Flight Test Lead - UAV Autonomy & Airworthiness

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, 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.