Senior Systems Engineer & Technical Project Manager

RED CAT HOLDINGS • Salt Lake City, UT

4d • Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a highly versatile Senior Systems Engineer & Technical Project Manager to join our Group. In this role, you will bridge the gap between advanced R&D, system-level integration, and field validation for next-generation unmanned platforms. The ideal candidate is a hands-on engineer with a systems-level mindset who can seamlessly transition from writing code and integrating hardware to leading complex flight test campaigns. As a dual-hatted technical lead and project manager, you will drive capability evaluations, translate field data into actionable engineering requirements, and interface with critical stakeholders across commercial and defense sectors.

Requirements

• B.S. in Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, or a related technical discipline.
• Deep expertise in open-source flight stacks (PX4, ArduPilot), communication protocols (MAVLink), and middleware (ROS2).
• Familiarity with QGroundControl, DroneTag, or similar tools.
• Strong proficiency in Python and C/C++ for system-level integration.
• Experience with CAD software (Fusion360) and computer vision libraries (OpenCV).
• Proven track record of logging extensive flight hours, managing FAA-compliant field operations, and leading hands-on system verification programs.
• Ability to synthesize complex flight logs, telemetry data, and orthomosaic imagery into actionable performance data.
• Must be able to walk, stand, and navigate large indoor and outdoor facilities for extended periods of time.
• Ability to lift, carry, and move materials and equipment weighing up to 25 lbs on a regular basis.
• May be required to climb ladders, stoop, kneel, or crouch during inspections, maintenance walk-throughs, or emergency response situations.
• Requires frequent use of a computer and other standard office equipment for documentation, communication, and coordination tasks.
• Must provide proof of U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Residence and must not require sponsorship for export-restricted work authorization.

Nice To Haves

• Previous involvement in C-UAS test campaigns, capability evaluation, or requirements analysis for defense/DoD applications.
• Experience working in a QA or Validation Engineering capacity within an aerospace or drone manufacturing environment.
• Experience utilizing Python-based data science techniques to support capability evaluation and hardware-in-the-loop testing.
• A secondary degree, minor, or proven experience in business, finance, or general operations to support strategic project management and resource allocation.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end hardware and software integration for novel UAS platforms, managing bring-up, compatibility validation, and rapid prototyping of complex payloads (e.g., thermal sensors, custom dispensers).
• Design, plan, and execute rigorous ground and flight test campaigns. Develop test cards, manage flight execution, and oversee post-test telemetry and log analysis to validate system stability and perception.
• Act as the primary technical PM to track system requirements, collect test artifacts, and turn field issues into documented engineering fixes.
• Build data pipelines and analysis frameworks to evaluate UAS flight control, C2 integration, and operational deployment metrics for strategic stakeholders (including DoD and enterprise partners).
• Develop automated test suites, analysis dashboards, and pre-flight simulation environments to reduce operational risk and accelerate validation cycles.

Benefits

• Equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior