FPV Product Development & Integration Engineer

RED CAT HOLDINGS•South Salt Lake, UT

About The Position

The FPV Product Development & Integration Engineer will lead the design, integration, testing, and operational validation of next-generation FPV unmanned aerial systems with an emphasis on high-performance, tactically relevant FPV platforms. This role is built for an expert FPV pilot who understands FPV systems from the ground up—airframes, propulsion, power, RF links, video pipelines, human-machine interfaces, and real-world operational constraints. The successful candidate will operate as both a hands-on FPV pilot and a technical integration lead, driving FPV capability development from concept through live-fly experimentation and transition to production. This position sits at the intersection of rapid prototyping, RDT&E, and mission-driven system design, ensuring FPV platforms deliver survivability, lethality, reliability, and operator effectiveness in operationally realistic environments.

Requirements

Expert-level FPV pilot with extensive real-world flight experience (manual acro, low-latency FPV, high-speed and precision flying).
5+ years of experience in UAS, FPV system development, integration engineering, or defense/advanced technology programs.
Deep, hands-on knowledge of FPV systems, including: Motors, ESCs, batteries, and power systems Analog and digital FPV video systems RF control links, antennas, and link optimization Flight controllers and tuning
Proven experience leading rapid prototyping, integration, and live-fly testing.
Solidworks or 3D modeling experience.
Ability to manage multiple concurrent development efforts in fast-paced environments.
Strong technical writing and communication skills.
Experience working with government, defense, or operational stakeholders.
Willingness to travel up to 50%.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related technical field, or equivalent hands-on experience.
Military, SOF, or operational FPV experience.
Experience with denied or contested RF environments.
Background in low-cost, attritable, or expendable UAS design.
Familiarity with government experimentation events and RDT&E processes.

Responsibilities

Lead the development and evolution of next-generation FPV platforms, including airframes, propulsion, power systems, avionics, RF/video links, payload integration, and pilot interfaces.
Translate operational FPV pilot feedback and Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS) requirements into concrete engineering requirements and system improvements.
Evaluate and integrate emerging FPV technologies (motors, ESCs, batteries, video systems, radios, antennas, sensors, and compute).
Draft and manage Product Requirement Documents (PRDs) specifically tailored to FPV capability sets.
Define FPV system needs, performance thresholds, and operational use cases.
Maintain traceability between FPV PRD requirements and flight testing, validation, and design iterations.
Coordinate with engineers, operators, and government stakeholders to validate requirements and concepts.
Partner with technical writers to ensure documentation accurately reflects real FPV system performance and constraints.
Serve as the SPiDRWORX technical lead for FPV development, with emphasis on pilot workload, latency, ergonomics, and situational awareness.
Drive optimization of: FPV video pipelines (latency, resolution, robustness) Control interfaces and pilot input mapping Head-tracking, display integration, and controller ergonomics
Collaborate with software and firmware teams to implement, debug, and validate FPV control and video systems across multiple hardware configurations.
Act as the technical lead for FPV-focused RDT&E, including rapid prototyping, bench testing, and aggressive live-flight experimentation.
Design and execute system-level FPV integration test plans, including instrumentation, data capture, and repeatable flight profiles.
Personally fly FPV test articles to validate handling, reliability, RF/video performance, and mission effectiveness.
Analyze test data to identify performance gaps, failure modes, and improvement opportunities.
Lead subsystem validation (airframe, propulsion, power, RF, video, flight controls, payloads).
Produce technical test reports supporting design decisions, qualification, and transition to production.
Support government and internal experimentation events, including preparation of technical objectives, metrics, and demonstration packages.
Provide on-site engineering and FPV pilot support for test and demo events in operationally relevant environments
Interface with design, manufacturing, and systems engineering teams to transition validated FPV capabilities into production-ready baselines.
Support integration of third-party FPV components and partner technologies.
Collaborate closely with the Director of SPiDRWORX to align FPV development with strategic objectives.