Air Vehicle Engineer - Flight Test Integration
Northrop Grumman
- Location
- United States-California-Edwards AFB
- Work model
- On-Site
- Level
- Mid
- Posted
- Aug 11, 2026
Skills
About this role
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes CLEARANCE TYPE: SAP TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time Description 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. The Flight Test Operations Team (FTO) is seeking a highly qualified Air Vehicle Engineer (AVE) to lead integrated test scheduling and program planning at Edwards AFB, CA. The Air Vehicle Engineer will report to the Flight Test Integration Senior Manager and work with multiple test disciplines in a Combined Test Force (CTF) environment to plan flight science, subsystems, and mission system testing on multiple developmental aircraft. The AVE will be assigned to a single test asset and will work closely with the corresponding maintenance manager and flight operations commander to develop an integrated test schedule.
Core Responsibilities
Work closely with program management to ensure that planned testing for air vehicle aligns with the program priorities, flight test strategic plan, and software development plan Decompose program strategy into tasks for engineers, maintainers and operators Develop, maintain and publish integrated test asset schedules that forecast and track program milestones Continually optimize the test schedule by reacting to discoveries and constraints Perform integration across test disciplines and program functions to drive engineering solutions, break constraints, and verify requirements Identify dependencies and risks to scheduled test execution and mitigate or escalate until resolved Provide configuration requirements for each event to maintenance and test operations Coordinate Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) updates, change package incorporation, and modification planning with program leadership for assigned test asset The selected candidate will primarily work 1st shift on a 9/80 schedule (nine‑hour workdays with every other Friday off) and must be willing to travel domestically as required to support testing operations. This requisition may be filled at a higher grade based on qualifications listed below.
Basic Qualifications
This position may be filled at either the principal or senior principal aeronautical engineer level depending on the qualifications of the applicant.
Basic Qualifications
Principal Aeronautical Engineer: Must have a Bachelor of Science degree in a STEM discipline AND 5years of related professional/military experience, OR a Master's degree AND 3 years of related professional/military experience. Must have an active US Government Secret clearance (with a background investigation within the past 6 years or enrolled into Continuous Evaluation). Must have the ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program (SAP) clearance, within a reasonable amount of time as determined by business needs. Willingness to work overtime, odd‑hour shifts, and occasional weekends to support test schedules Experience as a Test Engineer or Test Conductor that includes test development, planning, and execution Experience in a production test or military aircraft maintenance environment Experience as a Test Engineer or Test Conductor that includes test development, planning, and execution Basic Qualifications for a Sr Principal Aeronautical Engineer: Must