Flight Performance Engineer

Neros Technologies; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 98,000 - 136,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity grants

Flexible startup culture

Job summary

Neros Technologies is hiring a Flight Performance Engineer to own flight dynamics of our UAVs—from hands-on prototyping to production release. You will lead root cause analysis using blackbox/DVR/telemetry data and collaborate with firmware, mechanical, and production teams to eliminate failure modes and improve performance.

This fast-paced startup role demands strong documentation, testing discipline, and the ability to scale flight performance across multirotor platforms, including FPV tuning

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• 2+ years in a multirotor UAV engineering role.
• Experience with root cause analysis on quadcopter flight anomalies.

Responsibilities

• Own the flight performance of multirotor UAS from prototype through production.
• Design and execute structured test protocols to evaluate flight performance and validate changes.
• Develop and maintain internal documentation on flight dynamics, tuning methodology, and test results.
• Represent flight performance interests in cross-functional reviews with mechanical, electrical, firmware, production, and NPI teams.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on flight dynamics with knowledge transfer to peers.
• Lead R&D efforts to evaluate design changes and improve product performance.

Skills

Flight dynamics

Root cause analysis

DVR data

Cross-functional teamwork

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Betaflight

PX4

ArduPilot

SolidWorks

Job description

Neros is a defense technology company rebuilding America's drone industrial base. We design and manufacture high-performance unmanned systems that are tested in combat, iterated at startup speed, and built at massive scale. Our team culture is fast, hands-on, and obsessed with closing the gap between design and deployment.

As drones transform the character of warfare, Neros is delivering the systems the West needs to compete on the modern battlefield and deter the adversaries of democracy. We're hiring engineers, operators, and builders who want to move fast, take on extreme ownership, and get capability into the hands of warfighters in months, not years.

What you will be doing

As a Flight Performance Engineer at Neros, you will own the flight dynamics of our UAVs, from hands-on prototyping and structured field testing through data-driven tuning, qualification, and release of flight configurations. You'll lead root cause analysis using blackbox/DVR/thermal data and work cross-functionally with firmware, mechanical, and production teams to eliminate failure modes and improve performance metrics at scale. This is a fast-paced, hands-on role at a rapidly growing startup, ideal for engineers who take pride in producing stable, repeatable, and exceptional flight performance.

Responsibilities

• Own the flight performance (stability, response, reliability) of multirotor UAS from prototype through production
• Design and execute structured test protocols to evaluate flight performance, identify failure modes, and validate configuration changes
• Develop and maintain internal documentation on flight dynamics, tuning methodology, and test results
• Represent flight performance interests in cross-functional reviews with mechanical, electrical, firmware, production, and NPI teams
• Serve as a subject matter expert on flight dynamics, delivering structured knowledge transfers of advanced multirotor mechanics to peers
• Lead R&D efforts to evaluate design changes and improve product performance

You should have the following

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a engineering field
• 2+ years of experience in a multirotor UAV Engineering role
• Proven track record of root cause analysis on quadcopter flight anomalies using blackbox, DVR, or telemetry data
• Deep technical understanding of multirotor mechanics and the interplay between the mechanical and control systems
• Hands on experience assembling, repairing, or modifying multi-rotor drones
• Strong documentation and communication skills
• Ability to fly and tune FPV drones
• Familiarity with flight control software like betaflight, px4, ardupilot, Kiss

Nice to have

• Proficiency in data analysis tools such as Excel, Python, or MATLAB.
• Familiarity with ESC firmware and configuration such as Bluejay, BLHeli_S, or BLHeli_32
• Experience with a CAD software such as Solidworks or NX
• Background working in mass production environments where cost, supply chain, and scalability are key considerations
• Active part 107 certificate

US Salary Range

$97,500 - $136,000

The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are considered part of Neros' total compensation package.

We're an equal opportunity employer. We welcome all applicants without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

Export Compliance:The person hired will have access to information and items controlled by the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), and, therefore, must be a "U.S. Person" or otherwise eligible to receive an export license. As defined in the ITAR, a "U.S. Person" includes U.S. citizens, noncitizen U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents (i.e., Green Card holders), and certain other classes of individuals (e.g., asylees/refugees). Please consult with a knowledgeable advisor if you are unsure whether you are a "U.S. Person." To assist Neros in assessing its export compliance obligations in relation to your application, please identify which statement best applies to you: * Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in Neros Technologies's Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.