Drone Test Pilot & Certification Specialist in Brooklyn, New York at Avol

Job Summary:We are seeking a skilled and detail-oriented Flight Test Engineer & Certified Drone Pilot to lead and execute flight testing operations for unmanned aerial systems (UAS), with a focus on supporting system validation and certification efforts. The ideal candidate holds a current FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate and has hands-on experience developing and executing flight test plans for UAS platforms. This role is critical in bridging the gap between engineering development, regulatory compliance, and safe operational testing.
Key Responsibilities:

• Plan, develop, and execute UAS flight test campaigns in support of system development, verification, and certification.
• Pilot drones in a variety of test scenarios while maintaining strict compliance with FAA Part 107 regulations.
• Define test objectives, success criteria, and detailed procedures in coordination with engineering, software, and safety teams.
• Collect, analyze, and report flight test data to support airworthiness, performance, and reliability assessments.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to troubleshoot flight anomalies and drive design improvements.
• Maintain flight logs, safety documentation, risk assessments, and pre-/post-flight checklists.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory and organizational safety standards for all test operations.
• Support the development of documentation packages for regulatory submissions and customer demonstrations.

Qualifications:Required:

• FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate (current and in good standing).
• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related field.
• 3+ years of experience with UAS flight testing, including test planning, execution, and data analysis.
• Strong understanding of UAS flight control systems, avionics, and telemetry tools.
• Experience working with FAA certification processes or similar regulatory frameworks.
• Proficiency in using tools for data acquisition and post-processing (e.g., MATLAB, Python, Excel).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred / Nice to Have:Experience with BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) operations.

• Hands-on experience with tailsitter or other VTOL aircraft configurations.
• Familiarity with DO-178C, DO-254, or MIL-STD flight test documentation practices.
• Knowledge of mission planning and control tools (e.g., QGroundControl, MAVLink, PX4/ArduPilot).
• Hands-on experience with flight hardware integration and troubleshooting.

What We Offer:

• Competitive salary and benefits
• Opportunities for career growth in an innovative aerospace environment
• Access to cutting-edge UAS platforms and test facilities
• A collaborative and safety-focused work culture