About Poseidon Aerospace: Poseidon Aerospace builds and operates unmanned planes for commercial logistics and defense missions. Our two full-size fixed-wing platforms - Heron, a seaplane, and Egret, a STOL aircraft - can carry two tons of payload over a thousand nautical miles. We are headquartered in San Francisco with satellite offices in Washington, DC and Maine.As a Flight Operations Engineer at Poseidon Aerospace, you will plan, execute, and oversee flight operations for our next-generation autonomous aircraft. 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 validationOperate Poseidon aircraft as the Remote Pilot in Command (RPIC) during flight testing and operational demonstrationsLead flight readiness reviews, preflight briefings, and postflight debriefings with engineering and test teamsWork closely with avionics, propulsion, and airframe engineers to ensure flight systems are configured, tested, and documented correctlyDevelop and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs), emergency checklists, and flight manualsAnalyze flight data and provide feedback to engineering teams for system tuning, safety improvements, and performance validationEnsure all operations comply with FAA regulations and internal safety management protocolsPlan and coordinate ground operations, range logistics, and communications infrastructure for test campaignsInform the long-term operational strategy, including autonomous and remote-pilot operational conceptsIdeal Qualifications Experience operating Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) or Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) in test or operational environmentsStrong understanding of flight test principles, safety management, and system validationKnowledge of airspace coordination, mission planning software, and regulatory requirements (Part 107, COA, or experimental certification)Familiarity with telemetry systems, flight data logging, and postflight analysisAbility to write and maintain detailed test documentation, SOPs, and operational guidelinesComfortable working in a hands-on test environment with evolving aircraft configurationsCollaborative mindset with strong communication skills across engineering and operations teamsAbility to balance disciplined flight operations with startup-level agility and decision-makingNice 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 engineeringExperience with flight test instrumentation and telemetry ground stationsKnowledge of remote pilot interface systems, autopilot tuning, and mission control workflowsExperience supporting or leading field test campaigns for new aircraft platformsManned or unmanned pilot experience beyond Part 107Familiarity with X-Plane or other simulation environmentsEven 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