Head of Flight Test Engineering (All Genders)

About the role

<div class="content-intro"><p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">At Stark, we forge the future of European and national security through cutting-edge, AI-driven technology and unmatched engineering precision. As a premier defence technology company, our mission is clear: to equip NATO Allies and their partners &nbsp;with next-generation autonomous defence platforms and advanced AI-driven software built to perform in the world’s most demanding environments.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">We believe that true security stems from relentless innovation. By combining elite engineering talent with agile technology and an AI-native operational culture, Stark turns complex defence challenges into field-tested, multi-domain solutions.</span><br><br></p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline; font-size: 10pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Why Join Us?</span></strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The software and systems you work on directly protect personnel and defend European and national sovereignty.</span></li> <li style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">You will work alongside industry-leading minds on autonomous systems, advanced propulsion, and secure cyber platforms.</span></li> <li style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">We foster a fast-paced, collaborative environment where bold ideas are supported by serious R&amp;D backing.</span></li> </ul></div><p><span style="text-decoration: underline; font-size: 10pt;"><strong>Your Mission</strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">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.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">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.&nbsp;</span><br><span style="font-size: 10pt;">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.</span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline; font-size: 10pt;"><strong>Responsibilities</strong></span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Organisation &amp; leadership</span></strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Own the full flight test organisation across four pillars: Pilots &amp; Operators, Flight Test Engineering, Flight Test Operations, and Safety &amp; Compliance.</span></p> </li> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">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.</span></p> </li> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Carry budget, headcount, schedule, and tempo accountability for flight test as a whole.</span></p> </li> </ul> <p><strong><span style="font-size: 10pt;">F

Skills