Senior Flight Test Engineer

Skyways designs, builds, and operates fully autonomous long-range cargo aircraft. Our V2 carries 30 lbs up to 450 miles and is flying daily missions today. Our V3 carries 100 lbs over 1,000 miles with 20+ hours of endurance and is currently in active flight test. Both use a dual-hybrid design that takes off like a helicopter and cruises like a plane. We are flying on three continents, in controlled national airspace under FAA oversight, and in support of U.S. military operations.

Backed by Y Combinator and a $37M STRATFI contract from the U.S. Air Force, we are moving from prototype to full-rate production with a path to Program of Record. Based in Austin, we are scaling fast and hiring people who want to build the world's largest fleet of autonomous logistics aircraft.

The Opportunity

This role exists at a pivotal moment. V2 is in production and flying missions. V3 is in active development and needs to be tested, validated, and taken through to certification. You will own both — maintaining and improving test rigor on a production aircraft while building the test program that brings V3 to readiness.

This is not a role where someone hands you a test plan and sends you to the field. You will define the strategy, design the methods, run the tests, and drive the results back into engineering. You will work closely with Systems, Software, GNC, and Flight Operations and you will have real authority to call systems unready when they are not.

What You Will Do:

• Own flight test and validation strategy across V2 and V3
• Translate system requirements into test plans, procedures, and pass/fail criteria
• Build and maintain traceability from requirements to test results
• Determine what is tested in simulation, ground, and flight to maximize learning and efficiency
• Plan and execute flight tests with clear objectives tied to system validation
• Analyze flight data and drive clear outcomes back to engineering teams
• Partner with GNC, software, hardware, and systems to close issues and retest
• Generate test reports and artifacts required for certification and external stakeholders
• Lead flight readiness reviews and call out when systems are not ready

What You Are:

• Has owned flight test or validation for a real system in the field (UAV, aircraft, or similar complex system)
• Has taken a system through qualification, certification, or formal validation end to end
• Experience designing test strategy and defining pass/fail criteria, not just executing predefined plans
• Strong systems judgment across hardware, software, and controls
• Comfortable running tests in real-world environments and making calls with imperfect information
• Willing to push back and hold the bar when systems are not ready

Bonus Points:

• Experience with FAA, DoD, or other certification and qualification processes
• FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate
• Experience with PX4, ArduPilot, or custom flight stacks
• Background in GNC, systems engineering, or flight sciences
• Experience validating autonomous systems and autonomy behaviors
• Experience building test infrastructure, including HIL, SIL, or ground test setups
• Has worked on systems that moved from prototype into scaled production

Want to join our mission? Apply to learn more!

*Due to U.S. government contract requirements, this role is limited to U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents, or candidates from specific countries authorized under applicable export control regulations.*

Skyways is an Equal Opportunity employer committed to diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status or any other factor protected by applicable local, state or federal laws.