Senior Flight Test Engineer

Auterion•Manassas, VA

About The Position

Auterion is seeking a Senior Flight Test Engineer for its US Flight Operations team. The role combines engineering rigor and expert airmanship to test, validate, and demonstrate multi-platform unmanned systems for enterprise and government customers. The engineer plans, flies, and analyzes tests across Group 1–3 platforms, including VTOL, fixed-wing, multirotor, and FPV aircraft, as well as multi-vehicle swarm operations. The role owns test objectives from planning through execution and reporting, represents Auterion with customers, and helps shape product performance and customer confidence. It is suited to a safety-minded engineer and pilot who adapts quickly to unfamiliar platforms, flies precisely under pressure, and can mentor others. The position also involves hands-on aircraft maintenance, field campaign planning, customer demonstrations, and collaboration with Engineering and Product. The engineer is expected to develop subject-matter expertise in Auterion hardware and software, including Skynode, PX4, AuterionOS, Auterion Mission Control, and Auterion Suite. Travel is up to 60%.

Requirements

Technical degree in aerospace, mechatronics, robotics, mechanical, electrical, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
Structured, data-driven approach to testing.
Demonstrated piloting experience across a variety of UAS, including VTOL, fixed-wing, and multirotor aircraft across Group 1–3, and experience piloting swarms with multiple vehicles operated at once.
Broad flight-hour history and ability to adapt quickly to new airframes.
Strong hands-on FPV piloting skills; FPV experience is required.
Prior experience in flight test, military or government UAS operations, or a comparable aviation or robotics test environment.
Ability to write test plans and test cards and report test results.
Experience building, tuning, maintaining, and repairing drones.
Ability to brief, fly, and communicate clearly and calmly with warfighters, program offices, and technical stakeholders.
Knowledge of U.S. safety regulations for testing and flying UAS.
FAA Part 107 certification, or ability to obtain it.
U.S. citizenship.

Nice To Haves

Soldering, wiring, and assembly skills.
Familiarity with the PX4 ecosystem, ground control stations such as QGroundControl and Auterion Mission Control, and flight log analysis tools.
Additional pilot ratings, such as manned aircraft ratings or military UAS qualifications.

Responsibilities

Develop flight test plans, test cards, and success criteria; execute developmental, integration, and acceptance flights across VTOL, fixed-wing, quadcopter, and FPV Group 1–3 platforms.
Transition quickly to new and non-COTS aircraft, building and documenting platform-specific proficiency, handling-qualities knowledge, and emergency procedures.
Conduct FPV testing, evaluation, and demonstrations, including high-precision, low-altitude, and dynamic maneuvering.
Plan and fly multi-vehicle swarm operations, including launch, recovery, and deconfliction; evaluate swarm behavior, inter-vehicle communication, operator workload, and safe operation of multiple aircraft.
Own test data collection, log analysis, and reporting; document whether objectives were met and provide clear findings and recommendations.
Lead and fly customer-facing demonstrations for DoD and enterprise stakeholders, helping operators understand and trust the system.
Validate aircraft, ground control stations, radios, and payloads together in intended configurations, including communication-loss and GPS-loss behavior and expected operating environments.
Translate product requirements and new features into test objectives; provide actionable feedback to Engineering on design, process, and quality, and drive root-cause analysis of failures.
Maintain, inspect, repair, and control configurations of test vehicles to keep aircraft airworthy.
Apply range safety, risk assessment, and go/no-go discipline; champion safe operating procedures across the team.
Coach junior pilots and engineers on airmanship, test discipline, and platform knowledge, and help establish proficiency and training standards.
Lead logistics and setup for off-site test campaigns and deployments.
Develop in-depth knowledge of Auterion hardware and software, including Skynode, PX4, AuterionOS, Auterion Mission Control, and Auterion Suite.