How to hire a flight test supervisor

How to hire a flight test supervisor, step by step

Here's a step-by-step flight test supervisor hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a flight test supervisor job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new flight test supervisor
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your flight test supervisor job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a flight test supervisor for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A flight test supervisor's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, flight test supervisors from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of flight test supervisor salaries for various roles:

   Type of Flight Test Supervisor	Description	Hourly rate
   Flight Test Supervisor		$22-58
   Lead Mechanic	A lead mechanic coordinates the teams of mechanics and ensures the timely completion of repairs. Lead mechanics supervise their subordinates, order mechanical parts, and inspect their work making sure that the standards are met... Show more	$19-35
   Maintenance Planner	A maintenance planner is responsible for maintaining the efficiency and optimal performance of the operational tools, equipment, and machinery. Maintenance planners assist with the personnel's request for equipment repairs, requiring them to have excellent knowledge of the mechanical industry to identify inconsistencies and glitches and perform immediate troubleshooting... Show more	$18-40

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Safety Procedures
   • FAA
   • Flight Operations
   • Aircraft Maintenance
   • In-Flight
   • TSA
   • Flight Attendants
   • Flight Deck
   • Flight Test
   • Training Programs
   • Performance Evaluations
   • Passenger Service
   • Process Improvement
   • USAF

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage intermediate-level maintenance on fighter aircraft release and gun systems.
   • Developed/Execute bilateral air component rear area security combat support policy, training directives, and programs target at reducing risks.
   • Develop annual and strategic corporate business plans that NASA headquarters approve for funding and implementation.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your flight test supervisor job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A flight test supervisor salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, flight test supervisors' average salary in hawaii is 51% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level flight test supervisors earn 61% less than senior-level flight test supervisors.
   • Certifications. A flight test supervisor with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a flight test supervisor's salary.

   Average flight test supervisor salary

   $76,547yearly

   $36.80 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level flight test supervisor salary

   $47,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 28, 2025

4. Writing a flight test supervisor job description

   A good flight test supervisor job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a flight test supervisor job description:

   Flight test supervisor job description example

   Supervisor
   
   Matheson helps families across the United States receive their mail safely and on time. This is the #1 goal of our customers, which include the USPS and other major commercial carriers. Our honest, hard-working, collaborative team members are driven to achieve this by demonstrating excellence in everything we do. Join us!
   
   Matheson is looking for an experienced Station Supervisor for our Edgerton, KS - STC location.
   
   As a Station Supervisor, you will monitor operations to ensure that staff members comply with administrative policies and procedures, safety rules, contracts, and government regulations. You will plan, organize, or manage the work of subordinate staff. You will analyze expenditures and other financial information to develop plans, policies, or budgets for increasing profits or improving services, ensuring expenses are consistent with approved budgets. You will complete all required reports and substitute for other managers during absence. You will be expected to hold weekly safety meetings, manage any injury/accident events with Risk Management, conduct safety reports and investigations as required, address employee voiced safety issues, and resolve any safety hazards within the station/operation. You will establish employee schedules and work hours, review employee time sheets, manage hours to eliminate overtime, and correct employee punch errors. You will counsel, discipline and coach employees, conduct employee training, ensure adequate staffing, monitor attendance, track shifts, correct payroll errors and make adjustments as needed. You will ensure staff is adequately trained, recommend operational improvements, and seek out business opportunities.
   
   Compensation: Competitive
   
   Shift:
   
   Must have a flexible availability due to the changing demands of the operations.
   
   Skills & Qualifications:
   
   + Valid Driver's License and a clean driving record that will pass the criteria set by our insurance carrier for on the job coverage
   
   + Ability to prioritize multiple tasks in a stressful environment
   
   + Ability to communicate in a positive and effective manner with team
   
   + Ability to lead and motivate staff in a positive and professional manner
   
   + Must be able to qualify for and maintain TSA and and/or USPS clearance
   
   + Must be able to pass all company required assessments including background.
   
   Education/Experience: Minimum of 3 years' supervisory or lead experience in warehouse/flight operations. Previous experience with Federal Express, UPS or DHL desired.
   
   Find out more about Matheson:www.mathesoninc.com!

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right flight test supervisor for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with flight test supervisors they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit flight test supervisors who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your flight test supervisor job on Zippia to find and recruit flight test supervisor candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit flight test supervisors, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new flight test supervisor

   Once you've found the flight test supervisor candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new flight test supervisor first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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