Production Flight Test Manager (Drones)

TL;DR

Production Flight Test Manager (Drones): Managing post-production quality and acceptance flight testing for unmanned aircraft systems with an accent on test execution, metric tracking (FPY), and regulatory compliance. Focus on identifying failure trends and driving corrective actions across engineering and manufacturing teams.

Location: Salt Lake City, UT. Must provide proof of U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Residence (ITAR/EAR restrictions).

Company

hirify.global is a technology company creating world-class unmanned aircraft system solutions for defense, public safety, and government security applications.

What you will do

• Manage Production Flight Test personnel, including scheduling, coaching, professional development, and accountability.
• Lead daily coordination meetings to align flight priorities, aircraft readiness, and delivery schedules.
• Own and maintain the post-production flight testing schedule for all sUAS platforms to ensure timely release.
• Track and report key quality metrics including First Pass Yield (FPY), reject rates, and acceptance cycle time.
• Identify recurring defects and partner with Manufacturing, Engineering, and Software teams to drive resolution.
• Ensure all flight activities comply with FAA rules, company policies, and airspace requirements.

Requirements

• 2 to 3 years of experience in a management or leadership role.
• Proven experience in flight test planning and execution.
• Part 107 FAA Remote Pilot Certificate required (or willingness to obtain).
• Must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident due to ITAR/EAR restrictions.
• Advanced knowledge of UAS systems, including multi-rotor, fixed-wing, and VTOL platforms.
• Experience analyzing test data and reporting operational metrics like FPY and defect trends.

Nice to have

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Aviation Technology, or equivalent.
• Experience as a UAS professional pilot, military pilot, or graduate of a Test Pilot School (TPS).
• Technical experience with PX4, ArduPilot, MAVLink, and QGroundControl.
• Proficiency with Atlassian products such as Jira and Confluence.
• Experience with fixed-wing and FPV drones (including hobby or racing experience).

Culture & Benefits

• Competitive base pay.
• Generous annual equity package.
• Potential for performance-based bonuses.
• Opportunity to lead a critical function in a rapidly growing defense technology company.