Flight Test Operator: Drone Validation & Field Trials

Zipline; Amarillo (TX); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Zipline is seeking a hands-on Flight Test Operator to bring early-stage aircraft from prototype to production bring-up. You will execute, iterate, and sign off on flight operations that validate airworthiness and avionics/software integration at Zipline’s test sites.

You’ll work with vehicle engineering, software, safety, manufacturing, and field teams to turn flight software into reliable, release-ready aircraft.

Qualifications

• FAA Part 107 certification required at joining.
• Experience piloting drones or manned aircraft.
• Demonstrated aeronautical decision making and accountability: own go/no-go decisions and preflight checklists.
• Operational intensity in failure-heavy field environments with quick diagnostics.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end daily flight test campaign execution.
• Act as Remote Pilot in Command for Zipline’s Autonomous Aircraft and test profiles.
• Validate functionality through repeatable ground and flight test procedures.
• Troubleshoot and repair software and hardware issues on-site to return aircraft to flight.
• Summarize test results with qualitative and quantitative analysis against engineering expectations.
• Escalate flight performance anomalies to engineering and safety for resolution.
• Enforce site safety, run briefings/debriefs, and refine SOPs to reduce repeat failures.
• Onsite at Zipline test site; expect weekends/night shifts and occasional regional travel.

Skills

FAA Part 107

Drone piloting

Go/no-go decisions

Field operations

Preflight checklists

Safety documentation

Linux CLI

Job description

Zipline is seeking a hands-on Flight Test Operator to bring early-stage aircraft from prototype to production bring-up. You will execute, iterate, and sign off on flight operations that validate airworthiness and avionics/software integration at Zipline’s test sites.

You’ll work with vehicle engineering, software, safety, manufacturing, and field teams to turn flight software into reliable, release-ready aircraft.