Flight Research Engineer

• Serve as a senior technical lead supporting CyPhER Forge digital twin development, validation, and live demonstration.
• Lead or contribute to the planning, coordination, and execution of accelerated flight-sciences test campaigns that generate high-value empirical data for digital twin assimilation, model refinement, and AI agent training/evaluation.
• Perform real-time and post-flight data analysis, comparing digital twin outputs against measured engineering quantities of interest; identify anomalies, refine models, quantify confidence/margins in the flight envelope, and support adaptive test plan updates
• While supporting under the DARPA PM, coordinate with TPS faculty/staff, students, 412th Test Wing / Air Force Test Center elements, industry partners, modelers, and AI/ML teams for aircraft availability, modifications, range support, resources, and integrated test events.
• Upon DARPA direction, perform the research focused, operations engineering associated with the X-62 aircraft (after the extensive Mission System Upgrade (MSU) modification), which include:
• Assisting the TPS dean of flight research (DFR) to coordinate research efforts and their associated test missions efforts that could utilize the X-62, including TPS Test Management Projects (TMPs).
• Aircraft configuration control, operations security, and scheduling
• Test Execution - Conductor/Director duties
• Develop, review, and approve test plans, safety plans/Test Hazard Analyses, test cards, instrumentation requirements, data collection strategies, and configuration control documents tailored to research objectives.
• Perform curriculum based instructional activities to include onboard instruction, as required.
• Other duties in-line with MTSI's core value to "Own and Solve our Customer's Problems".

• Minimum of 12 years of relevant experience in all phases of planning, executing, and managing flight research and a reputation of being a team player.The demands of the DARPA/Doolittle Labs projects are unique due to their leading-edge, low-TRL research mission focus.
• Experience with digital engineering, digital twins, physics-informed or surrogate modeling, uncertainty quantification, or data assimilation.
• Experience running or executing missions from a Mission Control Room.Qualified (or skills & experience necessary to achieve qualification) test conductor/director (TC/TD).
• Maturity and professionalism to lead the execution of flight test missions, briefings and oversee team of discipline engineers to support Flight Test Operations.
• Work well in a team environment as well as independently.Skilled in making valued, trusted, defendable recommendations to leadership.
• Experience generating test plans, flight test mission material, post-mission & detailed final reports.
• Position requires willingness to accept changing and evolving roles & responsibilities in support of customers' requirements and needs.

• USAF Test Pilot School Graduate or similar
• Experience with AI/ML and autonomous aircraft systems.
• Experience with research programs within the military flight test domain.
• Wide breadth of aircraft test related experience, examples include sensors, EW, T-2 modifications, fight dynamics/performance, aircraft systems, and system networks.
• Direct experience or extensive familiarization with DoD Class II modification processes, aircraft airworthiness & approvals, and aircraft H/W & S/W configuration control.
• Developmental Test experience

• 
  
  
  
  Interesting Work:
  
  
  
  Our co-workers support some of the most important and critical programs to our national defense and security.
  
  
• 
  
  
  
  Values:
  
  
  
  Our first core value is that employees come first. We challenge our co-workers to provide the highest level of support and service, and reward them with some of the best benefits in the industry.
  
  
• 
  
  
  
  100% Employee Owned:
  
  
  
  We have a stake in each other's success, and the success of our customers. It's also nice to know what's going on across the company; we have company wide town-hall meetings three times a year.
  
  
• 
  
  
  
  Great Benefits - Most Full-Time Staff Are Eligible for:
  
  
  




• 
  Starting PTO accrual of 20 days PTO/year + 10 holidays/year
  
• 
  Flexible schedules
  
• 
  6% 401k match with immediate vesting up to $9k annually
  
• 
  Semi-annual bonus eligibility (July and December)
  
• 
  Company funded Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) - a separate qualified retirement account
  
• 
  Up to $10,000 in annual educational reimbursement
  
• 
  Other company funded benefits, like life and disability insurance
  
• 
  Optional zero deductible Blue Cross/Blue Shield health insurance plan
  




• 
  
  
  
  Track Record of Success:
  
  
  
  We have grown every year since our founding in 1993.
  
  

Modern Technology Solutions, Inc. (MTSI) is a 100% employee-owned engineering services and solutions company that provides high-demand technical expertise in Digital Transformation, Modeling and Simulation, Rapid Capability Development, Test and Evaluation, Artificial Intelligence, Autonomy, Cybersecurity and Mission Assurance

MTSI delivers capabilities to solve problems of global importance. Founded in 1993, MTSI today has employees at over 20 offices and field sites worldwide.

For more information about MTSI, please visit www.mtsi-va.com