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Firestorm · 1 day ago

Senior Flight Test Engineer (Copy)

San Diego, CA

Full-time

Onsite

Mid, Senior Level

$95K/yr - $165K/yr

5+ years exp

Firestorm is on a mission to revolutionize defense solutions through innovative technologies. The Senior Flight Test Engineer will lead the design and execution of flight test plans, ensuring flight safety while validating and maturing UAV platforms across various mission profiles.

AerospaceArtificial Intelligence (AI)Drones

No H1B

Security Clearance Required

U.S. Citizen Only

Responsibilities

Lead and execute developmental flight testing using sub-scale and full-scale UAVs in dynamic environments

Design, execute, and document environmental stress testing, including vibration, shock, thermal, moisture/ingress, and fatigue

Create and refine detailed flight test plans, test cards, and safety procedures for both engineering and production aircraft

Serve as test conductor during flight events, leading briefs, managing Go/No-Go criteria, and ensuring test discipline

Plan, organize, and lead ground tests to support system validation, including risk assessments and readiness reviews

Analyze test data using techniques such as Design of Experiments (DOE), regression analysis, etc. to drive engineering decisions

Build custom test setups, fixtures, and data acquisition tools for controlled, repeatable validation campaigns

Research, source, and operate flight instrumentation; ensure calibration and signal integrity for flight-critical data

Collaborate with cross-functional teams including autonomy, software, hardware engineers and product leads, to define test requirements

Analyze post-flight data using tools like MATLAB, Simulink, or Python-based tools; identify trends, anomalies, and performance gaps

Track and document flight squawks, ensuring proper resolution and traceability

Ensure test instrumentation and sensor integration are safe for flight and meet system design intent

Conduct thorough technical risk assessments and ensure compliance with FAA and internal safety regulations

Document test results, root cause analyses, and corrective actions; communicate findings to both internal and external stakeholders

Contribute to the standardization of test documentation, tools, and processes across programs

Coordinate with private and government test ranges to conduct flight testing and obtain appropriate regulatory approvals

Qualification

Flight Test EngineeringUAV SystemsTest Data AnalysisFAA RegulationsMATLABPythonTechnical WritingCommunication SkillsOrganizational SkillsCollaboration

Required

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Robotics, or a related field; may substitute equivalent hands-on experience in lieu of a degree

Minimum 5 years of experience as a flight test engineer, with a strong emphasis on autonomous, or remotely piloted systems

2+ years of RPIC experience

U.S. Citizenship required due to ITAR regulations & the ability to obtain and maintain a Department of Defense (DoD) security clearance

Willingness to obtain a FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate

Familiarity with flight documentation including checklists, test cards, and post-flight reports

Experience working collaboratively with technical teams to provide feedback on system performance and reliability

Demonstrated ability to design, coordinate, and execute full lifecycle flight test programs, including planning, instrumentation, and reporting

Experience creating and executing test procedures for system integration, performance evaluation, and regulatory compliance

Proven skill in collecting and analyzing test data, identifying anomalies, and recommending design improvements

Familiarity with FAA regulations, military airspace, and safety protocols for UAS operations

Experience reading engineering design documents, system architectures, and customer requirements

Strong communication and organizational skills; ability to clearly present technical information to cross-functional teams and customers

Strong technical writing skills for documentation, SOPs, and manufacturing procedures

Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint)

Preferred

7+ years of experience as a flight test engineer, with a strong emphasis on autonomous, or remotely piloted systems

FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate

Experience supporting or participating in defense or military flight test environments

Experience writing test plans for FAA certification programs and producing customer-facing reports

Proficient in MATLAB, Simulink, or similar tools for analyzing and visualizing test data

Hands-on experience with flight instrumentation, telemetry systems, and data acquisition tools

Proficiency with C++, Python, or scripting for automation and data post-processing

Background in signal processing techniques and instrumentation design

Experience applying Design of Experiments (DOE) or similar methods for system testing and optimization

Strong understanding of environmental test standards (MIL-STD, RTCA/DO, etc.) and experience designing tests to these specifications

Comfortable in a startup or rapid R&D environment, with evolving scope and high autonomy

Familiarity with UAS simulation tools and environments used in autonomous systems development

FAA Class III (or higher) Medical Certificate

Benefits

Comprehensive medical, dental, and visions plans

401(k) Retirement Savings Plan to invest in your long-term retirement goals

Equity grants for new hires

Unlimited PTO

Extremely generous company holiday calendar, including a holiday hiatus in November, & December.

Generous Parental Leave

Lifestyle Spending Account

FSA

DCFSA

HSA

Hospital Indemnity insurance

Critical Illness insurance

Accident insurance

Basic Life/AD&D, short-term and long-term disability insurance, 100% covered by Firestorm. Plus, the option to purchase additional life insurance for you and your family.

Mental Health Resources: We provide free mental health resources 24/7 including therapy and more. Additional work-life services, such as free legal and financial support, are available to you as well.