Job Requirements
Paso Robles, CA
Clearance Unspecified Polygraph not specified
Mid Level Career (5+ yrs experience)
Salary not specified
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Job Description
A cutting-edge defense technology company is developing advanced autonomous aerial systems to support national security and defense missions. Backed by leading investors, the organization is advancing next-generation drone technology in a fast-paced, collaborative environment where engineering excellence, operational performance, and real-world impact are central to its mission.
This is a key leadership opportunity to shape the development, testing, and deployment of autonomous unmanned aerial systems. The successful candidate will play a hands-on role in advancing flight test capabilities, validating system performance, and bridging the gap between engineering development and operational deployment. This position offers the opportunity to take ownership of flight test strategy while working closely with multidisciplinary engineering teams to bring cutting-edge defense technology into the field.
Key Responsibilities
Lead the development and execution of flight test plans to evaluate autonomy performance, navigation, flight stability, and overall system functionality.
Oversee and participate in safe UAS flight operations, including pre-flight inspections, field testing, and post-flight evaluations.
Analyze flight test data to identify performance trends, system limitations, failure modes, and opportunities for improvement.
Troubleshoot complex hardware, software, and system integration issues encountered during testing and field operations.
Collaborate with engineering teams to integrate and validate payloads, sensors, flight controllers, and autonomy software.
Establish and refine flight test procedures, safety standards, validation frameworks, and operational best practices.
Produce detailed test reports and communicate findings, technical recommendations, and system readiness assessments to engineering leadership.
Coordinate field test deployments, including aircraft configuration, equipment readiness, site logistics, and operational planning.
Drive continuous improvement across testing methodologies, system reliability, and operational readiness.
Essential Skills & Experience
Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline, or equivalent practical experience.
3+ years of hands-on experience with unmanned aerial systems (UAS), including drone development, flight operations, testing, or evaluation.
Hands-on experience building, operating, and testing Group 1 and/or Group 2 unmanned aerial systems, ideally small multirotor platforms.
Demonstrated experience developing and executing structured flight test plans and documenting results.
Strong understanding of flight operations, aircraft systems, safety procedures, and pre-flight and post-flight workflows.
Proven ability to troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, software, and system-level issues.
Experience working directly with engineering teams to identify issues, validate solutions, and improve system performance.
Ability to work effectively in outdoor testing environments and travel approximately 25-50% as required.
Strong communication, technical documentation, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
A high level of ownership, attention to detail, sound technical judgment, and commitment to safety.
Must be a U.S. Person due to applicable security requirements; the ability to obtain or maintain a Top Secret security clearance may also be required.
Desirable Skills & Experience
Experience with autonomous UAS development, verification, validation, and performance testing.
Familiarity with payload integration, sensor calibration, flight controllers, and flight control systems.
Experience with flight controller configuration, tuning, and troubleshooting.
Background in defense technology, aerospace, robotics, or other safety-critical systems.
Experience establishing flight test processes, improving testing capabilities, or helping build a growing engineering team.
This is a key leadership opportunity to shape the development, testing, and deployment of autonomous unmanned aerial systems. The successful candidate will play a hands-on role in advancing flight test capabilities, validating system performance, and bridging the gap between engineering development and operational deployment. This position offers the opportunity to take ownership of flight test strategy while working closely with multidisciplinary engineering teams to bring cutting-edge defense technology into the field.
Key Responsibilities
Lead the development and execution of flight test plans to evaluate autonomy performance, navigation, flight stability, and overall system functionality.
Oversee and participate in safe UAS flight operations, including pre-flight inspections, field testing, and post-flight evaluations.
Analyze flight test data to identify performance trends, system limitations, failure modes, and opportunities for improvement.
Troubleshoot complex hardware, software, and system integration issues encountered during testing and field operations.
Collaborate with engineering teams to integrate and validate payloads, sensors, flight controllers, and autonomy software.
Establish and refine flight test procedures, safety standards, validation frameworks, and operational best practices.
Produce detailed test reports and communicate findings, technical recommendations, and system readiness assessments to engineering leadership.
Coordinate field test deployments, including aircraft configuration, equipment readiness, site logistics, and operational planning.
Drive continuous improvement across testing methodologies, system reliability, and operational readiness.
Essential Skills & Experience
Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline, or equivalent practical experience.
3+ years of hands-on experience with unmanned aerial systems (UAS), including drone development, flight operations, testing, or evaluation.
Hands-on experience building, operating, and testing Group 1 and/or Group 2 unmanned aerial systems, ideally small multirotor platforms.
Demonstrated experience developing and executing structured flight test plans and documenting results.
Strong understanding of flight operations, aircraft systems, safety procedures, and pre-flight and post-flight workflows.
Proven ability to troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, software, and system-level issues.
Experience working directly with engineering teams to identify issues, validate solutions, and improve system performance.
Ability to work effectively in outdoor testing environments and travel approximately 25-50% as required.
Strong communication, technical documentation, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
A high level of ownership, attention to detail, sound technical judgment, and commitment to safety.
Must be a U.S. Person due to applicable security requirements; the ability to obtain or maintain a Top Secret security clearance may also be required.
Desirable Skills & Experience
Experience with autonomous UAS development, verification, validation, and performance testing.
Familiarity with payload integration, sensor calibration, flight controllers, and flight control systems.
Experience with flight controller configuration, tuning, and troubleshooting.
Background in defense technology, aerospace, robotics, or other safety-critical systems.
Experience establishing flight test processes, improving testing capabilities, or helping build a growing engineering team.
group id: 91166596