Flight Sciences Engineer
Location: Newport News, VA
Job Type: Contract
Pay: Starting at $60.00/hour (higher based on experience)
Position Overview
We are seeking a Flight Sciences Engineer to support aircraft modification, repair, and certification programs. This role is responsible for evaluating aircraft flight characteristics, aerodynamic performance, structural loading, flight dynamics, and flight testing while ensuring compliance with FAA, military, and industry standards.
The ideal candidate has experience in flight sciences, aerodynamics, aircraft performance, engineering analysis, and certification support within an aerospace environment.
Responsibilities
Perform engineering analyses related to aircraft flight characteristics, aerodynamic performance, structural loading, and flight dynamics.
Evaluate aircraft modifications and repairs to ensure continued airworthiness and regulatory compliance.
Develop engineering analyses, technical reports, compliance documentation, and certification support packages.
Perform aerodynamic evaluations, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), flight loads, flutter analysis, structural dynamics, stability and control assessments, and aircraft performance analyses.
Develop flight test plans, test procedures, instrumentation requirements, data acquisition strategies, and post-flight data analysis.
Collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering, production, quality, and certification teams throughout project execution.
Support ground testing, flight testing, troubleshooting, and aircraft modification activities.
Participate in engineering design reviews and provide recommendations related to aircraft performance, aeroelastic stability, structural integrity, and regulatory compliance.
Maintain engineering documentation under configuration control while ensuring compliance with company and regulatory standards.
Support continuous improvement initiatives and engineering process development.
Required Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
Experience supporting aircraft performance, flight sciences, aerodynamics, flight testing, aircraft modifications, or aerospace product development.
Working knowledge of:
- Aerodynamics
- Aircraft performance
- Stability and control
- Flight mechanics
- Structural loading
- Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
- Experience developing engineering analyses, technical reports, compliance documentation, and certification support documentation.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office.
- Ability to work collaboratively with engineering, production, quality, and certification teams.
- Comfortable working in both office and aircraft hangar environments.
- U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Resident status required.
Preferred Qualifications
Five or more years of experience supporting aircraft modification, repair, integration, flight sciences, or aerospace engineering programs.
Experience performing aerodynamic analyses, CFD, aircraft performance evaluations, flight loads, flutter analysis, structural dynamics, or flight test engineering.
Experience preparing engineering reports, substantiation packages, certification documentation, and test plans.
Familiarity with MIL-HDBK-516C airworthiness requirements.
Experience supporting FAA certification activities, ground testing, flight testing, and compliance demonstrations.
Experience using engineering analysis software such as ANSYS Fluent, STAR-CCM+, OpenFOAM, MATLAB/Simulink, FlightStream, or similar tools.
Knowledge of aircraft systems, avionics integration, aircraft structures, and modification practices.
Familiarity with AS9100 quality systems, engineering release processes, and configuration management.
Experience collaborating with FAA representatives, engineering consultants, suppliers, customers, military authorities, or certification organizations.
What You'll Bring
Strong analytical thinking and attention to detail.
Ability to solve complex aerospace engineering challenges.
Excellent communication and teamwork skills.
Commitment to engineering excellence, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement.
