Drone Test Pilot & Tech, C-UAS

Sphere-Defense; Brussel; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock Options Plan

Mobility Budget

32 days of holidays

Meal vouchers

Private Health insurance

Year-end bonus eligibility

Job summary

Sphere Defense in Brussels is seeking a highly motivated Drone Test Pilot to advance early UAS prototypes, including fixed-wing, VTOL and quadcopters, for defense applications. You will assemble, test and evaluate end-to-end systems, working closely with Lab, Test and Engineering teams on a tight feedback loop.

Travel across Europe for test campaigns, demonstrations with governmental and industry stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree, Technical High School diploma or equivalent.
• Experience assembling and piloting RC models (FPV or VLOS).
• Experience selecting components for jet- and electric-powered RC models.
• Knowledge of EASA flight safety regulations for UASs.
• Exceptional hands-on abilities in electronics, cabling, mechanical assembly.
• Experience with soldering, assembling and repairing electronic boards.
• Ability to use 3D printers to customize models.
• Experience in an R&D laboratory.
• Fluent English; Dutch or French is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Pilot and evaluate early UAS prototypes (fixed wing, VTOL, quadcopters) for defense applications.
• Assemble and test early UAS prototypes end-to-end, working with Lab, Test and Engineering teams.
• Travel over Europe for test campaigns and demonstrations with governmental and industry stakeholders.
• Be a team player and a mentor, supporting and growing the team when needed.

Skills

Drone piloting

FPV piloting

VLOS piloting

Soldering

Electronics assembly

3D printing

Mentoring

English proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

PX4 flight controller

Job description

Who we are

Sphere Defense is a fully funded startup with the mission of providing state-nations in Europe with sovereign, effective and affordable countermeasures to neutralize todays’ and tomorrow’s aerial threats.

Sphere Defense was founded by industry veterans with previous successful exits, and is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, in the heart of Europe.

About you

You are a highly-motivated Drone Test Pilot that has exceptional hands‑on capabilities and is an expert in flying RC planes and models. Ideally, you have multiple years of experience in assembling, testing and piloting FPV and VLOS jet- and electric-powered models.

Location:

Onsite in Brussels, Belgium. Our office is close to Central Station.

Reports to:

Chief Technology Officer

What you’ll do

• Pilot and evaluate early UAS prototypes (fixed wing, VTOL, quadcopters) for defense applications

• Assemble and test early UAS prototypes end‑to‑end, working side‑by‑side with the Lab, Test and Engineering teams in a tight feedback loop

• Travel over Europe and abroad for test campaigns, exercises and demonstrations with governmental and industry stakeholders

• Be a team player and a mentor, being available to support and grow the team when needed

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree, Technical High School diploma or equivalent

• Demonstrated experience in assembling and piloting RC models (fixed-wing, quadcopters) in FPV or VLOS

• Experience selecting components for and assembling jet- and electric-powered RC models

• Knowledge of EASA flight safety regulations for UASs

• Exceptional hands‑on abilities in the field of electronics, cabling, mechanical assembly

• Experience with soldering, assembling and repairing electronic boards

• Ability to use 3D printers to customize models

• Experience in working within an R&D laboratory

• Excellent spoken and written English, Dutch or French is a plus

Preferential qualifications

• Experience with the PX4 flight controller

What we offer

• Attractive compensation

• Year‑end bonus eligibility

• Stock Options Plan

• Mobility Budget

• 32 days of holidays

• Meal vouchers

• Private Health insurance

We are building a core team of hard‑working people. If you want to join a company with tremendous impact and you are autonomous, creative and driven, we want to hear from you!

Sphere Defense offers attractive compensation, stock options, and a unique opportunity to change the global defense landscape.

This role is only open to candidates with right to work in Belgium. We cannot provide visa sponsorship at this time.