Experimental UAV Test Pilot jobs in United States
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Seneca · 1 month ago

Experimental UAV Test Pilot

positionSausalito, CA
timeFull-time
remoteOnsite
seniorityMid Level
money$70K/yr - $130K/yr

Seneca is a company focused on combating wildfires using AI-powered autonomous drone systems. The Experimental UAV Test Pilot will be responsible for conducting flight tests, tuning UAV systems, and collaborating with engineering to enhance prototypes and ensure safety during operations.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)Information TechnologyPublic Safety
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H1B Sponsor Likelynote

Responsibilities

Execute experimental flight tests to meet envelope-expansion goals (payload, wind, modes), following structured test cards and maintaining full logs
Tune PX4/ArduPilot controllers and show measurable stability and responsiveness improvements; record parameter deltas and impact after each flight
Run disciplined pre/post-flight routines (checklists, airworthiness, debriefs)
Diagnose flight issues—vibration, tuning, propulsion, sensor faults—and provide concise findings that reduce engineering turnaround time
Capture high-quality data and ensure all logs, anomalies, and tuning changes are usable for engineering analysis
Maintain safe operations under Part 107, proactively identifying hazards and managing range conditions
Collaborate with engineering to refine builds, troubleshoot hardware/software, and inform design iterations based on flight behavior

Qualification

FAA Part 107 certificationPID tuning proficiencyPiloting judgmentStructured troubleshootingPropulsionHands-on UAV experienceTechnical documentationChecklist-driven safety disciplineIterative problem solvingKindnessHumilityCollaboration skills

Required

FAA Part 107 certification
Strong piloting judgment with prototype and non-consumer UAVs
PID tuning proficiency (PX4, ArduPilot)
Skilled in structured troubleshooting, log analysis, and technical documentation
Checklist-driven safety discipline
Solid understanding of propulsion, avionics, batteries, and GSE
Hands-on experience building or modifying custom UAVs
Willing to work outdoors in variable conditions and travel to test sites

Preferred

Ownership mentality — take projects from idea to execution
Balance of velocity and quality — move fast, but with rigor; high standards and attention to detail
Efficiency & follow-through — keeps operations unblocked and organized
Iterative problem solving — breakdown complex problems, prototype, and refine
Kindness and humility — thrive in collaborative, mission-driven cross-functional teams

Benefits

Equity Compensation – Be a part-owner in the company's future
Comprehensive Health Coverage – Including medical, dental, and vision plans
Health Savings Account (HSA) – Optional pre-tax savings for medical expenses
Unlimited PTO – Flexible time off to recharge, plus paid company holidays

Company

Seneca

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Seneca is a company that develops advanced AI, robotic, and autonomous drone systems.
dateFounded in 2024
location
America, Alabama, USA
people-size11-50 employees
web-link
https://seneca.com

H1B Sponsorship

Seneca has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (4)

Funding

Current Stage
Early Stage
Total Funding
$60M
2025-10-20Series A· $60M
2024-06-01Seed

Recent News

Venture Capital
Seneca Secures $60 Million Funding and Unveils Public Launch
2025-10-28
vcnewsdaily.com
Seneca Launches with $60 Million
2025-10-28
Techmeme
Seneca, which is developing autonomous firefighting drones, raised $60M in seed and Series A rounds led by Caffeinated Capital and Convective Capital (Christopher Marquis/Forbes)
2025-10-26
Company data provided by crunchbase