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Firestorm · 23 hours ago

Senior Manager, Flight Test Engineering

San Diego, CA

Full-time

Onsite

Senior Level, Lead/Staff

$165K/yr - $195K/yr

10+ years exp

Firestorm is a company on a mission to revolutionize defense solutions through innovative technologies. They are seeking a Senior Manager to lead their Flight Test team, responsible for planning, executing, and evaluating flight test activities for autonomous aerial systems.

AerospaceArtificial Intelligence (AI)Drones

No H1B

Security Clearance Required

U.S. Citizen Only

Responsibilities

Lead both the Flight Test Engineering Team, providing technical guidance, and leadership

Establish and refine flight test methodologies for evaluating mission autonomy capabilities using surrogate vehicles in fast-paced test environments

Develop long-term capacity planning for flight test capabilities to support future product initiatives and company growth

Drive cross-functional collaboration with Operations, Product, Engineering and Program Management to align test strategies with product development roadmaps

Cultivate a strong organizational foundation focused on safety standards, regulatory adherence, and performance

Ensure compliance with FAA and other regulatory requirements throughout all flight test operations

Collaborate with government entities and private companies to execute complex test events that meet all stakeholder requirements

Manage resource allocation, budgeting, and scheduling for flight test campaigns across multiple programs

Create and implement standardized processes, metrics, and KPIs to measure test effectiveness and drive continuous improvement

Qualification

Flight Test EngineeringUnmanned Aerial SystemsSoftwareHardware IntegrationAviation Regulations ComplianceFAA Part 107 CertificationTest Automation FrameworksAutonomyAI SystemsTechnical Team ManagementProblem-SolvingCommunication Skills

Required

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

10+ years of experience in testing unmanned aerial systems with at least 5 years in a leadership position

U.S. Citizenship required due to ITAR regulations & the ability to obtain and maintain a Department of Defense (DoD) security clearance

Proven expertise in both software and hardware integration for complex autonomous systems

Demonstrated success leading flight test operations as a Test Director for mission-critical platforms

Strong understanding of aviation regulations and compliance requirements for unmanned systems

Experience managing technical teams with diverse skill sets across operations and engineering

Exceptional problem-solving abilities for troubleshooting complex hardware and software issues

Outstanding communication skills for conveying technical concepts to stakeholders at all levels

Flexibility to adapt to dynamic schedules and willingness to travel to test sites as required

Current FAA Part 107 certification or ability to obtain one

Ability to operate in fast paced, iterative development environments

Preferred

Masters degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Systems Engineering, or related field

12+ years of experience in an aerospace or defense engineering role supporting

Experience with test automation frameworks for complex system integration

Familiarity with autonomy, onboard compute, or AI or ML enabled edge systems

Acquainted with DoD, NASA, or defense UAS programs

Benefits

Comprehensive medical, dental, and visions plans

401(k) Retirement Savings Plan to invest in your long-term retirement goals

Equity grants for new hires

Unlimited PTO

Extremely generous company holiday calendar, including a holiday hiatus in November, & December.

Generous Parental Leave

Lifestyle Spending Account

FSA

DCFSA

HSA

Hospital Indemnity insurance

Critical Illness insurance

Accident insurance

Basic Life/AD&D, short-term and long-term disability insurance, 100% covered by Firestorm. Plus, the option to purchase additional life insurance for you and your family.

Mental Health Resources: We provide free mental health resources 24/7 including therapy and more. Additional work-life services, such as free legal and financial support, are available to you as well.