Firestorm Labs
UAS Test Pilot, RPIC
$92K–$138K
San Diego, United States · On-site · Full-time · Posted Aug 5, 2026
- Experience
- Minimum 5 years piloting fixed-wing Group 1–3 UAS; 2+ years of RPIC experience. Preferred: 7+ years piloting such UAS.
- Education
- Preferred: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related field; equivalent hands-on experience may substitute for a degree.
- Visa sponsorship
- U.S. citizenship is required due to ITAR regulations, along with the ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance. Export-control eligibility also includes U.S. lawful permanent residents, protected individuals under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or others eligible to obtain required authorizations.
About the job
Pilots fixed-wing UAVs through developmental testing, training, and demonstrations while managing flight readiness, test operations, safety, and regulatory compliance.
What you'll do
- Pilot UAVs, conduct Functional Check Flights, and support test campaigns and demonstrations.
- Plan flight test events, coordinate logistics and approvals, and manage aircraft readiness and flight-critical inventory.
- Train and evaluate RPICs and Safety Pilots, document and analyze test data, and provide feedback to engineering teams.
What they ask for
- At least 5 years piloting fixed-wing Group 1–3 UAS, including autonomous and/or remotely piloted systems.
- At least 2 years of RPIC experience.
- FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate.
- U.S. citizenship and 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 testing.
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related field, or equivalent hands-on experience; familiarity with UAS simulation tools or hardware.
Pay
$92,000 - $138,000 USD (base salary)
Tools
Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint), Python, C++
Model-written summary · the original posting is authoritative