Flight Test Engineer

Elroy Air • Byron, CA

90d • $123,000 - $187,500

About The Position

The Flight Test Engineer at Elroy Air will drive the development and certification of Chaparral, our autonomous VTOL cargo aircraft reshaping middle-mile logistics. You'll architect and execute flight test programs that push the boundaries of autonomous flight systems, working with engineers, pilots, and technicians to validate performance in real-world operations. This role offers the chance to tackle cutting-edge challenges in vertical flight and autonomy while directly impacting how critical supplies reach communities worldwide.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• 4+ years of flight test engineering experience with preference for autonomous systems, VTOL aircraft, or UAS operations.
• Deep understanding of flight test methodologies, aircraft systems integration, and autonomous flight control systems.
• Proficiency in instrumentation, data acquisition, and analysis tools (e.g., Python, MATLAB).
• Working knowledge of FAA Part 107, proposed FAA Part 108, and other UAS regulations and certification requirements.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with excellent technical communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively in dynamic flight test environments, including outdoor flight test operations and schedules impacted by weather.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering or a related field.
• 8+ years of experience in flight testing or a related engineering field, with experience in autonomous systems or VTOL aircraft.
• Experience with DOD aircraft programs, and familiarity with military airworthiness processes.
• Experience developing safety cases and risk assessments for novel autonomous aircraft configurations.
• Hands-on experience with flight dynamics modeling and simulation-based test planning.
• Private Pilot's License or higher.
• Certification Experience with DO-178C, DO-254, or similar.

Responsibilities

• Develop detailed ground and flight test plans, procedures, and test cards for autonomous VTOL aircraft.
• Define test objectives, parameters, and instrumentation needs while collaborating with engineers to align plans with certification requirements and manage risk assessments.
• Conduct flight tests for autonomous systems including navigation, control, cargo handling, and mission autonomy systems.
• Operate data acquisition systems during flight tests to collect real-time performance data and evaluate system reliability across flight conditions and VTOL/forward flight profiles.
• Analyze and interpret flight test data to evaluate system performance and identify deviations from expected results.
• Generate timely, comprehensive reports with data summaries, analysis results, and conclusions.
• Provide actionable recommendations for aircraft design and performance improvements.
• Participate in system integration testing and validation activities for aircraft subsystems.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams to troubleshoot issues and verify system performance against specifications.
• Configure, calibrate, and maintain flight test instrumentation systems.
• Utilize modeling and simulation to predict aircraft performance, comparing simulated predictions with actual flight performance to validate models and improve accuracy.
• Ensure strict adherence to safety protocols and company policies during flight tests, with particular emphasis on autonomous operations.
• Maintain compliance with FAA and UAS regulations while participating in safety reviews and risk assessments.

Benefits

• Full medical/dental/vision coverage.
• 401(k) with company matching.
• Generous parental leave.
• Flexible PTO policy.
• Equity package with real upside potential as we scale autonomous cargo operations nationwide.
• Hybrid work options when not conducting flight operations, with a collaborative office culture that values work-life integration.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 51-100 employees