Autonomous Drone Operator & Flight Systems Engineer

Sentradel; Town of Minden (NY); On-site; USD 70,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Sentradel, a US defense contractor, seeks a Drone Operator to build, program, and fly drones for live-fire demos and testing at our Minden, Nevada operations. You will own airframes, firmware, flight profiles, and repairs between sorties, ensuring reliable day-to-day test campaigns.

Required are extensive ArduPilot experience, ability to modify and flash firmware, and FAA Part 107 certification. You will pilot in command for range tests and customer demos across the US, maintaining fleets and

Qualifications

• Extensive ArduPilot experience with Mission Planner, tuning, custom builds and log analysis.
• Ability to read, modify, compile and flash ArduPilot codebase.
• FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate.
• Experience building drones from bare frames with soldering, wiring, ESCs, motors and RF.
• Expert level stick time, both manual and autonomous flight.
• Able to repair aircraft in the field and fly again the same day.

Responsibilities

• Build, wire, solder, and repair the target drone fleet.
• Flash and configure flight controllers and tune aircraft for repeatable tests.
• Modify ArduPilot code for enhanced behavior not covered by stock firmware.
• Plan and fly autonomous missions with consistent engagements for the turret.
• Pilot in command during range tests and customer demos across the US.
• Manage batteries, radios, ground stations, and spares to avoid test-day delays.
• Pull flight logs and convert data into usable test insights.

Skills

ArduPilot

Mission Planner

Parameter tuning

Custom builds

Code modification

Flashing firmware

Remote piloting

Autonomous missions

Soldering

Python or C++

Tools

ArduPilot tools

Mission Planner

Flight controllers

Job description

Sentradel, a US defense contractor, seeks a Drone Operator to build, program, and fly drones for live-fire demos and testing at our Minden, Nevada operations. You will own airframes, firmware, flight profiles, and repairs between sorties, ensuring reliable day-to-day test campaigns.

Required are extensive ArduPilot experience, ability to modify and flash firmware, and FAA Part 107 certification. You will pilot in command for range tests and customer demos across the US, maintaining fleets and