Mission Operator - Flight Test Engineer

Responsibilities

• Design and execute structured flight tests to evaluate autonomy performance, flight stability, navigation, and mission behaviors
• Operate unmanned aerial systems (UAS) safely in real-world environments, including pre-flight, in-flight monitoring, and post-flight procedures
• Conduct pre-flight inspections, system checks, and airworthiness assessments to ensure safe operation
• Collect, document, and organize high-quality flight and system data; identify failures, edge cases, and performance gaps
• Analyze flight test results and generate clear, concise reports with findings and actionable recommendations
• Troubleshoot and resolve hardware, software, and system-level issues in field environments
• Support integration and validation of payloads, sensors (EO/IR, GPS, IMU), and autonomy software
• Collaborate closely with engineering teams to translate flight test observations into prioritized product improvements
• Support customer demonstrations and flight evaluations, ensuring systems are safe, reliable, and professionally executed
• Contribute to the development of repeatable flight test procedures, safety protocols, and validation frameworks
• Prepare and manage deployment logistics including aircraft setup, ground control systems, batteries, spares, and field site staging

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, or related field) or equivalent hands-on experience
• 3+ years of experience operating, maintaining, or testing unmanned aerial systems (UAS), drones, or similar platforms
• Strong understanding of flight operations, safety procedures, and pre/post-flight workflows
• Strong troubleshooting skills across mechanical, electrical, and software systems
• Experience executing structured test plans, collecting flight data, and documenting results clearly
• Comfortable working in dynamic outdoor environments with frequent travel (25–50%)
• Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate closely with engineering and cross-functional teams
• High ownership mentality, attention to detail, and commitment to safety and disciplined execution

Benefits

• Competitive base salary and bonus
• Premium medical, dental, and vision plans with $0 paycheck contribution
• Competitive PTO and company holiday calendar
• Unlimited AI tokens
• Catered lunch daily and fully stocked kitchen
• EV charging
• Relocation assistance (depending on role eligibility)