UAS Test Pilot & Safety Pilot — Equity & Unlimited PTO

Decisive Point; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 92,000 - 121,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) Retirement Savings Plan

Equity grants for new hires

Unlimited PTO

Holiday calendar

Job summary

Firestorm Labs is seeking a driven UAS Test Pilot, Emergency Pilot (EP) to join our Flight Test Team in San Diego, CA. You will support flight operations across the full UAV lifecycle, focusing on readiness, safety, and reliability, from build validation to customer demonstrations.

You will pilot UAVs, perform safety duties, assist in test event planning, and ensure operations meet stringent safety and regulatory standards in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related field or equivalent hands‑on experience.
• Minimum 5 years of experience piloting fixed-wing Group 1-3 UAS, including autonomous or remotely piloted systems.
• FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate required.
• U.S. Citizenship required due to ITAR regulations and ability to obtain DoD security clearance.
• Experience as RPIC and/or Safety Pilot in flight operations.
• Familiarity with flight documentation including checklists, test cards, and post-flight reports.
• Hands‑on experience building, modifying, or maintaining UAS or RC aircraft systems.
• Strong understanding of flight operations, safety procedures, and airspace coordination.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and strong technical writing abilities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.

Responsibilities

• Pilot fixed-wing UAVs in support of flight testing, training, and operations.
• Perform Safety Pilot duties during test and evaluation of UAS platforms.
• Ensure aircraft are flight-ready through pre-flight validation and checks.
• Conduct Functional Check Flights to validate readiness.
• Support flight test planning and execution with engineers and teams.
• Maintain fleet readiness and support equipment accountability.
• Coordinate logistics for demos, deployments, and field exercises.
• Track aircraft status, maintenance needs, and configuration control.
• Troubleshoot and coordinate repairs to ensure availability.
• Ensure compliance with FAA regulations and internal safety standards.
• Collect flight data and feedback for Engineering and R&D.

Skills

FAA Part 107

RPIC duties

Flight operations

MS Office

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field

Tools

Flight test equipment

Job description

Firestorm Labs is seeking a driven UAS Test Pilot, Emergency Pilot (EP) to join our Flight Test Team in San Diego, CA. You will support flight operations across the full UAV lifecycle, focusing on readiness, safety, and reliability, from build validation to customer demonstrations.

You will pilot UAVs, perform safety duties, assist in test event planning, and ensure operations meet stringent safety and regulatory standards in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment.