Test Range & Flight Operations Lead
Hypersonica Prod · Ottawa · onsite
Hypersonica is building sovereign hypersonic capability in Europe and Canada.
We move quickly, work directly with governments and end users, and take complex systems from blank sheet design through integration, test and flight at a pace that is unusual in traditional aerospace and defence.
As we build Hypersonica Canada, we are looking for a Test Range & Flight Operations Lead to build and lead our Canadian test site and flight operations capability from the ground up.
This is not a role where you inherit a mature range, an established operating model or a large support organisation.
You will help define how Hypersonica prepares, integrates, tests and flies vehicles in Canada. You will own the operational environment around flight campaigns, work directly with Engineering and Programmes, and become one of the senior decision-makers responsible for whether a vehicle is ready to fly.
You will be close to the hardware, close to the range and accountable for turning engineering intent into safe, disciplined and executable flight operations.
For the right person, this is an opportunity to build something genuinely new: a sovereign Canadian flight-test capability capable of supporting some of the most demanding systems in aerospace and defence.
What you'll do:
- Own and lead the Canadian test site and flight-test operations, from hardware arrival through launch and post-flight analysis.
- Establish and mature the test-site capability across launch infrastructure, GSE, telemetry, tracking, communications and flight-safety systems.
- Act as the senior operational authority for test campaigns, owning readiness criteria, go/no-go decisions and safe execution.
- Work closely with Systems Engineering and technical leads to translate vehicle and mission requirements into executable test plans and procedures.
- Lead integrated tests, rehearsals, Test Readiness Reviews and Flight Readiness Reviews, ensuring hardware, people and infrastructure are ready.
- Lead post-flight debriefs and ensure flight data, anomalies and lessons learned are reported properly into the Group’s engineering teams
- Build and lead a highly capable Canadian test and operations team, setting standards for safety, ownership and execution.
Who you are:
- A senior test, launch, range or flight-operations leader with substantial experience delivering aerospace, sounding-rocket, launch-vehicle or missile test campaigns.
- Experienced taking complex flight hardware through assembly, integration, ground test, flight readiness and launch.
- Technically broad across propulsion, mechanical systems, avionics, telemetry, tracking, ground systems and flight safety.
- Experienced leading multidisciplinary teams in high-consequence, safety-critical environments.
- Familiar with launch-range systems such as launchers, EGSE/GSE, solid rocket motors, telemetry, radar/tracking and Flight Termination Systems.
- Able to combine hands-on technical leadership with senior operational responsibility and make clear hold, abort or proceed decisions under pressure.
- Experienced building teams, processes and capabilities rather than simply operating within an established test organisation.
- Motivated by building a sovereign Canadian flight-test capability from the ground up.
What we offer:
- The opportunity to build Hypersonica’s Canadian flight-test and range capability from the very beginning
- Real operational authority over test-site readiness, launch operations and flight campaigns
- Direct access to the founders, CTO and senior engineering and programme leadership
- Significant autonomy to shape the Canadian test organisation, infrastructure, procedures and ways of working
- Close involvement with real flight hardware from arrival and integration through ground test, launch and post-flight analysis
- The opportunity to build and lead a highly capable Canadian test and operations team
- Exposure across the complete system, including propulsion, avionics, telemetry, tracking, GSE, launch infrastructure and flight safety
- A small, talent-dense environment with short decision paths and minimal bureaucracy
- Clear objectives, high accountability and the freedom to make decisions
- Competitive compensation and meaningful participation in the long-term success of the company
We are deliberately building a small team of exceptional people who can operate calmly in high-consequence environments and take ownership when the answer is not obvious.
This is not a role for someone who wants to simply operate an established test range or follow procedures written by somebody else.
You will be expected to build the capability, challenge assumptions, create the operating discipline required for safe flight and make difficult decisions when schedule, technical readiness and risk compete.
If you want to help build a sovereign Canadian flight-test capability from the ground up and ultimately be responsible for taking vehicles from hardware arrival to flight, come and build it with us.