Senior Flight Test Engineer

Firestorm•San Diego, CA

12d•$95,000 - $165,000•Onsite

About The Position

Firestorm Labs is seeking an experienced Senior Flight Test Engineer to join our Flight Test Team. We are advancing flight control and automation technology through rigorous and continuous flight testing. As a Senior Flight Test Engineer, you will play a key role in validating and maturing Firestorm’s UAV platforms across a wide range of mission profiles and test environments. In this role, you will lead the design and execution of detailed flight test plans and ground tests, prioritize flight safety at every stage, and work directly with our flight test team, autonomy engineers and aircraft integration teams. You’ll provide technical guidance in the integration of test objectives, instrumentation and data systems. This position is ideal for a highly capable engineer who thrives in complex test environments, understands both systems-level design and hands-on execution, and is eager to shape the next generation of uncrewed aerial vehicles. You’ll act as a test conductor during flights, run test readiness and debriefs, and generate technical artifacts that support internal development and customer deliverables.

Requirements

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)

Nice To Haves

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

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

Benefits

We offer 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.