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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Principal Engineer - Flight Test Systems - **Company:** QinetiQ Group plc - **Location:** Amesbury, UK - **Salary:** £62,775.0 - £69,750.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Systems Engineering, Systems Architecture - **Published:** September 9, 2026 - **Apply:** https://careers.qinetiq.com/talentcommunity/apply/1435002533/?locale=en_GB ## About the Role * Extensive knowledge and experience of flight test systems gained by working as part of a team delivering complex flight test programmes * Knowledge and understanding of how to integrate flight test system in certified and non-certified aircraft and typical accuracy requirements * Demonstrable evidence of competency and extensive experience of working within a flight test systems environment, developing respective system architectures * Demonstrable evidence of competency and extensive experience knowledge of flight test system architectures, hardware and software * Knowledge of commonly available data acquisition systems such as ACRA Curtiss-Wright and Safran Heim Essential qualifications for the Principal Engineer - Flight Test Systems: * Relevant Engineering Degree or equivalent experience We value difference and we don't have a fixed idea when it comes to background or education, provided you can show the required level of experience and willingness to learn then we would like to hear from you. This role is 37 hours per week based at our Boscombe Down site with a minimum average site attendance of four days per week. ## Description As a Principal Engineer - Flight Test Systems, you'll be responsible for ensuring that the QinetiQ Flight Test Organisation has access to appropriate flight test systems, instrumentation, telemetry, recording and data acquisition capabilities required to support the safe, efficient and rapid delivery of flight test programmes. Day-to-day, you'll be responsible to the Head of Flight Test and ultimately to the Head of the Aviation Engineering Centre (AEC). The Flight Test Systems Engineer is also responsible for system architectures and development of Flight Test Systems for flight test and evaluation, and aircraft training aids. Your responsibilities will include: * Develop and maintain a roadmap for flight test systems capability, ensuring that current and future flight test requirements can be met * Monitor the availability, performance and suitability of flight test systems and identify opportunities for capability enhancement * Identify, evaluate and implement emerging technologies with the potential to improve the accuracy, efficiency, effectiveness and safety of QinetiQ flight test activities * Lead or support technology demonstrations, trials and capability development activities to assess the suitability of new flight test technologies * Act as a subject matter expert and provide technical advice to the QinetiQ Flight Test Organisation and wider AEC Project Delivery Teams on all matters relating to flight test systems * Advise Flight Test Engineers, Test Conductors, Test Pilots, AEC Solution Leads and Engineers on instrumentation architectures, measurement techniques, telemetry solutions, data acquisition systems and associated technologies ## Related Videos - [Model Based Systems Engineering in an Agile Product Development Process](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/68-model-based-systems-engineering-in-an-agile-product-development-process) - [How Lufthansa Industry Solutions is preparing for the Quantum Age! ](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1443-how-lufthansa-industry-solutions-is-preparing-for-the-quantum-age) - [The QUEST for Better Software](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/721-the-quest-for-better-software) - [How I Built QA from Scratch in a Scaling Startup - no fluff real life story](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/2041-how-i-built-qa-from-scratch-in-a-scaling-startup-no-fluff-real-life-story) - [Exploring Durable Execution with Python](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1234-exploring-durable-execution-with-python) - [Automated Driving - Why is it so hard to introduce](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/628-automated-driving-why-is-it-so-hard-to-introduce) ## Related Articles - [The 12 Best Jobs for Software Engineers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/401-the-12-best-jobs-for-software-engineers) - [Data Engineer Salary UK](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/253-data-engineer-salary-uk) - [Software Engineer Salary London](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/252-software-engineer-salary-london) - [Software Engineer Salary in The UK](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/231-software-engineer-salary-in-the-uk) - [Frontend Developer Salary in The UK](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/233-frontend-developer-salary-in-the-uk) - [IT Salaries in UK](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/288-it-salaries-in-uk)