reviews, test-readiness reviews, or failure investigations.
• FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate.
• Active or previously held U.S. security clearance.

Additional Requirements