Virgin Galactic Test Pilot

About the role

Virgin Galactic Test Pilot
Virgin Galactic is recruiting a Test Pilot to support the development, flight testing and commercial operation of its spaceflight vehicles. The position is based at Spaceport America in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, with occasional work at other locations.

Virgin Galactic pilots support the development and operation of the company's VG Spaceflight System, including flight-test programs and commercial spaceflight missions for Customer-Astronauts and science-research payloads.

The role combines experimental test flying, commercial pilot duties and aerospace operations. Responsibilities also include flight planning, mission control support, development of training materials, vehicle operations documentation, follow-on vehicle development and testing, pilot recruitment, training and records management. The pilot may also support Virgin Galactic's safety, engineering, maintenance, commercial and customer teams.

This is a highly specialized opportunity for an experienced experimental test pilot with a diverse high-performance aviation background and an interest in commercial human spaceflight.

Position: Test Pilot / Pilot
Employer: Virgin Galactic
Location: Spaceport America, New Mexico, USA
Job Type: Full-time
Job ID: 2260
Department: Space Missions and Safety
Primary Duties: Flight Test, Commercial Spaceflight, Mission Support

Requirements

• Graduate of an SETP-recognized test pilot school full one-year course
• Extensive post-graduate flight-test program experience
• Minimum 2,500 hours flying experience
• Multi-engine aircraft experience including asymmetric thrust handling
• High-performance fast-jet aircraft experience
• Complex aircraft experience with low lift-to-drag ratio glide operations, such as simulated flameout landings
• FAA Class 1 or military medical certificate
• Degree-level qualification in a relevant technical field
• Proven successful team member
• Excellent communication skills
• Based in New Mexico

• Minimum 2.5 years post-graduate test pilot school flight-test experience
• Operational experience with a commercial aerospace aviation project or business
• Current knowledge across a diverse range of aerospace disciplines
• Current FAA Commercial Pilot Licence or equivalent
• Ability to communicate aviation knowledge and safety information clearly and concisely
• Previous responsibility for developing and implementing flight-safety policies and procedures
• Previous spaceflight experience
• Commercial flight operations involving direct customer interaction

Package highlights

• Annual U.S. base salary of $260,000–$278,750
• Potential additional bonus or long-term incentive compensation
• Medical, financial and other employee benefits
• Opportunity to support commercial human spaceflight
• Experimental and developmental flight-test operations
• Flight operations from Spaceport America, New Mexico
• Involvement in development and testing of follow-on space vehicles
• Mission Control and spaceflight operations exposure
• Support for Customer-Astronaut and science-research missions
• Cross-functional work with engineering, safety, maintenance and commercial teams
• Highly specialized aerospace and spaceflight environment