Whenever a new aircraft is designed, it is tested before being sent into production. The flight test engineer is responsible for piloting these experimental crafts and working out any idiosyncrasies. If you want to become a flight test engineer you must have an expert understanding of flight and aeronautical design, along with many hours of flight time and a keen understanding of industries looking for a flight test pilot. These skills will help get you strapped into a cockpit for one of the most thrilling careers in flight.
Before you ever touch a plane's control panel, you must have a good education to become a flight test engineer. Job requirements differ between companies, but most are looking for individuals with at least a Bachelor's in flight engineering, aeronautics, or aerospace engineering. Taking these classes will help you understand the physics of flight, the thousands of components that go into a functional airplane, and the technology behind flight testing. Some programs will include flight training for you to get a pilot's license and others will not. In these cases you must seek out flight training from a licensed pilot school.
The hours of flight training time to earn a pilot's license are only part of the cockpit-oriented experience required to become a flight test engineer. Most organizations have a minimum required number of in-flight hours, usually taking several years to complete. This is a necessity because it ensures airplane designers that you are an intelligent pilot with knowledge about different weather conditions, flying styles, plane types, and more. In addition, many employers will require you to take exams that prove your understanding of various flying theories, mechanical and electrical engineering perspectives, and IQ levels.
To become a flight test engineer, you must have experience and education, but you also must know where to look. These are rarely the kinds of jobs posted in the employment section of a newspaper. Network yourself with managers and hiring professionals at aircraft design firms, airlines and commercial companies with airplane fleets. Having these contacts will help you approach a possible employer when an opening appears, and can also help you get unposted jobs by having an application already on file. Your combination of flight experience, engineering knowledge and networking strength will pay off when you become a flight test engineer.
