Flight Operations Engineer / Pilot

Poseidon Aerospace • San Francisco, CA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

As a Flight Operations Engineer at Poseidon Aerospace, you will plan, execute, and oversee flight operations for our next-generation autonomous aircraft. You'll lead both developmental and operational flight testing, acting as the remote pilot in command (RPIC) while coordinating test logistics, flight procedures, and safety operations. This role bridges engineering and flight, requiring a deep understanding of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) and the ability to translate technical objectives into safe, efficient, and repeatable flight operations.

Requirements

• Experience operating Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) or Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) in test or operational environments
• Strong understanding of flight test principles, safety management, and system validation
• Knowledge of airspace coordination, mission planning software, and regulatory requirements (Part 107, COA, or experimental certification)
• Familiarity with telemetry systems, flight data logging, and postflight analysis
• Ability to write and maintain detailed test documentation, SOPs, and operational guidelines
• Comfortable working in a hands-on test environment with evolving aircraft configurations
• Collaborative mindset with strong communication skills across engineering and operations teams
• Ability to balance disciplined flight operations with startup-level agility and decision-making

Nice To Haves

• Experience as an RPIC for large or complex UAS platforms (Group 3–5, e.g., Reaper, Global Hawk, or similar)
• Background in aerospace, mechanical, or systems engineering
• Experience with flight test instrumentation and telemetry ground stations
• Knowledge of remote pilot interface systems, autopilot tuning, and mission control workflows
• Experience supporting or leading field test campaigns for new aircraft platforms
• Manned or unmanned pilot experience beyond Part 107
• Familiarity with X-Plane or other simulation environments

Responsibilities

• Define and manage flight test plans, objectives, and procedures for aircraft development and validation
• Operate Poseidon aircraft as the Remote Pilot in Command (RPIC) during flight testing and operational demonstrations
• Lead flight readiness reviews, preflight briefings, and postflight debriefings with engineering and test teams
• Work closely with avionics, propulsion, and airframe engineers to ensure flight systems are configured, tested, and documented correctly
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs), emergency checklists, and flight manuals
• Analyze flight data and provide feedback to engineering teams for system tuning, safety improvements, and performance validation
• Ensure all operations comply with FAA regulations and internal safety management protocols
• Plan and coordinate ground operations, range logistics, and communications infrastructure for test campaigns
• Inform the long-term operational strategy, including autonomous and remote-pilot operational concepts

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed