Drone Test and Integration Engineer

Job Type: Full-Time, On-Site

Compensation: Competitive salary and benefits package

Base Salary: $100,000 - $125,000 per year Total Compensation (including stock options*): $175,000-$200,000 Total compensation includes a meaningful equity grant. We're well-funded and building what we believe is a category-defining company. We're looking for mission-aligned people with high conviction in what they're building - not just employees, but owners. Our CEO was a founding engineer at SpaceX, and his vision and hands-on expertise across hardware, software, and scaling companies are the reason our earliest team members have joined. You'll be working in a high-paced, well-equipped environment built for developing scalable, efficient technology - with the resources and speed to match the ambition. This role offers more than cash compensation - it's a real stake in something with that kind of leadership behind it.

Job Description: We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Drone Test and Integration Engineer to join our multidisciplinary hardware and software engineering team. In this role, you will bridge the gap between initial design concepts and fully mission-capable, production-ready Type 1 and Type 2 Multirotor Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). You will lead the physical assembly, sub-system integration, environmental testing, and flight validation processes for our multirotor fleet. This ensures every multirotor system meets rigorous standards for safety, hover stability, and operational reliability. This role requires a unique combination of bench-top diagnostic capability, software integration expertise, and field flight-test operations for vertical flight architectures.

Responsibilities: System Integration: Lead the electrical, mechanical, and software integration of device-level components-including customized multirotor frames, flight controllers, ESCs, high-RPM brushless motors, and advanced sensor payloads Test Definition & Execution: Define, document, and execute comprehensive verification and validation (V&V) test protocols, including ground testing, hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulations, and end-of-line (EOL) manufacturing test procedures Flight Test Operations: Serve as a primary Test Conductor or Remote Pilot in Command (PIC) for experimental and validation flight campaigns, evaluating vehicle performance across varied environmental and operational envelopes Root Cause Analysis (RCA): Diagnose, troubleshoot, and isolate complex hardware, firmware, and telemetry network failures, implementing systemic design or process fixes alongside development teams Design for Testability (DfT): Collaborate directly with hardware and software designers during early product cycles to incorporate debugging ports, built-in self-tests (BIST), and data logging hooks Data Analysis: Review and analyze post-flight logs, telemetry streams, and structural diagnostics to identify performance anomalies, tuning requirements, or degradation trends Documentation: Draft precise diagnostic decision trees, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and automated testing documentation to streamline transitioning platforms to scale production teams

What We Are Looking For: Demonstrated experience building mechanical or robotic systems Working knowledge of mechanical design and CAD Comfort using tools and assembling physical hardware Strong mechanical intuition and practical problem-solving ability Ability to learn unfamiliar systems quickly and independently High personal ownership and follow-through Intellectual honesty Low ego and willingness to learn from anyone Direct, effective communication Genuine excitement about building difficult physical systems with a small team Preferred Skills and AttributesDemonstrated experience building, repairing, and operating multi-rotor tactical systems Familiarity with RF network optimization, telemetry link budgets, or anti-jamming verification protocols Experience working within regulatory frameworks (FAA Type Certification, MIL-STD testing protocols, or AS9100 quality compliance) Exceptional problem-solving skills under tight schedules, coupled with an objective, matter-of-fact communication style when escalating critical safety faults Comfort working in both a laboratory environment and demanding outdoor field environments under varied weather conditions Strong familiarity with open-source and proprietary multirotor flight control ecosystems (e.g., PX4, ArduPilot, Betaflight) Proficiency using bench-top test equipment such as digital oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, multimeters, and programmable power supplies Hands-on experience calibrating and synchronizing multi-sensor payloads (IMUs, GPS/GNSS, computer vision cameras, etc.) Basic programming capability (Python, C/C++) for parsing flight data logs and writing test automation scripts

Required Qualifications: Must be a U.S Citizen or Green card holder Work on location in Torrance, CA

Education: Bachelor's degree or higher in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, Systems Engineering, or a closely related technical field

Experience: 2-5+ years of hands-on experience in systems integration, hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing, or flight testing specifically multirotor UAS platforms

Company Overview: CHIRP Robotics is a well-funded seed-stage startup operating in stealth mode and based in Torrance, California. The company aims to become a leading U.S. provider of modular intelligence and autonomous systems for a wide range of vehicles and applications. It has an impressive portfolio of patents on the hardware side and IP in software / algorithms. CHIRP's CEO, a founding member of SpaceX, brings extensive technical expertise, a strong professional network, and significant business leadership experience.

Why Join Us? Opportunity to work on innovative and complex systems Hands-on experience with a broad range of engineering challenges Collaborative and growth-oriented work environment Competitive salary and benefits package