Head of Flight Test Engineering

Location: Palo Alto, California

Department: Flight Test

About the Role

Wing is looking for a Head of Flight Test Engineering to lead our Flight Test and Evaluation team. This role is hybrid based in Palo Alto, CA. In this role, you will bring deep technical domain expertise across autonomous systems to guide test strategy, mentor a talented team of flight test engineers, and ensure our flight test programs operate at peak efficiency and rigor.

You will manage a team of Flight Test Engineers, balancing people leadership with technical expertise. You will lead high-integrity planning, execution, and analysis that directly underpins regulatory approvals and compliance. Crucially, you will be a bridge between engineering, operations, regulatory, and product development—translating flight test observations into clear business impacts to empower and shape Wing’s overall development roadmaps.

What You’ll Do

• Manage, mentor, and grow the Flight Test Engineering team, fostering a high-performing technical culture, clear career pathways, and strong cross-functional alignment.
• Be responsible for the development of flight test evaluation strategies and plans for all aspects of the Wing Delivery System, from end-to-end system validation to novel component level technology development and operational concepts.
• Apply broad systems-engineering expertise and cross-functional collaboration to architect lean, high-velocity test campaigns that maximize data quality and shorten development feedback loops.
• Advance our testing capabilities by integrating telemetry tools, test automation, novel flight test techniques and simulation to continuously expand test capabilities.
• Drive end-to-end flight test execution—including risk assessments, Test Readiness Reviews (TRRs), Test Director duties, and advanced flight data evaluation.
• Connect flight test observations directly to commercial outcomes, apply critical thinking by translating observations into actionable guidance for product, regulatory, and engineering roadmaps.
• Drive high-integrity test planning, rigorous execution, and standardized data analysis to generate the traceability and objective evidence required for FAA and global aviation safety regulatory submissions.

What You’ll Need

• 15+ years in flight test engineering, with extensive experience in complex or autonomous system development.
• 3+ years of hands-on experience flight testing Small Uncrewed Aerial Systems (sUAS), eVTOL, or autonomous aircraft.
• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Systems Engineering, or a related technical discipline from an accredited university, or equivalent experience.
• Demonstrated track record of technical leadership or direct people management of flight test and evaluation teams.
• Deep, end-to-end domain knowledge across autonomous aircraft systems and their integration into a real-world operational environment.
• Practical experience pairing Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) and Software-in-the-Loop (SIL) simulation with flight testing to accelerate feature validation and maximize test program efficiency.
• Proven ability to evaluate test programs for efficiency, converting raw data and observations into actionable engineering insights, and communicate the commercial and operational implications of technical test results.
• Exceptional ability to translate complex flight data into actionable feedback for cross-functional engineering partners, product leaders, regulatory bodies, and executive leadership.
• Current FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot certificate
• Familiarity with FAA processes, standards compliance, or SORA (Specific Operations Risk Assessment) frameworks preferred.
• Successful completion of an internationally recognized Test Pilot School long course, Flight Test Engineer or Test Pilot track, preferred.