Senior Flight Test Engineer

Senior Flight Test Engineer

Firestorm as a company grew out of the simple question: how does a US ally country with a respectively low defense budget deter an aggressor state entity with a vastly larger war chest? We’re building the very answer to that question, something we call “democratized deterrence.” Firestorm is a VC-backed, defense-meets-Silicon Valley technology company developing mission-adaptable aerial vehicles to put the power back into the hands of the operator. We aim to upend the current defense procurement cost paradigm by bringing world-class capabilities to bear at meaningfully lower costs.

We are seeking a Senior Flight Test Engineer with a passion for innovation to join our growing team. You’ll have the opportunity to lead our flight test campaigns on our additively manufactured UAVs as we continue to push the boundaries of what modular UAVs can do.

*(This position is required to be ON-SITE daily in the San Diego, CA office, and requires forty percent (40%) travel off-site).

RELOCATION is available for the successful candidate.

What You Will Do:

• Lead and engage in developmental testing of autonomous aerial systems, using sub and full-scale unmanned aerial vehicles in a dynamic test environment.
• Create and execute flight test plans that rigorously evaluate the capabilities of autonomous systems, hardware, and software integrations across various mission profiles.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including autonomy, software, hardware engineers, and product leads, to define test requirements.
• Provide critical feedback and insights into the development process, influencing the advancement of uncrewed aerial systems.
• Continuously improve test procedures, safety protocols, and documentation standards to uphold the rigor of all flight test operations.
• Coordinate with private and government test ranges to test and evaluate systems and software.
• Schedule and coordinate test events as well as write and present test reports.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, computer science, robotics, or a related technical field from an accredited institution, or equivalent experience in autonomous systems testing.
• One (1) to five (5) plus years of experience in flight testing, with a strong focus on autonomous or remotely piloted flying systems.
• Proven ability to develop and safely execute test plans for aerial systems within tight deadlines.
• Demonstrated experience working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to meet project milestones and deliverables.
• Excellent communication skills to effectively articulate technical challenges and solutions to diverse audiences.
• Willingness and ability to work flexible hours and travel to various testing locations as needed.
• “US Citizen” status required.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a US Top Secret-Level security clearance.
• Excellent organizational skills and a keen attention to detail.
• Ability to travel up to 40% of the time.
• Valid Drivers License is required and ability to safely operate a motor vehicle.
• Able to lift 25+ pounds as needed.
• Able to work in multiple environmental conditions to include heat, cold, precipitation, and/or wind.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience in developing, testing, and deploying autonomous systems in a defense or aerospace context.
• Graduate of test pilot school.
• Hands-on experience with simulation environments and tools used for testing autonomous systems.
• Familiarity with software development practices and experience with programming languages used in autonomy and robotics (e.g. Python, C++).
• Knowledge of current industry and military standards related to unmanned aerial systems and their operation within the national airspace.
• Strong analytical skills to interpret test data, diagnose system behaviors, and recommend actionable improvements.
• Certified by the FAA to be a Remote Pilot (Part 107).
• Able to obtain FAA medical third class or above.
• Desire and ability to succeed in a startup environment.

Firestorm is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. U.S. Citizenship / U.S. Permanent Resident is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.

Salary Range: 115K - 140K