Fixed Wing/Drone Pilot - Research and Development - sUAS

We are seeking a highly skilled drone Pilot with advanced acro mode/fixed wing/helicopter flight experience for visual line-of-sight and FPV operation. This role focuses on hands-on drone testing and evaluation to support the development of next-generation UAS technologies. You'll work closely with systems and flight engineers to provide actionable flight data and feedback that drive design improvements and system reliability.

This position is fully on-site at our Oakland, California office, with travel to our test site in Tracy, CA.

You're excited about this opportunity because you will

• Operate small and mid-size multi-rotor and fixed-wing UAS platforms in acro mode and manual mode within visual line of sight (VLOS) environments.

• High degree of ownership and direct involvement with the engineering team

• Prototype and assemble drones for test, including soldering, assembly, 3d printing, and some mechanical fabrication.

• Conduct test flights, calibration routines, and performance evaluations under engineering supervision.

• Contribute to iterative design reviews, prototype evaluations, and test readiness reviews.

We're excited about you because you have

• FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate

• 1+ year of consistent acro mode and/or fixed wing flight experience under visual line of sight

• Experience with prototyping tools (soldering, assembly, 3d printing)

• Demonstrated experience with multi-rotor UAS operations (required).

• Proven FPV flying background and ability to demonstrate control precision in manual mode.

• Working knowledge of FAA small UAS regulations and operational best practices.

• Excellent communication skills and ability to translate flight behavior into engineering insights.

• Strong situational awareness and adherence to test-site safety standards.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with fixed-wing RC aircraft or helicopters.

• Familiarity with flight controller such as PX4 or ArduPilot

• Technical background in UAS systems, aerodynamics, or flight controls integration.

• Ability to record and share video footage of recent acro line-of-sight FPV flights for evaluation.

• Previous work in structured flight test environments or R&D programs.