Flight Test Director

Description

SAIC is seeking highly experienced Flight Test Director to support the NSWC Crane Multi-Service Advanced Capabilities Hypersonic Test Bed (MACH-TB) Test Execution Team. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in executing hypersonic flight test missions, overseeing mission planning and execution, and directing multi-disciplinary teams to accomplish high-stakes objectives in a dynamic environment. The ideal candidate will leverage their extensive experience in flight test operations, team leadership, and mission execution within the defense industry.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide leadership and oversight as for hypersonic flight test operations, ensuring preparedness and effective collaboration among Mission Execution Team (MET) members, including stakeholders such as NSWC Crane, combatant commands, DOT&E, and other external agencies.
• Lead the planning, coordination, and execution of complex, multi-phase hypersonic test campaigns, including action item management, resource allocation, risk analysis, and contingency planning.
• Prepare and execute mission-critical documentation, including Checklists, Test Constraints Documents, Launch Decision Briefings, Communications Matrices, and Test Plans, to support mission walk-up activities.
• Direct cross-functional teams on-site during test execution at various test facilities, ensuring successful completion of planned objectives even under compressed timelines and challenging circumstances.
• Develop strategies for robust system integration, ensuring distributed assets are synchronized and meet system performance benchmarks.
• Chair working group sessions, support on console training, and conduct readiness briefings to prepare test personnel.
• Adjudicate on-site test observations, mitigating risks, and ensuring data collection supports robust system evaluation and operational readiness assessments.
• Mentor and train junior test engineers, technical personnel, and early-career professionals, fostering knowledge transfer and skill-building through direct guidance and oversight.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• Bachelors in an Engineering Discipline and nine (9) years of experience or Masters and seven (7) years of experience.
• Defense Acquisition University (DAU) Certifications :
  • Practitioner Level Certification in Test & Evaluation
  • Level II - Test & Evaluation
  • Level I - Systems Engineering
• Interim Secret clearance required with ability to obtain TS/SCI.
• Experience in flight test planning, management, and execution within the Department of Defense (DoD).
• Demonstrated experience as a Mission Test Director or equivalent with a proven record of success in overseeing and directing test missions, including multi-phase campaigns with distributed assets.
• Expertise in authoring mission-critical documents such as execution checklists, test constraints, and risk mitigation plans.
• Skilled in leading cross-functional teams and collaboration with key stakeholders, including government organizations, combatant commands, and external agencies.
• Recognized ability to solve complex problems autonomously while maintaining composure under high-pressure scenarios.
• Strong understanding of hypersonic systems, missile defense, and related test architectures.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous experience with the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), particularly as part of the Flight Test Directorate.
• Knowledge of hypersonic test beds, including MACH-TB systems or equivalent advanced defense platforms.
• Familiarity with Wallops, Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) and other test sites.
• Hands-on experience with integrating and evaluating high-risk defense systems, including large-scale multi-stakeholder test campaigns.