Head of Flight Test

Volantes Technical Recruitment Ltd Verified

United Arab Emirates

Pilot

Test Pilot

Onsite

Full time

$240,000 - $260,000

1 day ago

Head of Flight Test – eVTOL Aircraft Development

Location: Dubai, UAE

Employment Type: Full-Time

Industry: Aerospace / Advanced Air Mobility / eVTOL

The Opportunity

We are recruiting for an experienced Head of Flight Test to join an exciting, next-generation eVTOL aircraft development programme based in Dubai.

This is a senior leadership opportunity to establish and lead the Flight Test Organisation (FTO), overseeing prototype development, experimental flight testing, certification activities and flight test safety.

The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in taking a new aircraft platform through development, flight testing and certification.

Key Responsibilities

• Establish, develop and lead the Flight Test Organisation (FTO), including ownership of the Flight Test Operations Manual (FTOM).
• Develop and execute flight test strategies, programmes and certification campaigns.
• Oversee experimental flight testing, envelope expansion, aircraft performance evaluation and flight test safety.
• Lead flight test pilots, flight test engineers and supporting technical teams.
• Manage flight test risk assessments, flight readiness reviews and operational approvals.
• Work closely with engineering, airworthiness and certification teams to ensure regulatory compliance.
• Liaise with aviation authorities, including GCAA and EASA.
• Initially support the Chief Test Pilot and Chief Flight Test Engineer functions.

Essential Requirements

• 12+ years of flight test experience, including at least 5 years within an approved flight test organisation or equivalent military establishment.
• Strong background in rotorcraft, VTOL, tiltrotor or eVTOL flight testing.
• Formal rotary-wing flight test training from a recognised test pilot school or equivalent approved course.
• Proven experience leading aircraft development or certification flight test programmes.
• Experience with Category 1 experimental flight testing, envelope expansion and aircraft performance evaluation.
• Strong working knowledge of EASA Part 21 / GCAA CAR 21, CS-27 / CS-29 and relevant certification processes.
• Demonstrated leadership, flight test safety management and technical decision-making capabilities.
• Degree in Aerospace/Aeronautical Engineering or equivalent professional or military flight test qualification.

Highly Desirable

• Previous experience as Head of Flight Test, Chief Test Pilot or Chief Flight Test Engineer.
• Experience establishing a Flight Test Organisation and developing an FTOM.
• eVTOL, distributed electric propulsion or advanced air mobility development experience.
• Knowledge of SC-VTOL certification requirements.
• Experience with remotely piloted or autonomous VTOL aircraft.

Apply

This is an opportunity to join a pioneering aerospace development programme in the UAE and play a leading role in bringing a next-generation aircraft to market.

Candidates with relevant rotorcraft, experimental flight test or eVTOL development experience are encouraged to apply.