Pilot

Poseidon Aerospace; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Poseidon Aerospace is seeking a Flight Operations Engineer in San Francisco to lead flight operations for next-generation autonomous aircraft. Responsibilities include planning and executing flight test plans, operating as the Remote Pilot in Command (RPIC), and ensuring all operations comply with FAA regulations. The ideal candidate will have experience with Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) and possess strong flight test principles. We value diverse backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.

Qualifications

• Experience with unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in test or operational environments.
• Strong understanding of FAA regulations and safety management.
• Ability to maintain detailed flight test documentation and operational guidelines.

Responsibilities

• Define and manage flight test plans and objectives.
• Operate Poseidon aircraft as the Remote Pilot in Command (RPIC).
• Work closely with engineers to configure and test flight systems.

Skills

Operating Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS)

Flight test principles

Safety management

Collaboration and communication skills

Tools

Mission planning software

Telemetry systems

Job description

About Poseidon Aerospace: Poseidon Aerospace builds and operates unmanned planes for commercial logistics and defense missions. Our two full-size fixed-wing platforms - Heron, a seaplane, and Egret, a STOL aircraft - can carry two tons of payload over a thousand nautical miles. We are headquartered in San Francisco with satellite offices in Washington, DC and Maine.

As a Flight Operations Engineer at Poseidon Aerospace, you will plan, execute, and oversee flight operations for our next-generation autonomous aircraft. You'll lead both developmental and operational flight testing, acting as the remote pilot in command (RPIC) while coordinating test logistics, flight procedures, and safety operations. This role bridges engineering and flight, requiring a deep understanding of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) and the ability to translate technical objectives into safe, efficient, and repeatable flight operations.

Responsibilities

• Define and manage flight test plans, objectives, and procedures for aircraft development and validation
• Operate Poseidon aircraft as the Remote Pilot in Command (RPIC) during flight testing and operational demonstrations
• Lead flight readiness reviews, preflight briefings, and postflight debriefings with engineering and test teams
• Work closely with avionics, propulsion, and airframe engineers to ensure flight systems are configured, tested, and documented correctly
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs), emergency checklists, and flight manuals
• Analyze flight data and provide feedback to engineering teams for system tuning, safety improvements, and performance validation
• Ensure all operations comply with FAA regulations and internal safety management protocols
• Plan and coordinate ground operations, range logistics, and communications infrastructure for test campaigns
• Inform the long-term operational strategy, including autonomous and remote-pilot operational concepts

Ideal Qualifications

• Experience operating Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) or Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) in test or operational environments
• Strong understanding of flight test principles, safety management, and system validation
• Knowledge of airspace coordination, mission planning software, and regulatory requirements (Part 107, COA, or experimental certification)
• Familiarity with telemetry systems, flight data logging, and postflight analysis
• Ability to write and maintain detailed test documentation, SOPs, and operational guidelines
• Comfortable working in a hands-on test environment with evolving aircraft configurations
• Collaborative mindset with strong communication skills across engineering and operations teams
• Ability to balance disciplined flight operations with startup-level agility and decision-making

Nice to have

• Experience as an RPIC for large or complex UAS platforms (Group 3–5, e.g., Reaper, Global Hawk, or similar)
• Background in aerospace, mechanical, or systems engineering
• Experience with flight test instrumentation and telemetry ground stations
• Knowledge of remote pilot interface systems, autopilot tuning, and mission control workflows
• Experience supporting or leading field test campaigns for new aircraft platforms
• Manned or unmanned pilot experience beyond Part 107
• Familiarity with X-Plane or other simulation environments

Even if you don\'t meet every qualification listed, we encourage you to apply. At Poseidon Aerospace, we value diverse perspectives and are always looking for talented individuals with unconventional backgrounds.