Lead flight test engineer

The Thales Unmanned Air Systems (UAS) Trials and Training Centre (UTTC), based at West Wales Airport, delivers Air Test and Evaluation (T&E) of large complex UAS for UK MOD and other customers.

Thales is expanding its UAS flight test capability, providing an opportunity for a Lead Flight Test Engineer (FTE) to join the team. The Lead FTE will perform a central role within the organization, leading the planning of and conducting developmental flight test of UAS.  They will be responsible for line management of 1 or more junior FTEs.

Principal Relationships:

• Thales UAS Trials and Training Centre (UTTC):
• Thales Flt Ops Head of Flying
• Thales Flt Ops Head of Air T&E (Chief Test Pilot)
• Head of UTTC
• UTTC Operations and Delivery Manager
• Thales UK Ltd:
• Thales Accountable Manager (Military Flying)
• Thales UAS Technical Director
• Thales Design Organisation (DO)
• Thales Continuing Airworthiness Management Organisation (CAMO)
• UTTC Approved Maintenance Organisation (AMO)

External:

• MOD Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) – RPAS Delivery Team
• U-TacS Design Organisation
• Military Aviation Authority (MAA)

Key Responsibilities and Tasks:

The Thales UTTC Lead FTE will:

• Plan UAS flight trials, considering requirements, certification, airworthiness, and safety and risk management, working closely with the Design Organisation.  Documentation to be produced will include Trials Instructions, Trials Risk and Hazard Assessments, Technical Notes, Flight Test Cards.
• Brief and conduct UAS flight test sorties as part of the GCS test crew.
• Analyse flight trial data, write Post Flight Reports, at the completion of a flight trial write the Flight Test Report.
• Assist the Head of Air T&E and Head of Flying in strategic planning of flight trials, and in writing flight test governance documents, processes and procedures.
• Provide leadership and management to one or more junior FTEs.

Skills and Qualifications

Essential

• Graduate Flight Test Engineer of a recognised Test Pilot School, or having demonstrable equivalent qualifications/experience as an FTE.
• Have demonstrated the ability to plan, manage and conduct flight trials, analyse flight test data, and write flight test reports.
• Possess excellent English language written and spoken communication skills.
• Have an aeronautical engineering and/or aerospace graduate background, with demonstrable knowledge and understanding of all aspects of flight test.
• Have the ability to lead and manage more junior personnel as part of a team.
• Possess a high level of skill in using modern software applications and tools, particularly in analysing and presenting data gained in flight test.

Desirable

• Qualifications (including post-graduate) related to manned or unmanned aircraft design, flight operations, or safety and risk management.

Experience:

Essential

• Significant flight trials experience as an FTE, to include all aspects of flight test planning, conduct, data analysis and reporting.

Desirable

• Flight Trials experience on UAS platforms.
• Experience of working under MAA regulation, particularly within the Contractor Flying Approved Organisational Scheme (CFAOS).