UAV Flight Test Engineer - Lead Field Tests

Randstad Digital; Salisbury; On-site; GBP 48,000 - 73,000; Full time

Job summary

Randstad Digital is seeking a hands-on Flight Test Engineer (UAV) to drive ground and flight evaluation of next-generation unmanned systems. You will operate at the crossroads of flight operations, engineering, and data analysis to translate bench work into successful flight campaigns.

In a fast-paced, startup-style environment, you will solve problems without a playbook, get hands dirty in the field, and lead tests from planning to reporting.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of hands-on flight test or flight dynamics experience with unmanned aerial systems.
• Proven experience operating UAVs as a pilot/operator during live testing (qualifications preferred).
• Experience processing flight logs and telemetry using Python or MATLAB.
• Ability to build test plans, safety procedures, and risk analyses from scratch.
• Strong knowledge of airworthiness, risk mitigation, and field test safety protocols.

Responsibilities

• Create comprehensive flight-test plans, safety procedures, hazard analyses, and test cards.
• Oversee pre-flight integration, system calibration, bench tests, and ground-power checks.
• Lead field test execution as UAV Remote Pilot / Air Boss and collect key telemetry.
• Process and analyze log files to evaluate stability, handling, and performance.
• Prepare clear, actionable reports and brief engineering teams for design iterations.

Skills

Flight test engineering

Python

MATLAB

UAV operations

Agile mindset

Tools

Python

MATLAB

PX4/Logstash

Job description

Randstad Digital is seeking a hands-on Flight Test Engineer (UAV) to drive ground and flight evaluation of next-generation unmanned systems. You will operate at the crossroads of flight operations, engineering, and data analysis to translate bench work into successful flight campaigns.

In a fast-paced, startup-style environment, you will solve problems without a playbook, get hands dirty in the field, and lead tests from planning to reporting.