Firestorm Labs
UAS Test Pilot, EP
$92K–$121K
San Diego, United States · On-site · Full-time · Posted Aug 5, 2026
- Experience
- Minimum 5 years; preferred 7+ years piloting fixed-wing Group 1-3 UAS, including autonomous and/or remotely piloted systems.
- Education
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related field; equivalent hands-on experience may be substituted.
- Visa sponsorship
- To comply with U.S. export control regulations, applicants must be U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, protected individuals as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or otherwise eligible to obtain required U.S. Department of State or Department of Commerce authorizations.
About the job
Pilot fixed-wing UAVs and support flight operations, testing, fleet readiness, and field deployments while ensuring safety and regulatory compliance.
What you'll do
- Pilot UAVs and perform Safety Pilot duties during testing, training, and operations; conduct Functional Check Flights as needed.
- Prepare and maintain aircraft and fleet readiness, including configuration checks, troubleshooting, maintenance coordination, and logistics for demonstrations and deployments.
- Support test planning and execution; document flight data, maintenance, and discrepancies and provide feedback to engineering teams.
What they ask for
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related field, or equivalent hands-on experience.
- Minimum 5 years piloting fixed-wing Group 1-3 UAS, including autonomous and/or remotely piloted systems.
- FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate; experience serving as RPIC and/or Safety Pilot.
- U.S. citizenship required; ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance.
Nice to have
- 7+ years piloting fixed-wing Group 1-3 UAS.
- Experience in defense or military flight test environments; familiarity with UAS simulation tools; working knowledge of FAA Part 91 and relevant military airspace regulations.
Pay
$92,000 - $121,000 USD (base salary)
Tools
UAS, UAVs, FAA Part 107, FAA Part 91, Microsoft Office Suite, Excel, Word, Outlook
Model-written summary · the original posting is authoritative