Lead Flight Test Engineer

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L3Harris is the Trusted Disruptor in defense tech. With customers’ mission-critical needs always in mind, our employees deliver end-to-end technology solutions connecting the space, air, land, sea and cyber domains in the interest of national security.

Job Title: Lead, Flight Test Engineer
Job Number: 39823
Job Location: Ashburn, VA
Job Schedule:  9/80 - Employees work 9 out of every 14 days – totaling 80 hours worked – and have every other Friday off 

Job Description: 

L3Harris Agile Development Group (ADG) is seeking a Flight Test Engineer to join the Flight Test and Evaluation team in support of developmental and operational test activities for unmanned aircraft and missile systems. This role leads complex test events across engineering, flight test, maintenance, and program teams from planning through execution and reporting. The ideal candidate will bring strong technical judgment, disciplined test execution, and the ability to keep challenging efforts organized and moving forward.

The Agile Development Group (ADG) specializes in developing disruptive, next-generation technologies for advanced Unmanned Air Systems (UAS / UAV), advanced radar systems, next-generation weapon systems, and other RF sensor technologies.

Essential Functions: 

• Plan and execute ground and flight test events for unmanned aircraft and missile systems.
• Develop test objectives, procedures, test cards, evaluation criteria, readiness review materials, and test reports.
• Lead or participate in test readiness reviews, pre-test briefings, and post-test debriefs to confirm event readiness, communicate risk, capture results, and define follow-on actions.
• Experience developing and executing test plans, procedures, and reporting packages for technically complex systems.
• Strong knowledge of test planning, technical problem-solving, data review, and anomaly resolution.
• Experience leading airworthiness and flight clearance efforts for developmental test, including preparation and coordination of approval packages such as MFR, AWR, and IFC
• Ability to manage complex assignments with general oversight, coordinate cross-functional test activities, and provide technical guidance within the test team.
• Experience working across engineering, operations, maintenance, safety, and program teams, with strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Familiarity with the operating rules, range constraints, and approval considerations governing unmanned aircraft or missile system test activities.
• Willingness to travel up to 25% to test locations and work extended hours during active test windows.
• Coordinate vehicle configuration, instrumentation, staffing, logistics, scheduling, and range support for each test event.
• Lead or support complex test operations by coordinating with flight operations, ground support crews, air traffic control, range personnel, and other external stakeholders as required to maintain safe execution, strong team communication, and day-to-day technical alignment.
• Support integration, checkout, and verification of avionics, propulsion, flight controls, payload interfaces, and other hardware and software, as applicable.
• Identify hazards, assess risk, and ensure testing is conducted within approved procedures and safety limits.
• Lead preparation and coordination of airworthiness and safety approval packages required to support ground and flight test.
• Review telemetry, instrumentation, mission results, and operator observations; document anomalies; support root-cause investigations; and define follow-on testing.
• Work with engineering, operations, and program leadership to refine requirements, resolve issues, and improve test methods.
• Support developmental, integration, qualification, environmental, acceptanc