Standard Job Description

F-35 Mission Systems Flight Test Variant Lead

The Flight Test Engineering Team is a portion of Test and Evaluation (T&E) Directorate within the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Engineering and Technology Functional Engineering Organization. This Team is responsible for strategic planning of the F-35 Development Test (DT) Fleet, supporting coordination for DT data requirements, aircraft configuration management, and near-term execution constraint resolution.

This position serves as the Flight Test Subject Matter Expert and primary consultant for LM Aero T&E, varied F-35 Teams and F-35 Program Leadership for all things related to F-35 Mission Systems Flight Test - status, procedures/practices, schedule, asset forecasts, etc. This role represents T&E F-35 Flight Test Leadership at JPO and Integrated Test Force/Integrated Test Team forums, F-35 product reviews, and F-35 working groups by effectively presenting and advocating for the T&E position.

The F-35 Mission Systems Flight Test Variant Lead position is responsible for leading long-range development flight test planning and coordination associated with delivery of new F-35 Mission Systems capabilities. This position will serve as a technical lead and provide tasking oversight for junior team members. Tasks for this role include coordination, planning, prioritization, and constraint resolution of Flight Test requirements through interfacing with multiple organizations such as JSF Program Office (JPO), F-35 DT Test Sites, Production, and LM IPTs. Additional tasks for this position include:

• Support the Test Planning process by participating in Test Planning Working Groups, writing test requirements, and test planning documents
• Define test aircraft configuration requirements including hardware and instrumentation needs to enable test objectives
• Act as Project Lead for programs under execution at the Test Sites providing liaison with Fort Worth IPTs as necessary to keep flight test programs progressing.
• Maintain Project status and forecasts as the Project Lead for various assigned Flight Test activities
• Interact with Program Managers to resolve contract constraints
• Provide estimates for future projects as requested by the T&E Flight Test proposal team
• Maintain and regularly distribute F-35 Long-Range DT Flight Test Roadmaps
• Support Metrics Reporting (prior Jira experience beneficial)
• Represent Flight Test Organization to other Departments and Organizations

In addition, this position will support other special assignments and flight test consulting tasks as required.

This position will require traveling on average one week per month, based on Customer requirements. Travel locations are typically to the JPO in Arlington, VA, and the F-35 Test Sites, (Edwards AFB, CA and Patuxent River NAS, MD).

This position requires special access and a final Secret clearance to start.

Basic Qualifications

• Flight Test Execution or Flight Test Strategic Planning Experience
• Technical Project Management Experience
• Technical Team Leadership Experience
• Customer Interface Experience
• Bachelor’s Degree in Technical field (Engineering preferred)

Desired Skills

• Experience as a Flight Test Engineer (Test Conductor or Test Director)
• Extensive background in planning and executing Flight Test
• Experience defining test requirements and data needs for fighter aircraft development test platforms
• F-35 Aircraft and Program experience
• Extensive knowledge and proficiency with Mission Systems/Avionics
• Weapons Test Planning and/or Execution experience
• Ability to effectively collaborate and communicate complex issues with a variety of stakeholders from highly Technical SMEs to Executive Leadership.
• Leadership experience with a track record of achieving results in a multi-faceted team environment.
• Extensive Customer Interface experience with USAF, USN, or USMC
• Demonstrated strong verbal and written communication and technical planning skills