Flight Test Safety Program Manager (Aerospace)

TL;DR

Flight Test Safety Program Manager (Aerospace): Managing flight test operational safety and the Flight Test Safety Management System (FT-SMS) with an accent on hazard identification, risk assessment, and emergency response planning. Focus on driving a proactive safety culture, leading incident investigations, and ensuring regulatory compliance across all flight test activities.

Location: Must be based in Salinas, California, United States

Salary: $130,800 - $170,000

Company

hirify.global is an aerospace company building all-electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft to advance sustainable air mobility.

What you will do

• Develop and maintain the Flight Test Safety Management System (FT-SMS) in alignment with enterprise standards.
• Lead Safety Risk Management (SRM) processes, including risk assessments for test cards and envelope expansion.
• Manage the Flight Test Emergency Response Plan and conduct regular emergency drills.
• Lead investigations into flight test incidents and near misses using root cause analysis.
• Foster a strong safety culture through active engagement with pilots, engineers, and operations staff.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Flight Safety, Engineering, and Certification to align on risk tolerances.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum 5 years of aviation safety experience or formal aviation safety training.
• Strong understanding of risk assessment, safety audits, and continuous improvement processes.
• Demonstrated knowledge of safety investigation techniques and technical report writing.
• Must be authorized to work in the US; no visa sponsorship available.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.

Nice to have

• Pilot certifications or relevant operational experience in flight test.
• Experience implementing formal Safety Management Systems (SMS) in Part 135 or Part 121 environments.
• Professional safety certifications such as CSP, CFIOSH, or ASQ.
• Experience collaborating with the FAA or other aviation authorities.

Culture & Benefits

• Pay-for-performance culture.
• Commitment to an equitable and inclusive workplace.
• Opportunity to work on cutting-edge all-electric aircraft technology.
• Support for reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities.