Senior Test Pilot – Flight Test & Certification Lead

✈️ The Mission

Enable rapid, safe learning and authoritative certification outcomes for an autonomous, all‑electric aircraft by planning and executing disciplined flight tests, maturing operational concepts, and modeling Wisk’s Safety Management System across every sortie.

🧭 What You’ll Do

• Author air-vehicle and subsystem test plans; identify hazards and define robust mitigations for each method and scope of test.
• Conduct flight testing and safety‑chase operations in Wisk’s general‑aviation support aircraft, surrogate flying test beds, and uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS).
• Develop, review, and approve trajectory planning for UAS mission profiles to meet safety and certification objectives.
• Report test results to the standard required by certification authorities and maintain high‑quality program documentation.
• Contribute to and approve Aircraft Flight Manuals, Standard Operating Procedures, test restrictions, and special test instructions.
• Collaborate daily with flight‑test technicians, flight‑test engineers, systems engineers, and certification specialists.
• Lead and mentor flight‑test personnel while demonstrating and advancing Wisk’s Safety Management System.
• Travel occasionally to offsite test locations and training facilities as needed.

🧰 What You Bring

• 12+ years of experience as a test pilot conducting flight testing of fixed‑wing or rotary‑wing aircraft, or similarly complex aerospace systems.
• FAA Commercial Pilot (CPL) or ATP certificate (fixed‑ or rotary‑wing) and a minimum FAA Second Class Medical.
• Bachelor of Science in a relevant engineering or technical discipline.
• Graduate of an engineering test pilot school or program.
• Proven expertise in flight and operational safety risk management and Safety Management Systems.
• Ability to inform vehicle design within an engineering organization and translate engineering data into operational use cases.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills for multidisciplinary collaboration and mentoring.

🌟 Bonus Points

• 2,500+ total flight hours, including 200+ hours in flight test.
• Experience supporting certification programs with FAA, TCCA, or EASA.
• Unmanned‑aircraft flight‑test experience.
• Experience with electric‑propulsion or high‑stored‑energy testing.
• Flight‑test experience in both fixed‑wing and turbine‑engine rotary‑wing aircraft.
• Human‑to‑vehicle interface (HVI) design, test, and evaluation experience.
• Formal formation‑flight training and subsequent formation‑flight experience.
• Relevant master’s degree.
• Familiarity with MBSE (Model‑Based Systems Engineering) processes.

🧪 Licenses & Medical

• Pilot Certificates: CPL or ATP (restricted or unrestricted) – fixed‑ or rotary‑wing.
• Medical: Minimum FAA Second Class Medical.

🗺️ Location & Travel

• Primary base: Hollister Flight‑Test Facility, Hollister, California (onsite).
• Travel: Occasional trips to offsite test locations and training facilities.

🎁 Benefits & Perks

• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and life insurance.
• Nine off Fridays for full‑time employees throughout the year.
• Flexible vacation time off and eleven company holidays.
• 401(k) with 50% company match that vests immediately.
• Commuter assistance and education assistance.
• Free catered lunches, snacks and drinks, wellness allowances, and flight lessons.
• Employee referral bonus, charitable giving match, and a patent bonus program.

Benefits are subject to eligibility and may change.