Test Engineer I / II

Inspired Flight; San Luis Obispo (CA); On-site; USD 76,000 - 113,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unlimited PTO

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401k 6% company match

Quarterly bonus

Job summary

Inspired Flight, based in San Luis Obispo, CA, seeks a Test Engineer to validate drone architectures through bench and flight testing. You will work with design and systems engineers to define tests, develop procedures, and document results. This is an in-office role at Inspired Flight's HQ.

The position emphasizes hands-on test setup, data analysis, and continuous improvement of drone and ground-control systems, with opportunities for growth in a rapidly expanding UAV company.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Aerospace or equivalent.
• 0-2 years for Level 1; 2-5 years for Level 2.
• Experience in UAS, aviation, aerospace, robotics, autonomy or defense preferred.

Responsibilities

• Define requirements and test plans with design, systems, and program managers.
• Develop, document, and execute test plans for hardware/software projects.
• Collect, record, and analyze test data for anomalies and trends.
• Generate test reports with findings and recommendations.
• Set up and operate drones, payloads, and test equipment.
• Troubleshoot and identify root causes of test failures.

Skills

UAS/drone systems

Flight controller software

Mission Planner / QGroundControl

FAA Part 107 license

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Aerospace Engineering

Tools

Mission Planner

QGroundControl

Job description

Company Description

Inspired Flight’s Purpose Statement says it all - Conserving resources, creating jobs, and saving lives by innovating the American drone manufacturing. Founded in San Luis Obispo, California our entirely U.S. based team designs, builds and supports highly capable and flexible drone platforms for both commercial and government customers.

Our purpose driven team exemplifies our Core Values. We are:

Collaborative: We harness the collective intelligence and energy of our team to surpass individual potentials and achieve shared goals.

Resilient: We approach obstacles with flexibility and creativity, supporting one another to stay focused, resourceful, and determined.

Diverse: We place a high value in people of all heritages, genders, sexual orientations, and points of view to spark innovation and solutions, enriching our work environment and outputs.

Continuously Improving: We are committed to ongoing learning and innovation by always seeking ways to enhance our processes, products, and personal expertise.

Underlying all of this is our deeply rooted belief that the cutting-edge aerial tools we create are advancing an industry that is good for people, good for our planet and good for the United States of America.

Location

This is an in-office position for hire at Inspired Flight’s HQ in San Luis Obispo, CA.

Job Description

Inspired Flight is seeking a talented and experienced Test Engineer to join our Engineering team. A Test Engineer is a specialized role responsible for the validation of complex systems within the drone architecture through various forms of bench and flight testing.

This position is at the core of the engineering department at Inspired Flight and will be part of a rapidly growing company in the growing UAV industry.

Typical responsibilities:

• Work closely with design engineers, systems engineers, and program managers to define requirements and associated test plans.
• Develop, document, and execute test plans for hardware and software development projects.
• Collect, record, and analyze test data to identify anomalies and trends.
• Generate test reports summarizing results, findings, and recommendations.
• Set up and operate drones, payloads, and test equipment.
• Troubleshoot and identify root causes for test failures.
• Identify opportunities to improve design of drone and ground controller systems.

You’ll excel in this role if you have:

• Ability to follow detailed test procedures and document results accurately.
• Strong attention to detail and systematic troubleshooting mindset.
• Experience with UAS/drone systems.
• Familiarity with flight controller software (ArduPilot, PX4) or ground control stations (Mission Planner, QGroundControl).
• UAV Pilot experience and/or a FAA Part 107 License.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Education/Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent discipline
• 0-2 years experience for level 1
• 2-5 years experience for level 2
• Experience in a related field, preferably: UAS, aviation, aerospace, robotics, autonomy or defense industry.

Salary & Benefits Offered

• $76,000-$95,000 DOE for level 1
• $90,000-$113,000 DOE for level 2
• Unlimited Paid Time Off
• World Class Health, Dental, Vision Insurance Plan
• 401k w/ 6% company match
• Quarterly Team Bonus Plan

Physical Demands

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee may need to sit and stand for long periods; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Inspired Flight is deeply committed to building a workplace where inclusion is not only valued, but prioritized. We pride ourselves on being an equal opportunity employer that seeks to create a welcoming and diverse environment. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, or expression, family status, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, neurodiversity, age, or veteran status, or any other non-merit based or legally protected grounds.

The above job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and standards of the position. Incumbents will follow any other instructions, and perform any other related duties, as assigned by their supervisor.