Location: Bournemouth
Draken believes in fair reward and recognition for our employees. As such, we offer competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package including up to 12% matching pension contributions, bonus incentives, discounted PMI, electric car scheme, tech vouchers, wellbeing programmes and much more.
The Role
We are currently recruiting for a Lead Flight Test Engineer. Draken delivers airborne Operational Readiness Training, operational assurance and representative Electronic Warfare effects to train MoD and NATO military aircrew and ground radar operators within the UK and overseas.
As a Lead Flight Test Engineer you will report directly to the Flight Test Manager and will be responsible for defining flight test for our diverse fleet of aircraft including Challenger 604, Lear 60 XR, Aero Vodochody L-159, Diamond DA-42 and Dassault Falcon 20 aircraft to support the continued development of the latest Electronic Warfare training for the Ministry of Defence. Working closely with the design office, maintenance team, and test pilots you will be expected to support the test and evaluation of Draken assets through the planning, execution, and reporting on flight test activities worldwide, supporting the continued development of our unique fleet of electronic warfare and operational readiness training aircraft. You will also be responsible for navigating regulatory landscapes in coordination with the Draken Design Office to acquire the approvals essential for conducting flight tests.
The Lead Flight Test Engineer role is a flying role. When not conducting flight test duties and depending on previous qualifications, opportunities to conduct Operational Readiness Training as a rear crew may be available in a variety of aircraft and roles. In addition to employment within the UK, the post requires the incumbent to work globally for periods up to 6 weeks in a single period.
Key Responsibilities
- Direct the safe and effective delivery of Flight Test activities in deployed locations around the world.
- Planning and conducting airborne and ground testing as a Lead Flight Test Engineer. Develop test strategies, test plans and procedures.
- Maintain a close relationship with the Design Office (DO) and ensure close co-operation with key staff. Participating in design reviews and technical safety reviews.
- Develop certification plans in relation to flight test requirements.
- Reporting on flight test activities.
- Manage Flight Test risk to ALARP and tolerable levels.
- Ensure regulatory compliance and foster open and trusted relationships with key staff at the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and other regulatory agencies, as required.
Essential Experience And Qualifications
- Demonstrable experience as a Lead Flight Test Engineer in a variety of air vehicle types
- Qualification as a Flight Test Engineer from a recognised and approved Flight Test Training Organisation.
- Hold or be able to hold a minimum award of SC (Security Cleared), granted by the UK Security Vetting Agency.
- Hold or be able to meet a minimum of Class 2 CAA aviation medical standard.
Desirable Experience and Qualifications
- Cat 1 qualification as a Flight Test Engineer from a recognised and approved Flight Test Training Organisation.
- Aviation experience as flight crew or engineer, either military or civil.
- Hold a BSc / BEng (or higher) in an Engineering/Science related discipline.
- Knowledge of UK, US and European civil and military regulatory environments.
- Experience with COTS or bespoke Flight Test Instrumentation and data acquisition systems.
- Experience in other military, non-aircrew roles and trades, with recent experience in either the tactical employment of EW/RF jamming, or specialist EW duties in support of the RAF or RN.
- Previous UAS / RPAS experience.
Our employee values
Draken is committed to eliminating unlawful and unfair discrimination and we celebrate the differences that a diverse workforce brings. A range of perspective and talent supports our values and drives our success, with a mix of voices generating better discussions, business decisions and outcomes for all.
To us, diversity means bringing your own perspective to the conversation; inclusion means having a voice - and equality means that your voice is heard.
At all our sites internationally, every member of the Draken team is accountable to ensure that we are all treated fairly and with respect.
Intolerance has no place in our Company. We condemn it outright. Instead, we strive to create a culture where each person who joins our team feels they have the opportunity to succeed, to grow, and to work within an environment where they can be themselves.
We are also an Armed Forces friendly organisation, and as part of our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant, welcome applications from veterans and services spouses and partners who met the criteria in our job specifications.
In line with our Disability Confident Commitments, we provide reasonable adjustments to facilitate our interview process, please liaise with us if any reasonable adjustments are required.