UAV Test Engineer

Swift Engineering; San Clemente (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Vision Insurance 100% covered

Dental Insurance 100% covered

401k with company match

Generous company holiday calendar

Job summary

A leading aerospace company in San Clemente seeks a UAV Test Engineer to plan, execute, and analyze testing for unmanned aerial vehicle systems. The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering and at least 5 years of experience in UAV or aerospace testing. Responsibilities include developing test plans, analyzing data, and collaborating with engineering teams. This position offers a salary of $120,000 to $140,000 annually and various benefits including health insurance and a generous holiday calendar.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in UAV or aerospace testing.
• Experience developing test procedures and plans.
• Familiarity with UAV control systems is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute test plans for UAV subsystems.
• Analyze test data and provide engineering recommendations.
• Prepare test reports and presentations for reviews.

Skills

Hands-on experience with UAV systems

Strong data analysis skills

Strong communication skills

Self-motivated and proactive

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Tools

MATLAB/Simulink

HIL systems

SIL systems

Job description

We are seeking a highly motivated UAV Test Engineer to plan, execute, and analyze test activities for advanced unmanned aerial vehicle systems. This role works closely with the design and engineering teams to ensure system performance, reliability, and safety throughout development and flight testing.

The ideal candidate is hands‑on, detail‑oriented, and capable of translating test data into actionable design insights.

Salary

$120,000 to $140,000 Annually

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, document, and execute test plans and test procedures for UAV subsystems and full aircraft
• Work directly with the design and development teams to validate requirements and design assumptions
• Plan and support ground tests, integration tests, and flight tests
• Configure and operate test equipment, instrumentation, and data acquisition systems
• Analyze test data and convert results into clear, meaningful inputs for design decisions
• Identify performance gaps, anomalies, and failure modes, and support root‑cause analysis
• Prepare test reports, summaries, and presentations for technical reviews
• Support iterative design improvements based on test findings
• Maintain test documentation and ensure traceability to requirements

What We Offer

• Direct impact on UAV design and performance
• Close collaboration with multidisciplinary engineering teams
• Opportunity to work on cutting‑edge unmanned aircraft systems

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, or related field)
• 5+ years of experience in UAV, aerospace, or complex system testing
• Experience developing and executing test procedures and test plans
• Strong data analysis skills with the ability to translate results into engineering recommendations
• Hands‑on experience with UAV systems, components, or flight operations
• Highly experienced with MATLAB/Simulink
• Working experience with HIL and SIL systems
• Strong communication skills and ability to work cross‑functionally
• Self‑motivated, proactive, and capable of working independently

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with flight test instrumentation, telemetry, and data analysis tools
• Familiarity with UAV control systems, avionics, and propulsion systems
• Experience supporting iterative or rapid development programs
• Knowledge of aerospace test standards and best practices

Working Conditions

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to sit; walk; use hands and fingers to handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance and stoop, kneel, bend, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. Requires eye‑hand coordination and manual dexterity. Requires corrected vision and hearing to normal range.

Work Location

Open shop and laboratory environment.

Protective Equipment Required

Goggles, safety glasses, face shields, ear protection, aprons, gloves, safety harnesses, respirators, breathing equipment.

Potential Hazards

Exposure to high‑intensity noise levels, extreme changes in temperature, airborne substances, materials identified on Material Safety Data Sheets, working on unprotected heights or around moving machinery.

Swift is an EOE

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position. Employee(s) will be required to follow any other job‑related instructions and to perform any other job‑related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments.

• 9/80 Schedule
• Health Insurance
• Vision Insurance – 100% covered for Employees
• Dental Insurance – 100% covered for Employees
• Life Insurance – 100% covered by Swift, plus the option to purchase additional life insurance for you and your dependents.
• 401k with company match
• Extremely generous company holiday calendar including a holiday hiatus in December, and highly competitive PTO plans.
• 16 weeks of paid Caregiver & Wellness Leave to care for a family member, bond with your baby, or tend to your own medical condition.
• Family Planning & Parenting Support: Fertility (eg, IVF, preservation), adoption, and gestational carrier coverage with additional benefits and resources to provide support from planning to parenting.

About Swift Engineering

If you’re passionate about engineering, innovation and making a difference, we invite you to join the Swift Engineering family. Together, we are shaping the future of aerospace and creating technologies that will change the world.

Pay Range

120,000 - 140,000 USD per year (Swift Engineering)