Autonomous Aircraft Flight Test Operator | Equity Eligible

Perot Jain; California; On-site; USD 47,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Parental leave

Free catered lunch at Alameda office

Equity

Job summary

Pyka is advancing autonomous electric aviation and seeks a Flight Test Operator to test and scale operations of its aircraft and ground infrastructure. You will focus on the continuous operation testing at our California sites, ensuring smooth execution for global customer deployments.

In this multidisciplinary role, clear written and verbal communication is essential as you collaborate with engineering and operations teams.

Qualifications

• 1–3 years of experience flying fixed wing UAVs or large multirotors.
• Experience with ground control and mission planning software.
• 1–5 years of experience with mechanical and electrical systems.
• Basic high voltage safety knowledge and comfortable working on 120 VDC, 20 ~ 30 kW systems.
• Knowledge of aircraft systems, maintenance, and manuals.
• Independent and motivated, able to self‑direct and manage time.
• Extreme thoroughness and attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Located in Solano or Contra Costa County
• Part 61 pilot certificate

Responsibilities

• Execute continuous operations at Pyka’s test sites by identifying and troubleshooting issues, with the remote help of Pyka’s engineering teams
• Conduct reliability test campaigns with Pyka’s autonomous aircraft and ground support infrastructure
• Provide detailed technical feedback to operations and engineering teams to improve Pyka’s product for customer deployment
• Fly and test new hardware and software features
• Conduct diverse fleet site maintenance activities, involving the aircraft itself and ground infrastructure
• Serve as Pilot In Command or Ground Control Operator of experimental / developmental unmanned aircraft
• Option to deploy customer test sites to support Agricultural and Cargo Operations

Skills

UAV flight experience

Ground control software

Mission planning experience

Electrical systems troubleshooting

High voltage safety

Aircraft systems knowledge

Pilot in command

Communication skills

Tools

Ground control software

Mission planning software

Job description

About Pyka

Pyka’s goal is to provide society with a new form of safe, clean, and cost-effective transportation enabled by autonomous electric aviation.

To get there, we’re taking a different approach than most. We're applying our technologies to every industry where autonomous electric aircraft can be useful, starting with the highest value and most dangerous jobs. In doing so, we're building game-changing products manufactured at scale, while perfecting the safety, reliability, and capabilities of our autonomy engine and electric propulsion systems.

We design, develop and manufacture an ecosystem of technologies including proprietary flight control software, avionics, high power density motors, motor controllers, batteries, and custom carbon-fiber composite airframes.

Today, we supply autonomous electric aircraft for cargo transport and crop protection to real-world customers across four separate continents and have secured industry-first regulatory approvals from the FAA. Our cargo aircraft enables remote connectivity, enhances express delivery networks, and ensures fast and reliable shipping of critical supplies to areas in need. Our crop protection aircraft offers agricultural services providers and farmers an autonomous tool to make aerial application safer, more precise, and less harmful to surrounding environments. Both vehicles are highly economical to operate, easy to deploy, and significantly reduce CO2 emissions in their respective industries.

What you work on at Pyka makes people’s lives better now and brings the future of electric aviation one step closer each day.

Role Overview

Pyka is looking for a Flight Test Operator to test and scale the operations of its advanced autonomous aircraft. You will test our new hardware and software features to ensure the success of Pyka’s customer operations around the globe. Your work will focus on testing the continuous operation of Pyka’s aircraft and ground infrastructure.

This is a multidisciplinary role that interacts with many internal teams, so written and verbal communication skills are critical. Your work will be instrumental in Pyka’s growth as we build the best safe product for our customers. You will focus on operating at Pyka’s local California test sites, and may deploy to our international customers to support as needed.

Responsibilities

Execute continuous operations at Pyka’s test sites by identifying and troubleshooting issues, with the remote help of Pyka’s engineering teams

Conduct reliability test campaigns with Pyka’s autonomous aircraft and ground support infrastructure

Provide detailed technical feedback to operations and engineering teams to improve Pyka’s product for customer deployment

Fly and test new hardware and software features

Conduct diverse fleet site maintenance activities, involving the aircraft itself and ground infrastructure

Serve as Pilot In Command or Ground Control Operator of experimental / developmental unmanned aircraft

Option to deploy customer test sites to support Agricultural and Cargo Operations

Required Qualifications

1-3 years of experience flying fixed wing UAVs / model aircraft or large multirotors

Experience with ground control and mission planning software

1–5 years of experience working with and troubleshooting mechanical and electrical systems

Basic high voltage safety knowledge and comfortable working on 120 VDC, 20 ~ 30 kW systems

Knowledge of aircraft systems, maintenance, and manuals

Independent and motivated, able to self-direct and manage time

Extreme thoroughness and attention to detail

Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Located in Solano or Contra Costa County

Part 61 pilot certificate

We understand that candidates bring different strengths and experiences, and you don’t need to meet every qualification to be considered. If this role excites you, we’d love to learn more about you. You may be a great fit even if your background doesn’t align perfectly with the list.

Compensation & Benefits

Flight Test Operator: $34.50–$39.00, Flight Test Operator II: $40.00–$45.00 + Equity. Compensation will vary depending on location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Hourly wage ranges are subject to change.

Employer-sponsored health, dental and vision insurance, FSA with employer matching, and 401(k)

Paid time off, company holidays, and parental leave

Free catered lunch and plenty of snacks at the Alameda office

Opportunity to work on and fly large autonomous aircraft

Export Control Requirements

This position requires access to technology, software and other information that is subject to governmental access control restrictions, due to export controls. Employment in this position is conditioned on the continued availability of government authorization to authorize release of such items, to the extent required, including without limitation an export license, or other documentation required to establish authorization to receive access to such items.

Company may delay commencement of employment, rescind an offer of employment, terminate employment, and/or may modify job responsibilities, compensation, benefits, and/or access to Company facilities and information systems, as Company deems appropriate, in order to ensure compliance with applicable government access control restrictions.

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We do not work with external recruiters; if you are an external recruiter, please do not reach out.