Senior Drone Engineer, Epirus

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field, or equivalent hands-on experience
• 5+ 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
• Willingness to relocate to Southern California

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
• Deploy and support Epirus’ Leonidas HPM and UAS platforms in field operations, managing system integration, readiness, and sustainment for live fire exercises, demonstrations, and government tests, while professionally representing the company in high-visibility engagements
• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds, climb ladders, and conduct physical tasks in both indoor labs and field conditions