UAV Flight Test Lead: Field Campaigns & Autonomy

Tycho.AI; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Meaningful equity

Generous benefits package

Job summary

Tycho.AI in Cambridge, MA is seeking a UAV Flight Test Lead to plan and own flight-test campaigns, translating strategic goals into concrete test plans and ensuring safe, compliant field operations.

You will coordinate with software and hardware teams, manage test logistics, analyze telemetry, author test plans and hazard analyses, and lead field tests with FAA Part 107 oversight. This in-person role requires travel to test sites and hands-on work with UAVs in GPS-denied environments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, or related field.
• Willingness to work in the field a majority of the time: travel to test sites, early mornings, variable weather, hands-on with vehicles.
• Hands-on, system-level flight test experience with formal test design, planning, and post-test reporting.
• Active FAA Part 107 remote pilot certificate or ability to obtain one; BVLOS waivers, COA processes, or military test range coordination.
• Proficiency with flight software and Linux; experience with PX4, ArduPilot, MAVLink, ROS2, QGroundControl.
• Proficiency with flight instrumentation, telemetry systems, and data analysis.
• Familiarity with Git, Jira, and collaborative engineering practices.

Responsibilities

• Own coordination with software and hardware teams to align test objectives and deliver availability and efficient flight-test execution.
• Translate company strategic goals into concrete flight test plans and outcomes.
• Track flight test campaign progress and maintain fleet/test team readiness.
• Plan, attend and lead flight tests in the field; in-person presence required during tests.
• Author, review, and approve flight test plans, hazard analyses, test cards, and reports.
• Coordinate with authorities to ensure FAA compliance (Part 107, waivers), range requirements, and safety protocols.
• Establish telemetry/data pipelines and lead root-cause investigations for anomalies.

Skills

Flight test leadership

Hands-on flight test

Linux proficiency

Flight instrumentation

Git/Jira familiarity

C/C++ and Python

Test design & documentation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace / Mechanical / Electrical Engineering or related field

Tools

PX4

ArduPilot

MAVLink

ROS2

QGroundControl

Git

Jira

Job description

Tycho.AI in Cambridge, MA is seeking a UAV Flight Test Lead to plan and own flight-test campaigns, translating strategic goals into concrete test plans and ensuring safe, compliant field operations.

You will coordinate with software and hardware teams, manage test logistics, analyze telemetry, author test plans and hazard analyses, and lead field tests with FAA Part 107 oversight. This in-person role requires travel to test sites and hands-on work with UAVs in GPS-denied environments.