Head of Flight Test Engineer

Samson Rose; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 210,000 - 310,000; Full time

Job summary

Samson Rose is seeking a Head of Flight Test Engineering to lead validation and flight test campaigns for next-generation autonomous aircraft. The role combines leadership with hands-on architecture, testing, and safety assessments in real-world environments.

You will drive test strategy, oversee campaigns, and shape automation and infrastructure to ensure safe and reliable commercial deployment while mentoring a growing team across software, hardware, and operations.

Qualifications

• 5+ years designing, developing, validating, or testing complex autonomous or safety-critical systems.
• 2+ years people-management, ideally growing a small team.
• Strong systems engineering fundamentals for test strategies and campaigns.
• Own test campaigns from objectives to planning, execution, data analysis and release recommendations.
• Experience with test automation, validation infrastructure, or data pipelines to improve coverage.

Responsibilities

• Define and drive flight test strategy and validation plans for autonomous aircraft.
• Oversee complex test campaigns, schedules, and data analyses.
• Lead the development of automation, infrastructure, and release decision processes.
• Mentor and grow the flight test engineering team and coordinate cross-functional work.

Skills

Test strategy

Test automation

Systems engineering

Safety-critical

Cross-functional leadership

Autonomous systems

Tools

Analytics pipelines

Job description

An innovative autonomous aviation company has engaged us to find a Head of Flight Test Engineer to drive the validation of next-generation autonomous aircraft operating in real-world environments. This is a highly visible technical leadership role where you'll lead flight test strategy, oversee complex test campaigns, and help shape the processes, automation, and infrastructure that ensure safe and reliable commercial deployment. You'll work at the intersection of aerospace, robotics, autonomy, and safety-critical systems, influencing how cutting-edge autonomous aircraft are tested, validated, and released.

A bit about the company:

• Strategic Growth Stage: The company is scaling its autonomous delivery platform globally and expanding its engineering organization to support commercial operations. This is an opportunity to join a high-performing team building technology that is already making a real-world impact while helping shape the future of autonomous aviation.
• Mission-Driven Innovation: The company is redefining logistics by building autonomous aircraft and intelligent delivery networks capable of transporting critical goods safely and efficiently. Their technology combines advanced robotics, autonomy, software, and aviation to solve complex transportation challenges at scale.
• Career Opportunities: This is an opportunity to lead a world-class flight test organization while remaining deeply technical. You'll mentor and grow an experienced engineering team while contributing hands-on to test architecture, automation, systems validation, safety assessments, and release decisions. The role offers exceptional exposure across autonomous systems, aerospace engineering, robotics, software, operations, and regulatory compliance.

We're looking for someone who has:

• 5+ years of experience designing, developing, validating, or testing complex autonomous, robotic, aerospace, automotive, or other safety-critical systems.
• At least 2 years of people-management experience, ideally with a track record of growing a small engineering team from roughly 2–3 people to 5–6 people.
• Strong systems engineering fundamentals and experience developing test strategies and campaigns for complex systems.
• A proven ability to take ownership of test campaigns from defining objectives through planning, execution, data analysis, and release recommendations.
• Experience with test automation, validation infrastructure, analytics, or data pipelines that can improve coverage and reduce the amount of manual testing required.
• Experience working with safety-critical systems, with a strong understanding of the consequences of system failures and how those risks should influence validation strategies.
• Experience with autonomous systems, perception, path planning, fleet management, or robotics is highly valuable.
• Strong cross-functional communication skills and the ability to work across software, hardware, systems, operations, and engineering teams.
• Aerospace/UAS or flight-test experience is strongly preferred, but candidates with strong autonomous systems or robotics validation backgrounds may be considered, as the aerospace-specific aspects can be learned.