Vehicle Test Engineer

Powerus; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Powerus, a United States-based autonomous systems company, seeks a Vehicle Test Engineer in Charlotte, NC to plan, execute, and analyze ground and flight tests across platforms. You will develop test plans, instrument aircraft, and turn data into actionable findings for engineering.

You will work with GNC, structures, embedded, and manufacturing, spend time at test sites, maintain test records, and ensure safety and traceability. Must be US person and willing to travel to test sites.

Qualifications

• Degree in an engineering discipline, or equivalent hands-on test experience.
• Experience planning and executing tests on vehicles, aircraft, or complex hardware.
• Data analysis proficiency using Python or MATLAB for log and telemetry analysis.
• Hands-on experience with instrumentation and data acquisition.
• Willingness to work outdoors and travel to test sites.
• U.S. Person status required due to ITAR/EAR-controlled data.

Responsibilities

• Develop test plans, procedures, and acceptance criteria for ground and flight test.
• Instrument aircraft and configure data acquisition and telemetry for test objectives.
• Execute ground test, hardware-in-the-loop, and flight test events safely and repeatably.
• Analyse flight and test data and report findings to engineering with supporting evidence.
• Maintain test infrastructure, fixtures, and environmental and vibration test capability.
• Support envelope expansion, configuration qualification, and acceptance testing.
• Investigate anomalies and field failures with root cause analysis.
• Maintain test records, configuration traceability, and safety documentation.

Job description

Powerus is building a next-generation American autonomous systems platform designed to move, protect, and sustain critical assets in high-consequence environments. The company combines advanced autonomy, manufacturing capability, operational expertise, and strategic acquisitions to support defense, national security, critical infrastructure, and commercial operations globally.

Mission

Our mission is to deliver resilient autonomous technologies that strengthen national security, improve operational safety, and expand the capabilities of organizations operating in complex environments.

Why Join Powerus

Nothing about an unmanned aircraft is known until it is flown. Test is where design intent meets weather, wear, and the way operators actually use the thing.

This role owns the evidence. You will plan and run the ground and flight test that decides whether a configuration is ready, and produce the data that engineering trusts.

Position Overview

Powerus is seeking a Vehicle Test Engineer to plan, execute, and analyse ground and flight test across our platforms. You will develop test plans, instrument aircraft, run test events safely, and turn the resulting data into findings engineering can act on. You will work across GNC, structures, embedded, and manufacturing, and spend meaningful time at the test site rather than at a desk.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop test plans, procedures, and acceptance criteria for ground and flight test
• Instrument aircraft and configure data acquisition and telemetry for test objectives
• Execute ground test, hardware-in-the-loop, and flight test events safely and repeatably
• Analyse flight and test data and report findings to engineering with supporting evidence
• Maintain test infrastructure, fixtures, and environmental and vibration test capability
• Support envelope expansion, configuration qualification, and acceptance testing
• Investigate anomalies and field failures with root cause analysis
• Maintain test records, configuration traceability, and safety documentation

Qualifications

• Must be located in the United States, within commuting distance of Charlotte, NC
• Degree in an engineering discipline, or equivalent hands-on test experience
• Experience planning and executing test on vehicles, aircraft, or complex hardware
• Data analysis proficiency, including Python or MATLAB for log and telemetry analysis
• Hands-on experience with instrumentation and data acquisition
• Willingness to work outdoors and travel to test sites
• U.S. Person status required (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)); this role involves access to ITAR- and EAR-controlled technical data

Preferred Qualifications

• UAV flight test experience and FAA Part 107 certification
• Experience with envelope expansion or first-flight campaigns
• Familiarity with vibration, environmental, or EMI qualification testing
• Experience with flight log analysis from PX4, ArduPilot, or similar
• Prior military or operational aviation background

What We Look For

We are looking for discipline and judgement. Test engineering is where optimism costs the most, and the people who do well here will stop a test point when the data does not support it. You should be methodical about procedure and comfortable being the person who says the aircraft is not ready.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Powerus is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and mission-driven workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.