Drone Pilot / UAS Test Operator (Aerospace & Defense)

Location: El Segundo, California, with regular testing trips to the Mojave desert

Company

Stealth-mode aerospace and defense startup developing next-generation aerial targets and autonomous flight systems.

What you will do

• Pilot high-performance RC jets, fixed-wing target drones, multirotor systems, and custom R&D platforms during ground and flight testing.
• Prepare, configure, assemble, repair, and rapidly turn around aircraft and propulsion systems.
• Set up transmitters, radios, telemetry, FPV links, batteries, propulsion systems, and safety equipment.
• Support ArduPilot-based autopilot integration, manual flight characterization, PID tuning, navigation configuration, and failsafe testing.
• Operate ground control stations, RF links, and telemetry systems while contributing to test cards, range coordination, risk reviews, and incident analysis.
• Provide real-time flight feedback to flight software, GNC, mechanical, and systems engineering teams.

Requirements

• At least 3 years of experience flying RC aircraft, drones, or UAS, including both fixed-wing and multirotor systems.
• Demonstrated ability to fly high-performance or high-speed aircraft such as EDF or turbine jets.
• Experience with RC transmitters, flight modes, failsafes, and standard radio protocols.
• Ability to diagnose and repair basic airframe, propulsion, and avionics issues under time pressure.
• Familiarity with ArduPilot, Mission Planner, QGroundControl, or similar autopilot ecosystems.
• Ability to travel for flight tests and work in outdoor environments.

Nice to have

• Experience with large or heavy-lift multirotors, hybrid VTOL systems, autonomous flight testing, or flight-data review.
• Experience tuning ArduPilot, PX4, Betaflight, or other autopilot systems.
• Experience with high-speed FPV, long-range links, or high-G maneuvering aircraft.
• FAA Part 107 certification.
• Background in aerospace, robotics, or mechanical/electrical engineering.

Culture & Benefits

• Hands-on, mission-critical work across multiple flight-test and development programs.
• Collaboration with flight software, GNC, mechanical, and systems engineering teams.
• Field operations include equipment setup, teardown, transportation, safety briefings, and range activities.
• Fast-paced environment focused on solving complex aerospace and defense problems.