Chief, Flight Test

• Department: Transport Canada
• Reference number: MOT26J-131495-000181
• Selection process number: 26-MOT-EA-HRS-05512
• Location: Various locations
• Salary: $171,400 to $196,143
• Level: AO-ETP-02
• Who can apply: Persons residing in Canada, and Canadian citizens and Permanent residents abroad.
• Closing date: 14 January 2027

About the position DutiesAs Chief of the Flight Test Division in Transport Canada’s Aircraft Certification Branch:
• You will be leading a team of engineering test pilots, flight test engineers and other aeronautical engineering experts to carry out the Division’s mandate.
• You will direct the planning and coordination of all flight test activities undertaken in support of all aeronautical product design approvals requiring flight test support or oversight, and on occasion act as an operational test pilot to supplement or complement staff pilots.
• You will provide strategic and operational advice and formulate recommendations related to Flight Test to senior management, industry and foreign civil aviation authorities.
• You will provide strategic and operational engineering flight test advice and direction on the application of regulations, standards, policies and procedures as they apply to aeronautical product design approval/certification and direct the provision of specialized flight test expertise to Transport Canada Civil Aviation staff members, other government departments, delegates, the aerospace industry, industry associations, international airworthiness organizations and the public.
• You will manage the activities of the Flight Test Division including financial, human resource ,occupational safety and health, and other administrative requirements.
• You will participate as a member of the Aircraft Certification branch management team. Intent of the process The results of this process will initially be used to staff one (1) position indeterminately. The position being staffed is bilingual non-imperative CBC/ CBC, thus, we encourage both bilingual and unilingual candidates, who are interested in becoming bilingual, to apply.
A pool of qualified candidates may be established to staff similar positions on an indeterminate, determinate or acting basis, within Transport Canada. Positions to be filled 1 Important messages When you apply to this selection process, you are not applying for a specific job, but to an inventory for future vacancies. As positions become available, applicants who meet the qualifications may be contacted for further assessment.
Applicants are encouraged to apply online using the Public Service Resourcing System. If there is something preventing you from doing so, communicate with the contact information at the bottom of this advertisement to discuss alternate ways of applying for this employment opportunity.
**WE ARE ACTIVELY RECRUITING FOR THIS POSITION AND LOOKING TO STAFF WITH A QUALIFIED CANDIDATE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION AT YOUR EARLIEST AVAILABILITY. **
🌟INVENTORIES
The inventory will be updated every 90 days. You will receive a notice in your applicant account 7 days before the end of your active period to confirm whether or not you wish to keep being considered for an additional 90 days. If your application becomes inactive while the process is still open, a notice will be posted to your account indicating that your application has expired; you may select the link “Update my Inventory Status” to reaffirm your interest.
Please see the "Other Information" section at the bottom of this advertisement for additional important information regarding your application to this inventory.
📝APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
You must submit a complete application, consisting of a résumé, a motivation letter (800 to 1200 words, maximum 2 pages, explaining what motivated you to apply and what makes you the ideal candidate for the position) as well as responses to screening questions which clearly demonstrate how you meet the education and experience factors listed under the essential qualifications, as well as any of the asset qualifications that may apply.
For each experience criterion, please provide concrete examples including the following information:
1. Name of the organization where the experience was acquired;
2. Title of the position occupied and duration (including dates) for which you exercised the functions;
3. Specific details of tasks, projects, or accomplishments demonstrating how the experience was acquired.
The information you provide in your responses to the screening questions need to be supported by your resume. Failure to provide the required information may result in your application being rejected.
The screening questions will be used as the primary tool in the screening process and the resume will be used to substantiate the information provided. Applications that do not clearly demonstrate how the screening criteria are met will be eliminated from consideration.
Please note that the screening questions and cover letter may be used to assess written communication.
📌Notes on Asset Qualifications:
- Asset qualifications are not mandatory qualifications to the position. You do not need to answer the screening questions for the asset qualifications. However, if you meet one or more, you are strongly encouraged to answer asset qualifications questions in your online application as they may be used at any stage in the process or be a deciding factor in choosing the person to be considered for an appointment.
- Definitions for significant experience and broad knowledge remain the same for essential qualifications and assets. Conditions of employmentSecret security clearance Operational Requirements☑️Operational Requirements ☑️
Must be willing and able to work overtime and weekends, as required.
Must be willing and able to travel nationally and internationally as required. You need (essential for the job) Your application must clearly explain how you meet the following🎓Education🎓
ED1:
Graduation with a degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in engineering, mathematics, science or in a field relevant to the duties of the position; and
Successful completion of an engineering test pilot course recognized by Transport Canada.
OR
Graduation with a degree in engineering from a recognized post-secondary institution or eligibility for certification as a professional engineer in Canada; and
Minimum of five years of experience as an experimental or developmental test pilot with a manufacturer of civil certified transport category aircraft.
*Note on Education Requirements: Candidates will be asked to provide proof of education and/or eligibility for certification as a professional engineer in Canada.📜Occupational Certification📜
OC1: Possession of a valid Canadian Airline Transport Pilot Licence - Aeroplane Category with valid Group 1 Instrument Rating and possession of a valid Restricted Radio-Telephone Operator Certificate (endorsed Aeronautical);
OR
Possession of a valid Canadian Commercial Pilot Licence - Helicopter Category with a valid Group IV Instrument Rating and possession of a valid Restricted Radio-Telephone Operator Certificate (endorsed Aeronautical).
*Note on Occupational Certification: Candidates will be asked to provide proof of occupational certification.💼Experience💼
EX1: Significant experience* in aeronautical product engineering in engineering flight test of aircraft as well as one or more areas such as design, development, test, evaluation, delegation system oversight, continuing airworthiness and civil certification of aircraft, aircraft engines or other aeronautical products.
*Significant experience is defined as the depth and breadth of the on-the-job flight test training and experience associated with having conducted the developmental flight test activities normally required for the design validation and certification of aircraft over a period of at least 5 years on a full-time basis.🧠Knowledge🧠
K1: Broad knowledge** of the Civil Aviation regulatory framework, current issues, trends, key stakeholders, as well as processes and policies used by civil regulatory authorities, both domestic or foreign, that support the mandate of the division led by this position.
*Note on Knowledge: Broad refers to the depth and breadth of the knowledge associated to the flight test discipline, as well as out-of-discipline issues (e.g. related to other aeronautical engineering disciplines, aircraft operations, pilot training, international regulatory frameworks, domestic and foreign industry issues and trends, etc.) as they interface with or relate to flight test.🎯Key Leadership Competencies🎯
KLC1: Uphold Integrity and Respect
KLC2: Create Vision and Strategy
KLC3: Mobilize People
KLC4: Achieve Results⭐Abilities⭐
A1: Ability to communicate effectively orally.
A2: Ability to communicate effectively in writing.
A3: Ability to lead an organization.
A4: Ability to analyse, synthesize and communicate complex information, as well as developing recommendations. Language requirements (essential for the job) Applied / assessed at a later date Bilingual - Non Imperative (CBC/CBC) You may need (asset qualifications) May be applied / assessed at a later date💼Asset Experience💼
AEX1: Significant experience* managing staff in an aeronautical product engineering environment.
AEX2: Experience in civil certification of aeronautical products.
AEX3: Experience managing resources in a matrix organization or in a project management environment.
*Significant experience is defined as the depth and breadth of the on-the-job flight test training and experience associated with having conducted the developmental flight test activities normally required for the design validation and certification of aircraft over a period of at least 5 years on a full-time basis.🧠Knowledge🧠
AK1: Broad knowledge of the Civil Aviation regulatory framework, current issues, trends, key stakeholders, as well as processes and policies used by the National Aircraft Certification (NAC) to support the mandate of the division led by this position.
*Note on Knowledge: Broad refers to the depth and breadth of the knowledge associated to the flight test discipline, as well as out-of-discipline issues (e.g. related to other aeronautical engineering disciplines, aircraft operations, pilot training, international regulatory frameworks, domestic and foreign industry issues and trends, etc.) as they interface with or relate to flight test.