Flight Test Lead Engineer

Position Summary:

The IAS Division at Leidos has an opening in Bridgewater, VA for a Flight Test Engineer / Flight Test Director. This role supports testing of OEM and integrated mission equipment onboard multiple fixed-wing aircraft. The position conducts ground and airborne test events and works closely with systems, mechanical, and electrical engineering, logistics, subcontractors, government representatives, and integrated product/test teams to ensure test requirements and required documentation are completed.

Key Responsibilities:

• Plan, coordinate, manage, and execute the full spectrum of ground and flight tests on fixed-wing aircraft.
• Review applicable requirements, system manuals, and specification documentation; coordinate cross-team, subcontractor, and customer personnel for test execution.
• Manage test equipment and calibration procedures and establish instrumentation capability, including strain-gauge installation and data logging.
• Develop test plans with mission-relevant, requirements-traceable, intuitively testable metrics, scope, and methods for system evaluation.
• Lead and execute flight test events, including on-site test management, data collection, preflight briefings, debriefings, and configuration control.
• Analyze test data and produce test reports containing results, supporting data, conclusions, and recommendations based on intended mission, stated requirements, and applicable specifications.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and a minimum of 4 years of related experience; additional related experience may be considered in lieu of a degree consistent with applicable Leidos equivalency guidelines.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret security clearance.
• Ability to obtain a Third-Class FAA Medical Certificate and complete a hypobaric altitude chamber.
• Ability to travel throughout the U.S. to support flight tests.
• Diverse test engineering experience with electronic and/or mechanical systems.
• Ability to work in an agile, fast-paced environment with strong organizational, scheduling, and documentation skills.
• Comfort presenting preflight mission briefings and program status briefings to customers and senior decision makers.
• Strong written, verbal, interpersonal, and communication skills; proficiency with Microsoft Office products.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Active Secret clearance.
• Flight Performance and Handling Qualities (FPHQ) experience.
• Knowledge and experience with aircraft systems, including ASE, IFF, radios, and systems engineering.
• Familiarity with FAA and DoD regulations.

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Original Posting:

October 19, 2026

Pay Range:

Pay Range $87,100.00 - $157,450.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.