Principal Flight Test Engineer

• You have a passion for aerospace, defense, special operations, and advanced technologies
• You understand the urgent need to modernize our defense systems and give our warfighters the best possible tools
• Paying attention to detail and providing excellent customer service in a professional environment is a skill you excel at
• You are passionate about continuous learning and growth, and you seek opportunities to challenge yourself
• You are driven to make a meaningful impact through your work

• Provide senior flight test engineering expertise for USSOCOM Group 1-5 UAS system development
• Use experience operating Group 3 to Group 5 UAS to influence Command and Control, intra-swarm networks, data links, and data backhaul architectures
• Develop missiondriven test objectives, plans, and documentation that guide successful execution
• Apply deep technical knowledge to evaluate system readiness and advise senior government leaders
• Evaluate and validate AI system performance, robustness, safety, and reliability using defined metrics and test frameworks

• Lead and participate in detailed flight test event planning
• Prepare mission execution schedules aligned with program timelines
• Serve as test conductor for programs involving Group 1-5 UAS and their associated networks, executing live missions aboard AFSOC aircraft, in DoD control rooms, and Ground Control Stations across the country

• Coordinate test venues, assets, and participants across the DoD enterprise
• Manage logistics for complex test events and support operations with contract maintenance teams
• Facilitate safety processes and aircraft modification requirements

• Work with analysts, instrumentation engineers, and vendors to define data needs
• Oversee data management plans, ensuring robust collection, analysis, and distribution methods
• Identify technical risks related to data quality, model performance, AI behavior, security, and integration, and develop mitigation strategies

• Deliver clear, concise, and timely reports that capture results and recommended followon actions
• Communicate test status, risks, and readiness assessments to senior government leaders and program stakeholders to support informed decisionmaking
• Ability to communicate and collaborate across multiple disciplines; engineering, program management, and aircrew
• Maintain accurate documentation that enables effective crossteam collaboration

• 8+ years in test and evaluation with a focus on Aviation developmental testing
• Understanding and significant experience with Group 5 UAS (such as MQ-9) command and control, airborne networks, and/or associated data links
• Experience/knowledge of open mission architecture, avionics, mission systems, munitions systems, and comm/radar systems
• Working knowledge of DoD and/or Air Force UAS test and evaluation policies
• Experience preparing flight test documents including test plans, safety reviews, and test cards
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Ability to travel to test events and program meetings
• Ability to obtain FAA Class 3 flight physical
• Ability to fly on military aircraft and operate in Ground Control Stations (GCS) or Control Rooms

• Bachelor of Science degree in engineering or science

• Master of Science degree in engineering or science
• Experience with Group 1-4 sUAS operations and/or testing on DoD ranges
• Autonomous system test experience
• Experience using Artificial Intelligence as a tool or in testing
• Test Pilot School graduate (USAF/USN/NTPS)
• Experience testing at various DoD test ranges
• Demonstrated planning, coordination and execution skills on AFSOC or similar aircraft platforms
• Knowledge of installed systems/subsystems and support equipment of AFSOC aircraft
• Knowledge of AFSOC avionics/mission systems, munitions systems and comm/radar systems
• DoD acquisition experience

• Must possess an active DoD Secret Clearance.A Top Secret (TS) security clearance (with SCI and SAP eligibility) is HIGHLY desired

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  Interesting Work:
  
  
  
  Our co-workers support some of the most important and critical programs to our national defense and security.
  
  
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  Values:
  
  
  
  Our first core value is that employees come first. We challenge our co-workers to provide the highest level of support and service, and reward them with some of the best benefits in the industry.
  
  
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  100% Employee Owned:
  
  
  
  We have a stake in each other's success, and the success of our customers. It's also nice to know what's going on across the company; we have company wide town-hall meetings three times a year.
  
  
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  Great Benefits - Most Full-Time Staff Are Eligible for:
  
  
  




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  Starting PTO accrual of 20 days PTO/year + 10 holidays/year
  
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  Flexible schedules
  
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  6% 401k match with immediate vesting up to $9k annually
  
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  Semi-annual bonus eligibility (July and December)
  
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  Company funded Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) - a separate qualified retirement account
  
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  Up to $10,000 in annual educational reimbursement
  
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  Other company funded benefits, like life and disability insurance
  
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  Optional zero deductible Blue Cross/Blue Shield health insurance plan
  




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  Track Record of Success:
  
  
  
  We have grown every year since our founding in 1993.
  
  

Modern Technology Solutions, Inc. (MTSI) is a 100% employee-owned engineering services and solutions company that provides high-demand technical expertise in Digital Transformation, Modeling and Simulation, Rapid Capability Development, Test and Evaluation, Artificial Intelligence, Autonomy, Cybersecurity and Mission Assurance

MTSI delivers capabilities to solve problems of global importance. Founded in 1993, MTSI today has employees at over 20 offices and field sites worldwide.

For more information about MTSI, please visit www.mtsi-va.com