Spaceplane - Test and Evaluation Engineer

We've flown the Mk-II spaceplane, supersonic up to 80,000 ft. We need someone to join our operations team to help us fly the Mk-II to 100 km altitude twice in a day. We need someone to inform design, plan testing, execute flight tests, collect and review data to get us to this next milestone.

We're building next-generation reusable aerospace systems from the ground up. If you're a technically sharp, execution-focused, and risk-aware individual who wants to test real hardware and operate cutting-edge aircraft — keep reading.

Role Overview

You’ll be part of the team responsible for the safe ground-test, flight-test and mission execution of our Mk-II sub-orbital aircraft. You’ll be embedded in a fast-paced team of engineers, operators, and maintainers bringing a novel aircraft into regular, real-world use.

What You’ll Do

• Be part of the flight crew that safely conducts test activities.


• Collaborate and co-ordinate with the engineering and test teams to define and execute Mk-II ground test and flight test activities.


• Support the team to produce test plans, conduct test readiness reviews, deliver mission briefings, execute tests, trouble shoot systems faults and conduct post-test reviews.


• Create and validate ground and flight operations procedures, to cover normal operating modes as well as contingencies and emergencies.


• Develop Human-Machine Interface concepts and designs, and verify them in flight test.


• Occasional external stakeholder engagement with aerodrome operators, aviators, regulators, air traffic management service providers, and Mk-II customers.

Additional Responsibilities (Depending on Your Skills)

• Define and deliver internal and external crew training to a standard acceptable to aviation regulators.


• Optimise processes and activities for the complete lifecycle of flying a customer's mission end-to-end.


• Provide data and reports that support certification in the areas of operating procedures, emergency procedures and crew training.

You Should Have

• Tertiary qualification in a relevant Engineering field, Flight Testing, Physics, or a related field.


• 5+ years professional experience with complex systems and testing, in one or more engineering fields such as aircraft, spacecraft, test and evaluation, flight test, safety-critical systems, and/or payloads.


• Excellent written & verbal communication with engineers, operators, and external stakeholders. This includes reporting and presenting.


• Demonstrated ability to make effective decisions where there is no set precedent or established guidance.


• A positive, driven attitude with a team collaborative approach.


• Experience working in small, dynamic engineering team where each member often has multiple responsibilities.


• Relevant experience as a Test Conductor and/or part of a test team.


• Ability to quickly adapt to changing priorities.


• Experience with technical risk identification, management, and mitigation.


• Demonstrate honesty, responsibility, and integrity.
  
  

Highly Desirable

• Graduate of a recognised Test Pilot School.


• Pilot experience (any rating).


• Experience with flight software, GNC, DAQ systems, and/or flight instrumentation.


• Hands-on experience with test and maintenance of payloads, avionics, propulsion, and/or fluid systems.


• Experience with configuration management in a fast-paced prototyping and test environment.
  

No passengers. Just engineers, pilots, and doers.

About Us – Dawn Aerospace

Dawn Aerospace is developing the fastest and highest-flying aircraft ever to take off from a runway, combining the extreme performance of rocket propulsion with the reusability of conventional airplanes to enable high-frequency, low-cost access to sub-orbital space. Our flagship aircraft, the Mk-II Aurora spaceplane, is designed to push the boundaries of aviation into space, providing a scalable and cost-effective platform for microgravity research, atmospheric studies, and aerospace innovation. In 2024, the Aurora spaceplane broke the sound barrier, reaching Mach 1.12 at 82,500 feet, and set a record for the fastest climb to 20 kilometres (65,600 feet).

We're a tight-knit, cross-functional team with a passion for building things that matter. If you're ready to be part of a bold, hands-on engineering challenge that’s changing how space is accessed—let’s talk. And even if you think you have what it takes but are unsure that you check every box, we still want to hear from you.

Please also note that due to our current customer base and the nature of our industry and technology, we are required to conduct background checks that are undertaken for security reasons. These checks will include nationality checks as it is a requirement of this position that the Employee be eligible to access equipment and data regulated by domestic and foreign regulations. Under these regulations, an employee may be ineligible for a role in our New Zealand office if they do not hold citizenship of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the European Union or a country that is part of NATO, or if they hold ineligible dual citizenship or nationality.

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