Research Scientist, Flight Trials

Remote, United States | Full time | Reports to Director, Trials
Applications close November 20, 2026

Who We Are

Contrails.org is a pioneering non-profit working to establish proven contrail avoidance at scale. We are a small, focused team of scientists, engineers, and aviation experts building the science, tools, and operational playbooks to make contrail management a practical reality. Our open-source modelling framework underpins research worldwide, and our real-world trials with major airlines demonstrate that contrail avoidance delivers verifiable climate benefit at a minimal cost.

Our mission is to meaningfully reduce contrail-induced warming by 2030, while establishing the foundations for contrail avoidance to become standard practice in global aviation. We envision a world where intelligent route planning and air traffic management eliminates climate warming contrails with near-zero cost.

Contrails currently cause the same warming impact as 33 billion tonnes of atmospheric CO₂—roughly one year of global anthropogenic emissions. A small subset of flights generates the bulk of this contrail warming, much of which can be avoided through minor altitude or routing adjustments at negligible cost.

What You’ll Do

Contrails.org is seeking a highly motivated and exceptional trial-focused Research Scientist to join our team. You will plan, execute, analyze, and report on real-world flight trials of contrail avoidance, working closely with partner airlines and air navigation service providers (ANSPs) to demonstrate contrail management at scale. You will design scientifically defensible trials, monitor them as they run, turn trial data into actionable results, and communicate those results to research partners and the broader aviation and scientific community. This role sits within the Contrail Clearing Accelerator (CCA), which will run trials across 4 to 8 airlines and 1 to 2 ANSPs. As part of the CCA, you will help design a standardized trial methodology that can be applied across disparate airlines and ANSPs.

Specific Responsibilities

Development and analysis of flight trials

• Collaborate with our team, partner airlines, and ANSPs to develop trial options and to design, develop, and implement real-world trials of contrail avoidance.
• Use Contrails.org and partner tools to plan high-impact, scientifically defensible trials, including pre-test modeling of contrail impacts and effects of trial design decisions.
• Monitor the progress of trials in execution, including accessing raw data sources, converting data into insights, and clearly communicating trial progress to stakeholders.
• Conduct post-trial analysis, determining avoidance effectiveness and costs using modeled and observed results, and uncovering relevant human and operational factors.
• Cross-check flight planning outputs, filed flight plans, flown telemetry, and satellite observations to verify what avoidance was attempted and achieved.
• Work with partners to provide data and support in using our tools to facilitate the success of trials.

Operational protocol development

• Document trial learnings and operational findings in a form that supports the development of repeatable, safety-sound operational protocols and playbooks.
• Support the translation of trial results into procedures and guidance usable by airline and ANSP partners.

Innovation and problem solving

• Identify innovative solutions to complex technical and operational challenges in trial design and execution, enhancing scientific understanding and technological capabilities and performance.
• Continuously improve analysis and tools in response to partner feedback.

Collaboration and communication

• Work closely with team members to align trial work with strategic objectives.
• Build and help maintain relationships with partner airlines and ANSPs, including preparing briefing materials and representing Contrails.org in partner meetings and before external audiences.
• Participate in and lead meetings with research and trial partners.
• Communicate technical concepts effectively to non-technical stakeholders, fostering a collaborative and cohesive work environment.
• Lead and contribute to written publications in peer-reviewed journals, industry white papers, and our Notebook, describing and contextualizing trial results.
• Present your work and trial results at international workshops and conferences, and to scientific and industry audiences.

Qualifications

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, physics, computer science, data science, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 5+ years of relevant experience in engineering, aviation operations, data science, or a related field.
• Experience conducting independent research or analysis with minimal oversight.
• Proficiency in Python or similar programming languages.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to explain scientific concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and adapt to rapidly changing requirements.
• Available for up to 20% travel domestically and internationally.
• Ability to occasionally work outside standard hours to accommodate partner meetings across diverse time zones.

Preferred

• Aviation domain expertise, including familiarity with operational and human factors. Flight test expertise particularly valued.
• Master’s or PhD degree in a relevant field.
• Experience implementing or working with aircraft performance, aircraft emissions, or contrail models.
• Experience using optimizers or building scripts to support route or trial planning.
• Experience running statistical analysis on large datasets using cloud computing.

Salary and Benefits

$120,000 to $140,000 depending on experience, plus a generous benefits package that includes:

• 10% employer 401(k) contribution
• Up to $2,500 a month toward medical coverage for you and your dependents
• Dental and vision covered by Contrails, currently provided as a monthly stipend
• 20 paid vacation days
• 17 paid company holidays
• 12 paid sick days

Commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Contrails.org values diversity in all forms and is dedicated to inclusive and transparent recruitment, selection, and promotion processes. Candidates with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences are strongly encouraged to apply. Candidates must have the right to work in the United States.

How to Apply

Apply through this page with your resume and a short answer to the experience question on the application form. Applications close November 20, 2026.