INSTRUMENTATION ENGINEER - Contractor / Consultant

AeroTEC’s Test & Evaluation Department provides comprehensive flight-testing and evaluation services to customers in aircraft design and certification. The Test & Evaluation Department is responsible for test planning, instrumentation, ground operation and flight operations to meet customer needs. The Test & Evaluation Department provides expertise in Flight Test Engineering, Instrumentation Test Engineering and Installation, Test Pilot Support, Telemetry Operations and Flight Dispatch. 

The Instrumentation Test Engineer must have a unique skill set that can work across functions within the Test & Evaluation group. They are responsible for supporting the operational, technical,  ground and flight test success of the instrumentation group by producing instrumentation specifications, sensor selection, wire diagrams, installation diagrams (FTEO packages), sensors and system calibration, signal conditioning, derived parameters, cockpit displays, data validation, data tracking, data recording, documentation and conformity.  Airborne Flight Test support will include instrumentation systems test equipment setup, inflight test monitoring and operational configuration changes to achieve flight test card requirements. Duties may also include:

This role requires significant exercise of independent discretion and judgment in matters of significance.

Job Duties and Responsibilities (Essential Functions):

1. Design instrument installations and create installation instructions.
2. Communicate with customers and other engineers to define appropriate requirements.
3. Provide instrumentation specifications.

• Sensor selection for pressure, temperature, frequency, stress and positions.
• Wire-Harness Assembly diagrams, System Description Documents and Schematics.
• Installation diagrams (FTEO packages).
• Sensors and system calibration.
• Signal conditioning interfacing and programming.
• Derived parameter equations.
• Master Clock and time code generation. 
• Sensor and Calibration validation.
• Data recording IRIG Chapter 10.
• Global Positioning Systems including Differential, WAAS and NavStar.

1. Evaluate instrumentation installations for function and safety.
2. Document data systems practices and procedures.
3. Generate instructions and operation manuals.
4. Maintain calibration records.
5. Provide instrumentation equipment management to ensure that equipment is maintained, calibrated and available for re-use.
6. Special projects and tasks assigned by Group Lead.
7. Advise and liaison on fabrication, assembly, troubleshooting, repair, and modifications of aircraft simulator test rigs in support of software/hardware verification.
8. Provide liaison, training and advice in the operation and maintenance of the aircraft TM transmitting system and Ground Station TM antenna tracking system.
9. Provide airborne instrumentation operational services.
10. Inflight test systems monitoring, parameter fault recognition and resolution.
11. Perform and maintain system configuration changes.
12. Coordinating test and certification requirements and authoring flight test and ground test plans specific to installed instrumentation or any areas of specific expertise.
13. Review and updating T&E processes as necessary.
14. Support ground and flight test activity in any capacity needed to exercise the above processes.

Level Requirements (Minimum):

Education

• Four (4) year degree in Engineering (Instrumentation, Aerospace, Mechanical)
  • Other Engineering fields may be considered.

Experience

•  Five (5) years instrumentation experience in a testing environment.

• Aircraft flight test preferred.

• Two (2) years of data processing/analysis and computer programming.

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and/or hear. The employee is frequently required to sit, stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms. Must have the ability to sit for long periods of time.
• The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50-70 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
• Travel (flying and driving) to various domestic and international worksites and client offices required.