Senior Flight Test Engineer

About the role

KBR’s National Security Solutions team provides high-end engineering and advanced technology solutions to customers in the intelligence and national security communities. In this position, your work will have a profound impact on the country’s most critical role—protecting our national security.

KBR, Inc. is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior Flight Test Manager to support the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Autonomous Air Refueling research effort. This role will be responsible for providing expert-level flight test guidance on this complex program. The candidate will serve as the research and acquisition test manager responsible for developing, establishing, and implementing aspects of a project/program through designated phases of the acquisition cycle for which no closely related precedents exist. The objective is to support the Technology Transition Office (TTO) in developing, producing, acquiring, and testing material capabilities for the US Air Force.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate with vendors and test organizations such as AFRL/DO to assist in developing detailed test plans, support resource management, and monitor execution.
• Act as a liaison to test stakeholders including test units, developing contractors, users, and other program offices.
• Support development, implementation, and monitoring of processes to manage cost, schedule, conduct, and strategy of T&E activities across acquisition phases.
• Provide technical input and briefings to government leadership and industry representatives regarding T&E status and progress.
• Monitor contractor performance and provide assessments to government PMs on program objectives.
• Coordinate activities among functional specialists in engineering, program scheduling, configuration/data management, test, and logistics.
• Provide technical support to contractual, financial, and programmatic aspects of projects through acquisition phases.
• Apply acquisition test management principles to identify technical risks and support program success across acquisition phases.
• Engage with stakeholders to resolve technical issues and provide updates to government and contractor teams.
• Manage the planning, coordination, and execution of complex flight test programs for various aircraft platforms and systems.
• Coordinate and manage detailed flight test plans, procedures, and test cards, ensuring clear objectives, performance criteria, and safety standards.
• Manage and oversee ground and flight test events, including range and airspace coordination.
• Perform in-depth analysis of flight test data to evaluate system functionality.
• Prepare detailed flight test reports, documenting results, highlighting key findings, and providing actionable recommendations.
• Evaluate vendor deliverables to ensure contract performance and compliance.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant safety standards, regulatory requirements, and program guidelines such as AFRL Manual 99-103 and AFRLI 61-103.
• Identify potential safety risks and technical challenges and develop mitigation strategies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related technical field.
• 6+ years of experience in test and evaluation with a specific focus on Air Force acquisition programs or similar DoD systems.
• Demonstrated ability to manage system requirements verification and validation activities.
• Demonstrated ability to lead planning and execution events.
• Proficiency with tools and technologies commonly used in Air Force and DoD acquisition programs, such as model-based systems engineering, risk management, requirements management, project scheduling, and software backlog management tools.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex concepts to program managers, contractors, and non-technical stakeholders.
• Exceptional problem-solving skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines within the AFRL environment.
• Ability to navigate the complexities of military contracting processes and collaborate with defense contractors to ensure compliance with Air Force requirements.
• Active Secret clearance.

Desired

• Active Top Secret clearance.
• Experience with prototyping and experimentation within the DoD.
• DAWIA Test and Evaluation certification.
• Expertise in software integration and testing.
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience in SCI programs.
• Demonstrated ability to work well independently or as a team member.
• Demonstrated ability to drive projects to closure and to assimilate and correlate project information in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate with technical and non-technical project teams.
• Experience acquiring and/or testing autonomous systems.
• Experience with Collaborative Combat Aircraft platforms and supporting architecture.
• Experience with Air-to-Air Refueling test & evaluation.

Work Environment

• Location: On-site (WPAFB, OH)
• Travel Requirements: Moderate (less than 20%)
• Working Hours: Standard – Core hours 0900–1500