Flight Test Safety & Compliance Specialist

STARK

ABOUT US STARK is a new kind of defence technology company revolutionising the way autonomous systems are deployed across multiple domains. We design, develop, and manufacture high-performance unmanned systems that are software-defined, mass-scalable, and cost-effective — providing operators with a decisive edge in contested environments. We are focused on delivering deployable, high-performance systems — not future promises. In a time of rising threats, STARK is bolstering the technological edge of NATO Allies and their Partners to deter aggression and defend Europe, today. ABOUT THE TEAM You will join a growing, highly collaborative test engineering team focused on pushing our loitering munition platforms to their absolute limits. You will work directly alongside veteran flight test, propulsion, and senior RF engineers, while benefiting from dedicated project management support. Our team culture is fast-paced and deeply hands-on; we value engineering autonomy and the ability to troubleshoot complex systems on the fly. We are actively expanding our capabilities, moving from localized pre-compliance testing to establishing a fully equipped, world-class internal ground testing workshop. YOUR MISSION As a Senior Ground Test Engineer, you will be a driving force behind expanding STARK’s physical testing capabilities and building up our internal workshop infrastructure. While initially supporting our critical E3 (EMI/EMC) campaign alongside our senior RF specialists, your broader mission will be to establish and execute ground testing pipelines for environmental chambers, vibration, shock, and systems integration. Operating with high autonomy, you will procure the necessary equipment and coordinate with external test partners to ensure our systems reliably meet strict military qualification standards. RESPONSIBILITIES * Build up and equip our internal ground test workshop, identifying hardware needs, managing procurement for test tools, and establishing our in-house pre-compliance testing environment. * Expand testing capabilities beyond the initial E3 campaign to introduce environmental certification pipelines, including climate and environmental mechanical conditions. * Execute standard integration ground testing on new and existing systems to validate and prove system behavior against rigorous technical requirements. * Coordinate test campaigns with external partners and commercial test facilities (such as IABG), managing logistics, resource readiness, and scheduling for formal certifications. * Perform hands-on troubleshooting and root-cause analysis during test execution, implementing immediate on-the-spot fixes or documenting detailed findings to drive design improvements. * Collaborate cross-functionally with electronics design, systems engineering, and flight test teams to transform test data into actionable requirements for next-generation platforms. * Author comprehensive test documentation, including Test Requests (TRQs), procedural step-by-step instructions, test matrices, and formal data recording sheets. * Ensure strict adherence to safety protocols, regulatory requirements, and military standard testing methodologies throughout all test campaigns. QUALIFICATIONS * Professional Experience: 5+ years of hands-on ground testing, qualification, or hardware integration experience within the defense, aerospace, or UAV sectors. * Testing Diversification: Direct experience executing ground qualification testing under military or aerospace standards (e.g., STANAG 4370, MIL-STD-810) specifically across environmental, climatic, or dynamic (vibration/shock) regimes. * Workshop Setup: Experience specifying, procuring, and setting up laboratory or workshop test equipment (diagnostic tools, sensors, data acquisition systems). * Autonomy: A highly independent, proactive working style ("eigenständig") with a proven track record of driving test campaigns from preparation through to final reporting. * Problem Solving: Strong diagnostic and troubleshooting skills, with the ability to safely isolate anomalies in complex electrical and mechanical systems. * Language Skills: Professional working proficiency in English; conversational German language knowledge is advantage.  NICE TO HAVE * Direct testing experience with loitering munitions, unmanned aerial systems (UAS), or guided tactical hardware. * Existing relationships or familiarity with European test houses and certification bodies (such as IABG). * Experience with automated test script generation or data post-processing tools (e.g., Python, MATLAB, Nominal). * Testing Diversification: Direct experience executing ground qualification testing under military or aerospace standards (e.g., STANAG 4866 4867 4868, MIL-STD-461 -464, AECTP-100 to 600, DO-160) specifically across environmental, climatic, or dynamic (vibration/shock) regimes.

STARK

ABOUT US STARK is a new kind of defence technology company. We design, develop, and manufacture high-performance unmanned systems that are software-defined, mass-scalable, and cost-effective, changing how autonomous systems are deployed across multiple domains. This gives our operators a decisive edge in highly contested environments. As threats rise, STARK is strengthening the technological edge of NATO Allies and their Partners to deter aggression and defend Europe. YOUR MISSION As Head of Flight Test, you own STARK’s flight test organisation end to end: the pilots and operators who fly the aircraft, the flight test engineers who design the tests and run the instrumentation, the operations managers who deliver production, experimental, and customer-facing campaigns, and the staff responsible for flight test safety and operating permits. You will start in Germany, turning a fast-growing team into a mature flight test capability of roughly 40+ people that can execute operations in multiple locations, with requisite Operator permits (civil and military) as needed for the different classes of loitering munition and drones in STARK’s growing portfolio.  From there you build outward to 2028: a global organisation with local units in the UK, Ukraine, and Greece, each running common STARK processes under its own national authority. You are accountable for how fast STARK tests and how safely it does so. When those two pull against each other, you make the decision and take ownership. RESPONSIBILITIES ORGANISATION & LEADERSHIP * Own the full flight test organisation across four pillars: Pilots & Operators, Flight Test Engineering, Flight Test Operations, and Safety & Compliance. * Hire and develop the pillar leads, and build the career ladders and competency standards that take the German organisation to its ~40+-person target and beyond. * Carry budget, headcount, schedule, and tempo accountability for flight test as a whole. FLIGHT TEST STRATEGY & METHODOLOGY * Define STARK’s flight test strategy across all platforms (Virtus, Cascade, Gambit and the small to large scale effectors that follow). * Own the envelope-expansion and build-up philosophy: how a test point moves from simulation to flying testbed (for example a Twin Otter-class surrogate) to the air vehicle, de-risking at each step. * Own the master Flight Test Operations Manual (FTOM), the test-planning methodology (test cards, Flight and Test Readiness Reviews), and the flight test engineering (FTE) and instrumentation (FTI) standards. * Own the data lifecycle: quality, traceability, and results that stand up as cerification evidence. Flight safety & airworthiness * Hold the independent flight test safety function: Safety Review Boards, hazard analysis, risk acceptance, abort criteria, and emergency response at every test site. * Keep flight test activity inside approved limits (Permit-to-Fly, operational authorisations) and drive STARK toward its LUC and DOA-grade airworthiness posture. * Give safety dissent a hard, codified path to the Accountable Manager that schedule pressure cannot override. CAMPAIGN DELIVERY * Deliver three campaign types through the Operations pillar: production-acceptance flights at volume, developmental flight tests  for engineering, and customer-facing demonstration and qualification  flights. * Stand up a high-throughput production-acceptance regime as delivery contracts convert to volume, and run it as its own discipline, in parallel to the engineering flight tests. * Be responsible for flight operations, from obtaining permits, ensuring team and equipment logistics, and crew resource management  and training across German and international test locations. REGULATORY INTERFACE & THE 2028 BUILD * Act as STARK’s senior flight test interface to LBA, LufABw, BAAINBw / WTD, and EASA in Germany. * Decide which global processes shall apply  (methodology, safety framework, FTE/FTI standards, data tooling, competency standards) and what is owned by local flight test teams  (authority interface, named postholders, operational approvals). * Stand up local flight test organisations in the UK, Ukraine, and Greece that report into the global function and run national procedures on top of the common baseline. * Appoint the accountable safety and airworthiness postholders each national authority requires, for example, the MAA / CFAOS Accountable Manager (Military Flying) in the UK. YOUR FIRST 12 MONTHS Timeframe Focus What this looks like Month 0–2 Assess & take command Complete STARK safety and flight operations induction. Map the current organisation, campaigns, platforms, and authority relationships. Meet the function leads, and identify the immediate gaps in safety, staffing, and process. Take operational ownership of the running campaign calendar. Month 2–4 Set the German baseline Publish the master FTOM and safety framework. Stand up the independent Safety Review Board. Lay out the roadmap to EASA LUC approval. Close the most urgent senior hires. Month 4–8 Build the organisation Fill the pillar-lead and senior roles. Standardise test-planning, instrumentation, and data processes across all three campaign types. Bring production-acceptance up to a volume-ready standard.  Month 8–12 Extend beyond Germany Define the global-versus-local operating model. Stand up the first local flight test organisation (UK or Ukraine) with its named postholders and authority interface. Set the 2027–2028 plan for the remaining countries. QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED * 12+ years in flight test, military aviation, or aerospace test and evaluation, including 5+ years leading flight test  teams or organisations. * A track record of building or running a flight test capability, with end-to-end accountability for campaigns from test plan to certification evidence. * Working knowledge of UAV operating permits (EASA  "specific" category, and/or military airworthiness DEMAR / EMAR). * A grounding in flight test engineering, and data analysis. * Business-fluent English (C1+); German at working level for the authority interface, or a credible plan to get there. * NATO member-state citizen, eligible for German security clearance (Ü2/Ü3), and willing to build teams on the ground in the UK, Ukraine, and Greece. PREFERRED * Graduate of a recognised test pilot school (ETPS, EPNER, USNTPS, NTPS) or a flight test engineering long course. * UAS, loitering-munitions, or eVTOL flight test background. * Prior Design Organisation experience and named postholder / Form 4 acceptance. * Experience standing up flight test operations in more than one country. * Working knowledge of STANAG 4586 and STANAG 4671. MINDSET * Safety authority first: You hold the line when the schedule pushes against it, and people trust the call because you have earned it. * Builder by instinct: You have written the processes and stood up the teams before, and you would rather build an organisation than inherit one. * Regulator-credible: Colonels, certification inspectors, and junior technicians all get what they need from you, in the right register. * Comfortable with tempo: STARK tests fast and fails forward on purpose, and you keep that pace without letting safety slip.

STARK

ABOUT US STARK is a new kind of defence technology company, revolutionizing the way autonomous systems are deployed across multiple domains. We design, develop and manufacture high-performance unmanned systems that are software-defined, mass-scalable, and cost-effective. This provides our operators with a decisive edge in highly contested environments. We’re focused on delivering deployable, high-performance systems. In a time of rising threats, STARK is bolstering the technological edge of NATO Allies and their Partners to deter aggression and defend Europe. YOUR MISSION As a Flight Test Engineer, you are the "Conductor of the Flight Line." Depending on your seniority, you will be responsible for the end-to-end lifecycle of our flight test campaigns, from initial planning and hazard assessment to execution and deep-dive data analysis. Beyond the technical data, you serve as the primary Onsite Leader. You are the person who ensures testing priorities are crystal clear to everyone on the range. You manage the daily tempo, coordinate the crew, and ensure that every person, from pilots to software engineers, knows exactly which tests are being conducted and when. Your mission is to transform raw flight data into actionable insights while maintaining a high-tempo, disciplined, and safe testing environment. RESPONSIBILITIES ONSITE TEST COORDINATION & LEADERSHIP * Act as the Onsite Test Coordinator: Lead daily operations on the range, ensuring the team stays focused on the primary test objectives. * Clarify Priorities: Maintain and communicate the "Daily Flight Schedule," ensuring everyone knows the sequence of events and current testing priorities. * Lead Briefings: Drive the morning "Pre-Flight Brief" and the evening "Debrief," capturing critical feedback and setting goals for the following day. * Resource Management: Coordinate the availability of airframes, ground support equipment, and personnel to maximize range time efficiency. FLIGHT EXECUTION & SAFETY * Coordinate and execute UAV flight tests in compliance with regulatory requirements and STARK safety standards. * Ensure all flight activities and anomalies are documented with high fidelity. * Develop specific Flight Test Techniques (FTTs) and instrumentation requirements to capture critical performance metrics. * Lead Flight Readiness Reviews (FRR) and contribute to safety review boards. TEST DESIGN & DATA ANALYSIS * Develop comprehensive flight test plans, test cards, and rigorous flight test hazard assessments (FTHA). * Process and analyze flight data using MATLAB or Python to validate system performance against requirements. * Work closely with Ardupilot and PX4-based flight control systems to iterate on flight behavior and performance. * Manage the configuration of flight test articles, ensuring all hardware and software versions are meticulously tracked. YOUR FIRST 12 MONTHS TIMEFRAME FOCUS MONTH 0–1: INTEGRATION DEEP DIVE INTO STARK UAV ARCHITECTURES AND SAFETY MANUALS. SHADOW CURRENT FLIGHT TESTS TO LEARN OUR OPERATIONAL TEMPO AND COORDINATION STYLE. MONTH 1–3: OPERATIONAL LEAD BEGIN ACTING AS THE PRIMARY ONSITE COORDINATOR FOR PRODUCTION TESTS. TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THE DAILY FLIGHT SCHEDULE AND ENSURE HIGH-FIDELITY LOGGING OF ALL SORTIES. MONTH 3–6: OPTIMIZATION LEAD COMPLEX EXPERIMENTAL CAMPAIGNS. REFINE OUR ONSITE COMMUNICATION TOOLS TO ENSURE 100% CLARITY ON TEST PRIORITIES ACROSS THE ENGINEERING TEAM. MONTH 6–12: LEADERSHIP ACT AS TEST DIRECTOR FOR MULTI-ASSET CAMPAIGNS. MENTOR JUNIOR ENGINEERS AND PILOTS ON STRUCTURED TEST EXECUTION, RANGE MANAGEMENT, AND REGULATORY COMPLIANCE. QUALIFICATIONS EDUCATIONAL & LEGAL BACKGROUND * Degree: Bachelor’s or higher in Aerospace, Electrical, Mechanical, or Systems Engineering. * NATO Citizenship: Must be a citizen of a NATO member state (due to export control and security regulations). * Communication: Professional-level written and verbal English. TECHNICAL & LEADERSHIP TOOLKIT * Coordination Skills: Proven ability to lead a technical team on-site, manage schedules, and communicate priorities clearly under pressure. * Data Mastery: Practical experience in data reduction and analysis using MATLAB or Python. * UAV Systems: Familiarity with Ground Control Stations (GCS), telemetry systems, and mission planning tools. * Testing Rigor: Proven ability to plan and conduct system-level tests in an aerospace or defense environment. MINDSET & STYLE * The "General" Mindset: You are naturally organized and can work through ambiguity on the flight line. * Analytical & Decisive: You can analyze a data anomaly quickly and decide whether to continue testing. * Meticulous Documenter: You believe that if it wasn't documented with high fidelity, the test never happened. PREFERRED EXPERIENCE * Active experience as an FTE or Test Director in crewed or uncrewed aviation. * Hands-on experience with flight test instrumentation (FTI) and DAQ systems. * Experience with Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) simulation environments.