Flight Test Engineer SME

About the role

Modern Technology Solutions, Inc. (MTSI) is seeking a highly experienced Flight Test Engineer Subject Matter Expert to provide oversight of developmental and operations test and evaluation activities for ACAT-like low-cost air-to-surface missile system programs. In this role, you will initially focus on overseeing test activities conducted by industry partners, ensuring they align with government program objectives and delivering actionable recommendations to improve test plans, execution, and capability development. Over time, you will transition to a proactive role, collaborating with stakeholders to refine test plans, strategies, and processes that support system evaluation throughout its lifecycle. You will deliver written assessments of test events to government leadership to inform decision-making and guide program advancement.

You will work with cross-functional teams to ensure test programs are technically sound, risk-informed, and aligned with warfighter mission requirements. Your contributions will drive rigorous assessments of system performance, supporting critical capability development. This role requires adopting the Department of War (DoW) Acquisition Transformation Strategy, emphasizing speed, innovation, and results through a streamlined “Warfighting Acquisition System” (WAS). Key focus areas include:

• Delivering capabilities rapidly to the warfighter
• Tailoring processes to include only critical and value-added deliverables
• Prioritizing early prototyping
• Facilitating collaboration with warfighters for early and frequent performance feedback
• Driving rapid decision-making

This role demands a deep understanding of the acquisition process and expert judgment to identify areas of acceptable risk for tailoring.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct oversight of tests conducted by industry vendors, ensuring alignment with program priorities and mission objectives.
• Offer actionable technical and strategic recommendations for improvements to vendors’ testing approaches, system capabilities, and test plans.
• Author comprehensive written summaries of test events for government customer reviews and decision-making.
• Support the implementation of a standardized Test and Evaluation (T&E) database for program-wide use.
• Lead the integration of early and continuous test processes across program stages.
• Mature data-driven test strategies to enable test data reuse and application throughout the development lifecycle.
• Participate in and support T&E reviews, audits, Integrated Product Teams (IPTs), Deficiency Review Boards (DRBs), Materiel Improvement Process Review Boards (MIPRBs), and Technical Interchange Meetings (TIMs).
• Support capacity planning and reporting initiatives to prioritize resources for critical testing efforts.
• Collect and analyze data from integration events and provide actionable insights to stakeholders.
• Apply expertise in risk management to advise senior government officials on test readiness and assess the technical readiness of test venues, systems, or technology projects.
• Collaborate with government stakeholders, prime contractors, and cross-functional engineering teams to ensure test objectives are met.
• Ensure requisite reviews, certifications, approvals, analyses, and test range readiness for flight test events to keep program schedules on track.
• Occasionally travel in support of on-site test events and program reviews.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science degree in engineering, mathematics, physics, or a similar field.
• 15+ years of relevant experience in Air Force acquisitions, multi-faceted tests, and test project teams, including oversight of scheduling with a focus on developmental test or operational test (DT/OT).
• Top Secret clearance.
• Eligible for Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) and Special Access Programs (SAP).

Qualifications (Preferred)

• Master of Science/Master of Engineering (MS/ME) degree in engineering, mathematics, physics, or a similar field.
• 20+ years of relevant experience.
• Graduate of a Government Test Pilot School program.