Flight Test Engineer

The Flight Test Engineer at Elroy Air will drive the development and certification of Chaparral, our autonomous VTOL cargo aircraft reshaping middle-mile logistics. You'll architect and execute flight test programs that push the boundaries of autonomous flight systems, working with engineers, pilots, and technicians to validate performance in real-world operations.

Responsibilities

• Test Planning : Develop detailed ground and flight test plans, procedures, and test cards for autonomous VTOL aircraft. Define test objectives, parameters, and instrumentation needs while collaborating with engineers to align plans with certification requirements and manage risk assessments.
• Flight Testing : Conduct flight tests for autonomous systems including navigation, control, cargo handling, and mission autonomy systems. Operate data acquisition systems during flight tests to collect real-time performance data and evaluate system reliability across flight conditions and VTOL / forward flight profiles.
• Data Analysis and Reporting : Analyze and interpret flight test data to evaluate system performance and identify deviations from expected results. Generate timely, comprehensive reports with data summaries, analysis results, and conclusions. Provide actionable recommendations for aircraft design and performance improvements.
• System Integration and Validation : Participate in system integration testing and validation activities for aircraft subsystems. Collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams to troubleshoot issues and verify system performance against specifications.
• Instrumentation and Modeling : Configure, calibrate, and maintain flight test instrumentation systems. Utilize modeling and simulation to predict aircraft performance, comparing simulated predictions with actual flight performance to validate models and improve accuracy.
• Safety and Compliance : Ensure strict adherence to safety protocols and company policies during flight tests, with particular emphasis on autonomous operations. Maintain compliance with FAA and UAS regulations while participating in safety reviews and risk assessments.

Our Ideal Candidate

Bonus Points For

What's In It For You

The salary range for this position is $123,000 - $187,500 a year. We strongly encourage applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds and experiences—many of our most valuable team members have taken non-traditional paths to aerospace. If you're passionate about autonomous flight and transforming logistics, we want to hear from you.

Please note : This position requires eligibility to access export-controlled technology under U.S. regulations, and any employment offer will be contingent on meeting these requirements. Elroy Air manages all recruiting activities internally through our People & Places team and does not work with external recruiting agencies unless under written agreement.

Elroy Air is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates.

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