Flight Test Engineer
Copello
Flight Test Engineer- West Wales- Permanent- £50,000- £60,000
Take Flight Testing to the Next Level
Are you an experienced Flight Test Engineer looking for the opportunity to work with advanced uncrewed aircraft, real operational challenges and technology that moves quickly from test to deployment?
Join a growing Test & Evaluation team working across a range of UAS platforms and mission payloads. You’ll join a team in the midst of growth and play a key role in turning engineering requirements into safe, effective flight trials — planning campaigns, assessing risk, analysing results and providing the insight needed to develop better aircraft.
This is a role for someone who enjoys being where engineering, flight operations and data meet.
Own the Trial. Shape the Outcome.
You’ll be involved throughout the flight-test lifecycle, including:
- Planning, managing and reporting flight-test campaigns across different UAS platforms and payloads
- Capturing trial requirements and turning them into clear, achievable test objectives
- Designing trials that generate meaningful and actionable engineering data
- Conducting Test Flying Readiness Reviews (TFRR) in line with Test & Evaluation policy
- Leading or contributing to test-hazard and trial-risk reviews
- Working with engineering and operational teams to understand what needs to be tested and how
- Deploying with operational crews to conduct flight-test activity
- Analysing results and providing timely, accurate insight to engineering teams
- Adapting plans as technology, priorities and operational requirements change
You won’t simply be executing a predefined test schedule. You’ll help define the test approach, manage the risk and determine what the evidence tells us.
Work With Technology That’s Still Evolving
UAS technology is developing rapidly. New aircraft, payloads and mission systems bring unfamiliar problems — and that’s part of the attraction.
You’ll need to be comfortable working with new technologies, investigating unexpected results and adapting your approach when the test programme changes.
We’re looking for someone who is driven by data and testing — someone who wants to understand not just whether something worked, but what the evidence tells us and how that insight can make the product better.
Your work will help engineering teams make informed decisions and deliver safer, more capable systems to customers.
What You’ll Bring
Essential
- 4+ years’ active flight-test experience, crewed or uncrewed
- Experience working with MAA RA2370 or relevant civilian schemes such as Part 21J
- Practical experience of flight-test planning, risk assessment and execution
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to work at pace and adapt to changing schedules and priorities
- Confidence working with new technologies and unfamiliar systems
- Strong data manipulation, analysis, research and investigative skills
Desirable
- Qualification from a recognised Flight Test School
- Degree or equivalent qualification in engineering or a related technical discipline
- Experience working within a Part 21J, MAA DAOS or CFAOS organisation
- Crewed or uncrewed pilot, engineering licence or similar qualification
Above all, you’ll bring sound engineering judgement, curiosity and a practical approach to testing.
Why This Role?
- Work across multiple UAS platforms and mission payloads
- Take ownership of flight-test campaigns from requirements through to reporting
- Deploy alongside operational crews and experience testing in real environments
- Work directly with engineers developing rapidly evolving aerospace technology
- Use real test evidence to influence product development
- Work across Defence, Security and Space programmes
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering and operational teams
- Gain exposure to UK and international test activity
- Build your technical expertise and take on increasing responsibility
If you’re a Flight Test Engineer who wants to work at the sharp end of UAS development — combining rigorous test engineering, real flying, data and operational challenges — this is an opportunity to make your experience count.
Apply now and help turn flight-test evidence into the next generation of uncrewed aircraft capability, please contact Victoria on (phone number removed)
Application opens at the source listing. Free for jobseekers.