System Test Engineer - Frontier & Mission Systems

At Anduril we are developing unmanned aerial systems capable of terminal guidance, long range intelligence collection, precision relative and global navigation, and unsupervised autonomy. The Test and Evaluation team works across the entire spectrum of products ranging from Lattice Ghost UAS, Sentry Tower, cUAS, missile, Fury and many of our other platforms.

As a Group 5 Test Pilot, you will support the development and field testing of Anduril’s largest and most powerful Unmanned Aerial System products. In this role, you will prepare aircraft for flight, conduct flight tests as the test pilot, and support the test engineering team throughout the lifecycle of the developmental aircraft.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Collaborate closely with Flight Test Engineers and Discipline Engineers to develop safe, effective, and efficient test procedures, evaluate system and test safety, and verify the functional design of the system.
• Participate in ground and flight testing of developmental aircraft to determine compliance with specifications, validate airworthiness, and assess operational suitability.
• Assist in developing system test procedures and engage in laboratory and surrogate open-air environment testing.
• Serve as a guiding member within the Test and Evaluation team, regularly interfacing with the T&E lead, T&E Technical Director, Chief Test Pilot, Lead Flight Test Engineer, and customer representatives.
• Take direct responsibility for the safe flight of the aircraft and act as an advisor during safety reviews, design reviews, and airworthiness reviews.
• Expand the mission envelope by pushing the boundaries of safe and normal flight.
• Support Fury flight tests as a surrogate and chase pilot, flying high-performance jet aircraft in demanding roles including photo/video, air data pacer, and safety chase across the flight envelope.
• Participate in flight operations and help direct the flight test program.
• Collaborate with other test pilots to approve control station configurations, author flight procedures, develop and verify emergency procedures, and support test team and control room training.
• Review test procedures, flight test plans, flight test cards, operating limitations, flight test schedules, support documents, and ground handling documents in preparation for ground and flight testing.
• Attend system design and configuration control meetings, providing input to resolve change requests and determining change priority, timelines, and test verification requirements leading up to software releases and aircraft block changes.
• Develop creative solutions to technical and execution challenges, acting with a bias for action and engaging your team to solve problems efficiently.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Graduate of a U.S. military test pilot school (TPS) or meet DCMAINST 8210.1 series alternate education and experience qualifications for contractor UA pilot/operator.
• 5+ years experience as a Group 5 UAV pilot.
• 2,000 hours Pilot-in-Command time or 500 hours in unmanned aircraft.
• Qualifying hours must include 200 hours Pilot-in-Command during engineering flight test and 10 hours during experimental flight test.
• Commercial pilot certificate with instrument rating.
• FAA Class 2 Medical, renewed annually.
• One of the following education and experience combinations:
• Undergraduate or higher degree in aerospace-related engineering or scientific discipline plus one year of applicable engineering test flight experience.
• Undergraduate or higher degree in other engineering or scientific discipline plus two years of applicable engineering test flight experience.
• Non-engineering undergraduate or higher degree plus three years of applicable engineering test flight experience.
• No degree plus four years of applicable engineering test flight experience.
• Ability to travel as required to support off-site aircraft testing.
• Strong ability to quickly understand new concepts, apply them accurately, organize, schedule, and coordinate work phases, and determine appropriate approaches to complex problems.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills, especially regarding technical subjects and authoring technical documents supporting safe aircraft operation.
• Experience authoring flight manuals and technical documentation necessary to operate developmental aircraft and delivering configuration-controlled publications to customers.
• Proficiency with basic MS Office tools (Word, PowerPoint, Excel).
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team; capable of performing complex tasks.
• Willingness to work extended and irregular hours.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. TS/SCI security clearance.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 10+ years experience as a Group 5 UAV pilot working with developmental aircraft.
• 2,000 hours Pilot-in-Command time or 500 hours in unmanned aircraft.
• ATP certificate with Class 1 medical.
• Certified Flight Instructor / Instrument.