Head of Flight Test

You’ve led experimental or developmental flight test before, so you know how much detail matters. Envelope expansion. Permit to Fly conditions. Safety cases. Certification goals. You’ll bring all of that together, while leading a multidisciplinary team of Test Directors, Flight Test Engineers, and Test Pilots. 

It’s a senior role with real visibility, but also a clear purpose. You’ll help build the flight test capability needed to take a pioneering aircraft programme through its next major phase, and play a direct part in shaping the future of electric aviation. 
 

Who’s it for and what’s in it for you? 

Our client is pioneering the future of transport. They're redefining air travel for a cleaner, greener future. Combining the latest in tech with reams of human innovation, they're developing a new mode of air travel that's fully electric, fully sustainable, and fully convenient for the people using it.
 

As for working there, you'll join a likeminded team who are all united behind the same mission and the same opportunity. It’s an incredibly open workplace where people are encouraged to bring ideas, innovate, and shape their own journey. Plus you'll get access to a great benefits package that supports your work and home life, including things like:

• Generous annual leave with the opportunity to buy extra (or sell what you don't use!)
• 5 days extra if you get married or enter a civil partnership
• Access to their digital health and wellbeing service
• The option to buy company shares
• Matched pension scheme
• Breakfast on them, every day
• A percentage of your salary on top to spend on benefits that suit you

 

What will your day to day look like? 
The key focus of this role is to lead the flight test function, ensuring all activity is technically sound, safely governed, regulator-ready, and aligned with aircraft certification and programme objectives, as well as: 

• Defining and owning the overall flight test strategy across current and future aircraft programmes 
• Leading envelope expansion planning, test methodology, and major programme phase transitions 
• Overseeing flight test governance, readiness reviews, risk acceptance, and safety escalation 
• Ensuring all activity remains within Permit to Fly conditions and Design Organisation approval 
• Working closely with the Chief Test Pilot, Airworthiness, Engineering, and Programme leadership 
• Maintaining the integrity, traceability, and certification value of flight test data 
• Representing the flight test function in regulatory reviews, audits, and technical discussions 
• Building, leading, and developing a high-performing multidisciplinary flight test organisation 
• Planning long-term capability across people, facilities, telemetry, instrumentation, and support systems 
• Ensuring flight test outputs are robust, defensible, and suitable for certification substantiation 

This is a rare opportunity to shape the flight test organisation of a next-generation aircraft programme, influence certification strategy, and build a team capable of supporting long-term programme growth. 


This role will suit you if you… 

• Have extensive experimental or developmental flight test experience 
• Have led multidisciplinary flight test teams in a senior capacity 
• Have experience with envelope expansion and certification-focused test programmes 
• Understand flight test risk management, safety cases, and operational governance 
• Have operated under Permit to Fly conditions 
• Have worked within a regulated Design Organisation, ideally Part 21 or equivalent 
• Hold a degree in Engineering, Science, or a related discipline 
• Are a graduate of a recognised Test Pilot School, or bring equivalent experimental flight test experience 
• Can engage confidently with regulators, senior leadership, and technical authorities 
• Bring experience with novel aircraft configurations, powered lift, fly-by-wire, or advanced propulsion systems 

 
Think this could be your next role? 
Then we’d love to hear from you! If you’re interested in applying or would like to see the full job description for this role, please get in touch with Adam on adam.stackhouse@fmctalent.com 


The fine print 
Reference number: 22421 
Temporary or Permanent: Permanent 
FMC contact for this role: Adam Stackhouse