Poseidon Aerospace
Flight Operations Engineer / Pilot
Poseidon Aerospace, San Francisco, California, United States, 94199
Flight Operations Engineer / Pilot
As a Flight Operations Engineer at Poseidon Aerospace, you will plan, execute, and oversee flight operations for our next-generation autonomous seaplanes. You'll lead both developmental and operational flight testing, acting as the remote pilot in command (RPIC) while coordinating test logistics, flight procedures, and safety operations. This role bridges engineering and flight, requiring a deep understanding of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) and the ability to translate technical objectives into safe, efficient, and repeatable flight operations.
Responsibilities
Define and manage flight test plans, objectives, and procedures for aircraft development and validation
Operate Poseidon aircraft as the Remote Pilot in Command (RPIC) during flight testing and operational demonstrations
Lead flight readiness reviews, preflight briefings, and postflight debriefings with engineering and test teams
Work closely with avionics, propulsion, and airframe engineers to ensure flight systems are configured, tested, and documented correctly
Develop and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs), emergency checklists, and flight manuals
Analyze flight data and provide feedback to engineering teams for system tuning, safety improvements, and performance validation
Ensure all operations comply with FAA regulations and internal safety management protocols
Plan and coordinate ground operations, range logistics, and communications infrastructure for test campaigns
Inform the long-term operational strategy, including autonomous and remote-pilot operational concepts
Ideal Qualifications
Experience operating Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) or Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) in test or operational environments
Strong understanding of flight test principles, safety management, and system validation
Knowledge of airspace coordination, mission planning software, and regulatory requirements (Part 107, COA, or experimental certification)
Familiarity with telemetry systems, flight data logging, and postflight analysis
Ability to write and maintain detailed test documentation, SOPs, and operational guidelines
Comfortable working in a hands‑on test environment with evolving aircraft configurations
Collaborative mindset with strong communication skills across engineering and operations teams
Ability to balance disciplined flight operations with startup-level agility and decision‑making
Nice To Have
Experience as an RPIC for large or complex UAS platforms (Group 3–5, e.g., Reaper, Global Hawk, or similar)
Background in aerospace, mechanical, or systems engineering
Experience with flight test instrumentation and telemetry ground stations
Knowledge of remote pilot interface systems, autopilot tuning, and mission control workflows
Experience supporting or leading field test campaigns for new aircraft platforms
Manned or unmanned pilot experience beyond Part 107
Familiarity with X-Plane or other simulation environments
Even if you don't meet every qualification listed, we encourage you to apply. At Poseidon Aerospace, we value diverse perspectives and are always looking for talented individuals with unconventional backgrounds.
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Responsibilities
Define and manage flight test plans, objectives, and procedures for aircraft development and validation
Operate Poseidon aircraft as the Remote Pilot in Command (RPIC) during flight testing and operational demonstrations
Lead flight readiness reviews, preflight briefings, and postflight debriefings with engineering and test teams
Work closely with avionics, propulsion, and airframe engineers to ensure flight systems are configured, tested, and documented correctly
Develop and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs), emergency checklists, and flight manuals
Analyze flight data and provide feedback to engineering teams for system tuning, safety improvements, and performance validation
Ensure all operations comply with FAA regulations and internal safety management protocols
Plan and coordinate ground operations, range logistics, and communications infrastructure for test campaigns
Inform the long-term operational strategy, including autonomous and remote-pilot operational concepts
Ideal Qualifications
Experience operating Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) or Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) in test or operational environments
Strong understanding of flight test principles, safety management, and system validation
Knowledge of airspace coordination, mission planning software, and regulatory requirements (Part 107, COA, or experimental certification)
Familiarity with telemetry systems, flight data logging, and postflight analysis
Ability to write and maintain detailed test documentation, SOPs, and operational guidelines
Comfortable working in a hands‑on test environment with evolving aircraft configurations
Collaborative mindset with strong communication skills across engineering and operations teams
Ability to balance disciplined flight operations with startup-level agility and decision‑making
Nice To Have
Experience as an RPIC for large or complex UAS platforms (Group 3–5, e.g., Reaper, Global Hawk, or similar)
Background in aerospace, mechanical, or systems engineering
Experience with flight test instrumentation and telemetry ground stations
Knowledge of remote pilot interface systems, autopilot tuning, and mission control workflows
Experience supporting or leading field test campaigns for new aircraft platforms
Manned or unmanned pilot experience beyond Part 107
Familiarity with X-Plane or other simulation environments
Even if you don't meet every qualification listed, we encourage you to apply. At Poseidon Aerospace, we value diverse perspectives and are always looking for talented individuals with unconventional backgrounds.
#J-18808-Ljbffr