Drone Engineer, Epirus

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field, or equivalent hands-on experience
• 4+ years of experience in UAS operations, flight testing, or engineering integration roles
• Demonstrated ability to pilot FPV drones and conduct autonomous flight operations
• Hands-on experience with ArduPilot, PX4, and related autopilot stacks
• Strong familiarity with RF links, GPS/telemetry systems, and UAS command and control architectures
• Experience performing diagnostics, system-level troubleshooting, and component replacement in the field
• Ability to travel up to 50%, including short-notice deployments to military ranges or operational sites
• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds, climb ladders, and conduct physical tasks in both indoor labs and field conditions
• Willingness to relocate to Southern California
• Up to 50% travel required, including multi-week domestic and international deployments with little to no notice

Desirable

• We are seeking a capable and motivated Drone Engineer to join our Field Operations and Sustainment team
• This role is ideal for an experienced UAS professional with strong technical proficiency and real-world flight operations experience
• You will support the full life cycle of drone systems—from bench integration and lab validation to flight testing and data analysis—with a direct focus on building capabilities that integrate with Epirus' Counter-UAS High-Power Microwave (HPM) systems
• In addition to core engineering responsibilities, this role could include travel supporting field operations as a Field Service Representative (FSR)
• These deployments involve hands-on system setup, integration, and sustainment of both drone systems and the Leonidas HPM platform in support of operational demonstrations, government test events, and data-gathering missions
• Configure, integrate, and sustain various UAS platforms including FPV drones, DJI/Autel commercial systems, and Blue UAS-compliant aircraft
• Pilot drones in both manual (FPV) and autonomous flight modes during internal tests, external demos, and field exercises
• Tune and operate flight controllers such as F405, F7, Pixhawk, and Cube Orange using ArduPilot and related open-source stacks
• Support drone system design, payload integration, and rapid prototyping efforts for emerging mission needs
• Conduct subsystem testing to identify vulnerabilities and performance characteristics when exposed to directed energy
• Collaborate with RF, software, and systems engineers to integrate drones into a broader sensor-fusion and defeat architecture
• Collect and analyze data related to acoustic, RF, and electromagnetic characteristics of target drones to support weapon system optimization
• Document system configurations, flight logs, integration procedures, and test results
• Contribute to the creation and refinement of a UAS threat characterization database supporting AI-enabled C2 and targeting tools
• Serve as a forward-deployed technical specialist during field operations involving Epirus’ Leonidas HPM and UAS platforms
• Support system deployment, integration, and sustainment for live fire exercises, military demonstrations, and government test events
• Maintain readiness kits, spares, and tools necessary for field deployments; ensure systems are prepped for immediate use
• Represent Epirus professionally in high-visibility engagements with government and defense partners