Senior Flight Test Engineer

This role is ideal for an exceptional, safety-minded engineer and pilot who adapts quickly to unfamiliar platforms, flies precisely under pressure, and can mentor others.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Own Flight Test Planning and Execution: Develop test plans, test cards and success criteria. Execute developmental, integration and acceptance flights across VTOL, fixed-wing, quadcopter and FPV platforms (Group 1–3).
• Rapidly Master New Platforms: Transition quickly onto new and non-COTS aircraft. Build and document platform-specific proficiency, handling-qualities knowledge and emergency procedures.
• Fly FPV Operations: Operate FPV platforms for test, evaluation and demonstration, including high-precision, low-altitude and dynamic maneuvering.
• Pilot and Test Swarms: Plan and fly multi-vehicle swarm operations, including swarm launch, recovery and deconfliction. Evaluate swarm behavior, inter-vehicle communication and operator workload, and verify safe operation of multiple aircraft at once.
• Collect, Analyze and Report Data: Own data collection, log analysis and test reporting. Report how each objective was or was not met, and turn results into clear findings and recommendations.
• Support Customer Engagements and Demonstrations: Lead and fly customer-facing demonstrations for DoD and enterprise stakeholders. Help operators understand and trust the system.
• Validate Complete Systems: Test aircraft, GCS, radios and payloads together in their intended configuration. Include communication-loss and GPS-loss behavior and the expected operating environment.
• Liaise with Engineering and Product: Translate product requirements and new features into test objectives. Give engineering actionable feedback on design, process and quality, and drive root-cause analysis on failures.
• Maintain and Repair Test Vehicles: Do hands-on maintenance, inspections, field repairs and configuration control to keep test aircraft airworthy.
• Enforce Flight Safety: Apply range safety, risk assessment and go/no-go discipline. Champion safe operating procedures across the team.
• Mentor the Team: Coach junior pilots and engineers on airmanship, test discipline and platform knowledge. Help set proficiency and training standards.
• Plan and Run Field Campaigns: Lead logistics and setup for off-site test campaigns and deployments.
• Become a Subject-Matter Expert: Develop in-depth knowledge of Auterion hardware and software, including Skynode, PX4, AuterionOS, Auterion Mission Control and Auterion Suite.

Qualifications and Skills

This role demands a blend of engineering discipline, elite piloting skill and methodical rigor, in line with our core values: Be Bold, Own the Outcome, and Team Over Players.

• Engineering Foundation: A technical degree in aerospace, mechatronics, robotics, mechanical, electrical or a related field (or equivalent experience), with a structured, data-driven approach to testing.
• Proven Multi-Platform Piloting Skill: Demonstrated experience piloting a variety of UAS, including VTOL, fixed-wing and multirotor, across Group 1–3, and experience piloting swarms (multiple vehicles operated at once). Able to show a broad flight-hour history and quick adaptation to new airframes.
• FPV Experience (Required): Strong hands-on FPV piloting skills, such as racing, freestyle, operational or tactical use.
• Flight Test Experience: Prior experience in flight test, military or government UAS operations, or a comparable aviation or robotics test environment. Proficiency writing test plans and test cards and reporting results.
• Hands-On Drone Expertise: Experience building, tuning, maintaining and repairing drones. Soldering, wiring and assembly skills are a strong plus.
• Customer-Facing Credibility: Able to brief, fly and communicate clearly and calmly with warfighters, program offices and technical stakeholders.
• Software Knowledge: Familiarity with the PX4 ecosystem, ground control stations (QGroundControl, Auterion Mission Control) and flight log analysis tools is a significant advantage.
• Regulatory & Operational Readiness: Knowledge of U.S. safety regulations for testing and flying UAS. FAA Part 107 certification is required (or you must be able to obtain it). U.S. citizenship is required. Additional pilot ratings (e.g., manned aircraft, military UAS qualifications) are a plus.
• Travel up to 60%

Benefits

• Flexible working hours
• Stock Options
• Unlimited PTO
• Health Insurance (includes dental & vision)
• Medical flex spending
• Life Insurance
• Retirement Plan – 401k with company match
• Enhanced maternity & paternity leave

About Auterion

We are building the leading software platform for AI-powered autonomous systems for enterprise and government customers. Our team is supporting the most important missions and solving the most challenging problems.

At Auterion, we bring together the sharpest minds who love to solve the hardest problems. Join a vibrant team built on innovation, openness, and excellence, where you'll be empowered to develop ideas, collaborate across all levels, and make an impact that matters.