Flight Test Engineer

Peregrine Industries, Inc.; Covina, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Peregrine Industries, Inc. seeks a hands-on Flight Test Engineer to own airworthiness, acceptance, and flight test execution for its Covina, CA facility. You will sign off on airframes, plan tests, and turn flight data into corrective actions across development and acceptance flights.

This role collaborates with engineering, manufacturing, and autonomy teams to ensure each airframe meets requirements and tests yield clean, actionable data. Extensive travel to test sites may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent hands-on experience in engineering or a related technical field.
• 5+ years of flight test experience with unmanned aircraft systems (fixed-wing and/or VTOL).
• Ability to write and execute structured test plans and reports.
• Hands-on autopilot experience and ground control software familiarity.

Responsibilities

• Plan, write, and execute flight test plans and risk assessments.
• Pilot or supervise piloting of fixed-wing and VTOL aircraft during tests.
• Analyze flight data and deliver clear test reports to teams.
• Maintain airworthiness, configuration, and acceptance records.
• Support aircraft assembly, setup, and test readiness.

Skills

Flight test planning

Data analysis

Airworthiness

Problem solving under time pressure

Safety mindset

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field

Tools

PX4

ArduPilot

Auterion

Ground Control Software

Job description

Peregrine Industries builds affordable, U.S.-made autonomous systems for tactical strike, counter-UAS, training, and defense modernization missions. Our platforms include Kestrel and DRACO, backed by PTEC, our modular tactical effects core.

We move fast, hold ourselves to honest engineering standards, and build hardware thathas toworkthe first time in the field.

About the Role

We are seeking a hands-onFlight Test Engineerto own the airworthiness, quality acceptance, and flight test execution for Peregrine’saircraftat our Covina, CA manufacturing facility. You will be the person who signs off that a bird is ready to fly, plans and conducts the test flights, and turns flight data into corrective actions that mature our systems.

This is a hands-on, mission-critical role. You will work directly with engineering, manufacturing, and autonomy teams to make sure every airframe leaving the line meets requirements, and every test event produces clean, usable data. You will fly and supervise flight operations on fixed-wing and VTOL platforms across development and acceptance testing.

What You’ll Do

Quality Control and Acceptance

• Serve as the final technical authority approving airframes through QC before flight.
• Develop and enforceacceptancetest procedures for airframe, propulsion, avionics, and integrated systems.
• Verify build quality, configuration, and airworthiness against documented requirements before any flight.
• Maintain configuration control and acceptance records for eachaircraft.

Flight Test Execution

• Plan, write, and execute flight test plans, test cards, procedures, risk assessments, and readiness reviews.
• Conduct pre-flight, flight, and post-flight operations, including system configuration, checklists, and go/no-go decisions.
• Pilot or supervise piloting of fixed-wing and VTOLaircraftduring ground and flight testing.
• Maintain positive control during nominal, upset, and emergency scenarios.

Data Analysis and System Maturation

• Collect and analyze ground and flight test data toidentifyperformance trends, anomalies, root causes, and corrective actions.
• Review logs and telemetry to inform autopilot tuning, navigation parameters, launch parameters, andfailsafes.
• Deliver clear, concise test reports to engineering andprogramteams.
• Iterate rapidly with software and hardware engineers to refine autonomy behaviors and system performance.

Aircraft Preparation and Support

• Supportaircraftassembly, configuration, repair, and rapid turnaround.
• Set up radios, telemetry, propulsion, batteries, GCS, and safety systems.
• Operate ground control stations, RF links, and telemetry systems during tests.

Test Operations

• Coordinaterelogistics, safety briefings, and test setup for on-site and off-site events.
• Participate in risk reviews and incident analysis.
• Create and improve flight test processes, tooling, and data workflows.
• Maintain ground and air operating limitations.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, aerospace, robotics, or a related technical field, or equivalent hands-on experience.
• 5+ years of experience in developmental or operational flighttestof unmannedaircraftsystems (fixed-wing and/or VTOL).
• Demonstrated ability to write and execute structured test plans, procedures, and reports.
• Hands-on experience with autopilot ecosystems (PX4,ArduPilot,Auterion, or similar) and ground control software.
• Strong ability to diagnose and repairairframe, propulsion, and avionics issues under time pressure.
• Strong analytical skills for interpreting flight data and recommending corrective actions.
• Disciplined safety mindset and strong situational awareness.
• Willingness to work flexible hours, work outdoors, and travel to test sites asrequired.

Preferred Qualifications

• Stayscalm andmakessound decisions under pressure, on deadline, and when things go wrongin the field.
• Experience with hybrid VTOL, X-wing, or fixed-wing munition-class platforms.
• Hands-on tuning experience with PX4/ArduPilot(PID loops, navigation, launch,failsafes).
• Experience with MANET/mesh radios and missioncomputeintegration.
• FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate or crewed aviation experience.
• Familiarity with autonomous flight testing, telemetry systems, and data review workflows.
• Ability to obtain andmaintaina U.S. security clearance.

Why this role

This is not a seat. It is the person the whole team trusts to say a bird is ready. On a small, seriousteam buildingproducts the countryactuallyneeds,that authority matters, and so does the judgment behind it.

Peregrine Industries is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status. Position is subject to U.S. export-control regulations; applicants must qualify as U.S. Persons under ITAR.