FLIGHT TEST ENGINEER – JOB #1136

Plan the Test. Fly the Mission. Turn Data Into Answers.

Enstrom Helicopter Corporation is seeking a Flight Test Engineer to support the planning, execution, analysis, and documentation of aircraft ground- and flight-test activities.

This is a hands-on engineering role for someone who enjoys working close to the aircraft and wants to see how design, testing, certification, and flight operations come together in a real-world environment.

You’ll support the complete flight-test lifecycle—from defining test objectives and preparing flight cards to instrumentation, data collection, analysis, reporting, and certification support.

This position may be filled at either a developing or experienced level. Engineers earlier in their careers can grow under the guidance of experienced flight-test personnel, while more experienced candidates may independently lead complex test activities and mentor others.

Location: Menominee, Michigan
Status: Full-Time, On-Site, Salary, Exempt

What You’ll Do

You’ll support Enstrom’s flight-test programs by:

• Planning, coordinating, and supporting aircraft ground and flight tests for development, certification, troubleshooting, production, continued airworthiness, and other approved programs.

• Reviewing test requests and helping define objectives, aircraft configuration, test conditions, procedures, data requirements, hazards, acceptance criteria, and deliverables.

• Developing and maintaining flight-test plans, flight cards, test procedures, reports, and certification-related documentation.

• Coordinating with flight-test pilots, Engineering, Maintenance, Quality, Certification, instrumentation personnel, and program stakeholders.

• Supporting pre-test planning, pre-flight briefings, and post-flight debriefings.

• Reducing, analyzing, and documenting test data.

• Identifying trends, limitations, data-quality issues, and technical conclusions.

• Clearly communicating test results to engineering and program stakeholders.

• Determining and documenting aircraft loading, weight, center of gravity, and test configuration for assigned activities.

Work Hands-On With Aircraft and Test Systems

This role combines engineering analysis with practical test execution.

You’ll:

• Program, configure, and operate data acquisition systems and related test equipment.

• Support the selection, installation, checkout, calibration, and maintenance of test instrumentation.

• Work with sensors, accelerometers, strain gauges, wiring, and related equipment.

• Coordinate the design and use of test fixtures, specialized test equipment, and test facilities.

• Support test-article conformity and certification test readiness.

• Participate in safety-of-flight reviews, test-readiness reviews, design reviews, and other technical reviews.

• Maintain accurate test records, data packages, configuration records, and technical documentation.

• Help improve standardized test methods, flight cards, readiness processes, configuration-control practices, and reporting methods.

Training may be provided for company-specific test equipment, systems, and procedures.

Support Certification and Development Programs

Flight Test Engineering plays an important role in both new development and certification activity.

Depending on your experience and assignment, you may:

• Support FAA certification programs and TIA testing.

• Coordinate with FAA personnel, FAA designees, and other regulatory representatives.

• Prepare technical inputs supporting certification and compliance documentation.

• Support Type Inspection Reports and related test records.

• Progressively take ownership of assigned flight-test activities as experience and capability are demonstrated.

What We’re Looking For

Successful candidates will typically bring:

• A bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or another related engineering field.

• At least one year of engineering or technical test experience in aerospace or another technical field.

• Relevant internship, co-op, laboratory, development-test, or hands-on engineering experience may be considered based on scope and responsibility.

• Foundational knowledge in aircraft structures, systems, dynamics, aerodynamics, powerplants, instrumentation, data acquisition, or engineering data analysis.

• Experience preparing technical procedures, engineering documentation, test records, or reports.

• Hands-on experience with, or a demonstrated ability to learn, instrumentation, sensors, wiring, data acquisition systems, and test equipment.

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills.

• The ability to work safely and effectively in a cross-functional technical environment.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.

• Basic CAD experience using SolidWorks or similar software.

Developing Engineers Are Encouraged to Apply

This role can be a strong opportunity for engineers looking to build deeper aerospace and flight-test experience.

A developing engineer may initially support experienced flight-test personnel while gaining experience in:

• Test planning and flight-card development.

• Aircraft configuration control.

• Instrumentation and data acquisition.

• Flight-test execution.

• Engineering data analysis.

• Certification support.

• Technical reporting.

As capability is demonstrated, the engineer may take increasing ownership of assigned test activities.

Even Better If You Have

• Three or more years of aerospace engineering, development-test, or flight-test experience.

• Experience independently planning and leading complex test activities.

• Rotorcraft flight-test or flight-test analysis experience.

• Experience with handling qualities, vibration, dynamics, performance, or certification testing.

• Experience with LabVIEW, National Instruments hardware, MATLAB, Python, or similar tools.

• Experience installing or supporting sensors, strain gauges, instrumentation, and associated wiring.

• Knowledge of FAA regulations and 14 CFR Part 27 certification processes.

• Experience with test-article conformity, TIA testing, or compliance documentation.

• Flight Test Pilot or other relevant flight-operations experience.

• FAA DER designation or experience supporting delegated certification work.

• Experience mentoring others or improving flight-test processes.

Why Enstrom?

At Enstrom, Flight Test Engineering is directly connected to the aircraft, the pilots, the engineering team, and the programs we are working to advance.

You’ll have the opportunity to participate in testing from beginning to end—helping define what needs to be learned, preparing the aircraft and test systems, supporting the flight, analyzing the results, and documenting the technical conclusions.

If you enjoy working around aircraft, solving technical problems, analyzing real flight data, and turning test results into engineering decisions, we’d like to hear from you.

Physical Requirements

This position includes work in office, hangar, laboratory, flight-line, and aircraft environments.

The role requires the ability to access aircraft interiors, test equipment, and elevated work areas and perform hands-on instrumentation and inspection activities.

The employee must be able to occasionally lift and carry up to 30 pounds and safely work around operating aircraft and test equipment.

Occasional travel may be required to support testing, certification, supplier, or customer activities. Extended or nonstandard hours may occasionally be necessary to support flight-test schedules, weather windows, or certification milestones.

Compensation Note: Compensation figures represent an average and may vary based on the selected candidate’s prior experience, qualifications, education, and relevant skills.