Staff Test PilotEdwards Afb, CA
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Requisition ID: R10169982

  • Category: Flight Operations

  • Location: Edwards AFB, California, United States of America

  • Clearance Type: Secret

  • Telecommute: No- Teleworking not available for this position

  • Shift: 1st Shift (United States of America)

  • Travel Required: Yes, 10% of the Time

  • Relocation Assistance: Relocation assistance may be available

  • Positions Available: 3

At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.

Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems (NGAS) has an opening for a Staff Test Pilot to join our team of qualified, diverse individuals within our Test and Evaluation organization. This position will be located in Edwards AFB, CA.

The Flight Test Operations (FTO) organization is seeking a Staff Test Pilot for developmental test of military aircraft. The selected candidate will conduct demonstration flights with customers, government officials or other personnel to exhibit vehicle performance, flying qualities and system capabilities. The incumbent will develop test techniques, assist in cockpit/workstation design, work with flight test engineers (FTEs) in creating test plans, develop test products, evaluate systems in the laboratory, simulation, ground test, and flight test environments, along with reporting on test results. The selected candidate must successfully complete initial and recurrent training and qualifications as a basis for continued employment.

This position is located 100% on-site at Edwards AFB, CA. Travel may be required up to 10% of the time.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Provide test pilot expertise to assigned programs; technology/research efforts to ensure man-machine interface issues and requirements are identified for new or modified aircraft designs

  • Plan, develop and execute test flights on aircraft to verify airworthiness and performance capability; validate and verify compliance with specifications and to determine operational effectiveness and/or suitability

  • Partner with Flight Operations (Ops) Manager and Engineering team to ensure test team is conducting safe and effective ground and flight test operations

  • Collaborates with customer pilots

  • Engage with program Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) and Responsible Engineers (REs) to ensure air vehicle and ground station designs/modifications are effective and suitable

  • Provide test pilot inputs at Flight Readiness Reviews (FRRs), Test Readiness Reviews (TRRs) and Safety Review Boards (SRBs) ensuring safe conduct of all NGAS flight test missions

  • Ensure best practices and lessons learned are shared with other program pilots

  • Provide engineering test pilot expertise and safety guidance to flight test engineers for design definition, simulator flights, test planning, flight test techniques, test conduct, test reporting and proposal preparation

  • Provide test pilot inputs to System Safety to ensure safe conduct of flight test missions

  • Provide pilot inputs into development of preliminary flight manuals and aircrew checklists

  • Maintain proficiencies and currencies

  • Promote active involvement in flight test professional societies and industry forums; fully supports Test Communities of Practice (CoPs) and Flight Test Safety Summit

Basic Qualifications:

  • Bachelor of Science Degree with a minimum of 12 years relevant experience, or 10 years relevant experience with a MS degree, or 7 years relevant experience with a PhD

  • FAA commercial Multi or Single Engine instrument rated pilot (or military equivalent)

  • Minimum of 1,500 hours of flight experience as Pilot in Command

  • Current FAA Class II Medical or higher

  • Military Test Pilot School (TPS) Graduate

  • Experience in flight testing, with ability to work with engineering to develop solutions to integration issues, and to bridge between the customer users and Northrop Grumman designers

  • Must have an active DoD Secret Clearance or higher (with a background investigation completed within the last 6 years or currently enrolled into Continuous Evaluation)

  • Must have ability to obtain and maintain Program Access (PAR) within a reasonable period, as determined by the company to meet its business needs

  • Must be willing to obtain and maintain the appropriate medical clearance(s), as defined per the customer’s contracting requirements, for the duration of your employment

  • Must be willing to obtain and maintain all training qualifications, as needed per the customer’s contracting requirements, for the duration of your employment

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Current, proficient, and qualified in military aircraft

  • Current DoD Top Secret clearance

  • Strong interpersonal and leadership skills

  • Excellent communications skills, including the ability to brief test results to executive leadership

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Salary Range: $199,600 - $299,400

The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions.

Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.

The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.

Northrop Grumman is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO/AA and Pay Transparency statement, please visit. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.

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