Flight Test Operator: High-Volume UAV Testing, Night Shifts

University of Delaware; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 47,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Zipline seeks a hands-on Flight Test Operator to execute high-volume flight testing, validating safety, reliability, and readiness of Zipline’s aircraft and delivery systems. You will conduct tests at Zipline test sites, coordinating with reliability engineering, software, hardware, safety, maintenance and manufacturing to drive improvements.

Expect on-site work at outdoor test locations, with weekend, night, and overnight shifts and occasional travel between test sites.

Qualifications

• Experience piloting drones or manned aircraft.
• Demonstrated aeronautical decision making and accountability.
• Operational intensity and logistics in high-tempo environments.
• Ownership and communication across engineering, safety, maintenance and manufacturing.
• Safety and reliability mindset with attention to detail in testing.
• Nice-to-have: Linux command line familiarity and basic troubleshooting.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end daily flight test campaign execution as Remote Pilot in Command for Zipline’s Autonomous Aircraft.
• Validate system performance through repeatable ground and flight test procedures.
• Troubleshoot and repair software and hardware issues on-site to safely return aircraft to flight.
• Summarize test results with qualitative and quantitative analysis against targets and safety requirements.
• Escalate anomalies and safety risks to engineering and safety teams for resolution.
• Enforce and improve site safety, run briefings/debriefs, and refine SOPs.
• Support continuous improvement to increase throughput, data quality, and efficiency without compromising safety.

Skills

Drone piloting

Decision making

Operational logistics

Team coordination

Safety mindset

Linux basics

Tools

Linux

Job description

Zipline seeks a hands-on Flight Test Operator to execute high-volume flight testing, validating safety, reliability, and readiness of Zipline’s aircraft and delivery systems. You will conduct tests at Zipline test sites, coordinating with reliability engineering, software, hardware, safety, maintenance and manufacturing to drive improvements.

Expect on-site work at outdoor test locations, with weekend, night, and overnight shifts and occasional travel between test sites.