Flight Test Engineer

Elroy Air; Byron; On-site; CAD 123,000 - 188,000; Full time

Job summary

Elroy Air is seeking a Flight Test Engineer to contribute to the development and certification of their autonomous VTOL cargo aircraft. This role involves planning, executing, and analyzing flight tests, collaborating with a multidisciplinary team to ensure the performance and safety of innovative aircraft systems. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in aerospace engineering and flight testing, with a passion for advancing the future of logistics.

Benefits

Competitive salary + equity package

Comprehensive insurance including medical, dental, vision

401(k) with broad investment options

Paid parental leave

Flexible vacation policy

Qualifications

• 4+ years of experience in flight testing or a related engineering field.
• Strong understanding of aircraft systems and flight test principles.
• Familiarity with UAS regulations and certification requirements.

Responsibilities

• Develop detailed ground and flight test plans for autonomous VTOL aircraft.
• Execute flight tests and analyze performance data.
• Ensure compliance with FAA and UAS regulations during flight tests.

Skills

Problem-solving

Analytical skills

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

MATLAB

LabVIEW

Job description

Join to apply for the Flight Test Engineer role at Elroy Air.

The Flight Test Engineer at Elroy Air will play a crucial role in the development and certification of Chaparral, our autonomous VTOL cargo aircraft. This role involves the comprehensive planning, execution, and analysis of flight test activities to validate the performance, safety, and reliability of our innovative aircraft systems. You will collaborate closely with a multidisciplinary team of engineers, pilots, and technicians, working to advance the future of middle-mile logistics.

Responsibilities

1. Test Planning: Develop detailed ground and flight test plans, procedures, and test cards for autonomous VTOL aircraft. This includes defining test objectives, parameters, and instrumentation needs. Collaborate with engineers to align plans with system requirements and certification, and manage test schedules and risk assessments.
2. Flight Testing: Execute flight tests for autonomous systems like navigation, control, and cargo handling. Operate data acquisition systems to collect and analyze performance data. Evaluate system reliability in various flight conditions and contribute to optimizing VTOL and forward flight profiles.
3. Data Analysis and Reporting: Process and analyze flight test data to evaluate system performance and identify deviations. Generate comprehensive reports with data summaries, analysis results, and conclusions. Contribute recommendations for aircraft design and performance improvements.
4. System Integration and Validation: Participate in integrating and validating aircraft sub-systems. Collaborate with engineering teams to debug and resolve identified issues.
5. Safety and Compliance: Adhere to all safety regulations and company policies during flight tests, especially for autonomous operations. Ensure compliance with FAA and UAS regulations. Participate in safety reviews and risk assessments.
6. Instrumentation and Modeling: Set up and maintain flight test instrumentation. Utilize modeling and simulation to predict aircraft performance, comparing results with flight test data, for VTOL and forward flights.

Our Ideal Candidate

1. Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
2. 4+ years of experience in flight testing or a related engineering field, preferably with experience in autonomous systems or VTOL aircraft.
3. Strong understanding of aircraft systems, flight test principles, with a focus on autonomous flight.
4. Proficiency in instrumentation, data acquisition, and analysis tools (e.g., MATLAB, LabVIEW).
5. Familiarity with UAS regulations and certification requirements.
6. Excellent problem-solving, analytical, communication, and interpersonal skills.
7. Ability to work in demanding environments, including flight test operations.

Bonus Points For

1. Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering or a related field.
2. 8+ years of experience in flight testing or a related engineering field, preferably with experience in autonomous systems or VTOL aircraft.
3. Experience with DOD customer aircraft programs.
4. Knowledge of risk management practices related to autonomous flight.
5. Experience with modeling and simulation.

What’s In It For You

• Competitive salary + equity package.
• Comprehensive insurance including medical, dental, vision, long-term disability, and life insurance.
• 401(k) with broad investment options, paid parental leave, and flexible vacation policy.
• Work with a diverse, skilled team.
• Help define a new category of aerospace, logistics, and robotics systems.
• Shape and influence company culture as an early team member.

Salary range: $123,000 - $187,500 per year.

We encourage applications even if your background isn't an exact match, as many team members come from nontraditional paths.

This position requires access to U.S. export-controlled information and compliance with relevant laws.

Elroy Air manages its recruitment directly and does not engage external agencies without written agreements.

Additional Details

• Seniority level: Mid-Senior level
• Employment type: Full-time
• Job function: Engineering and IT
• Industries: Aviation and Aerospace Component Manufacturing