THE ROLEWe are seeking a UAS Flight Operations Engineer II to join our growing hardware team. This is a field-oriented role for someone who thrives in the operational reality of long-range UAV missions - planning and executing BVLOS flights, managing regulatory compliance, and ensuring safe, mission-ready operations in demanding environments. You will lead the operational framework for our fixed-wing UAV platform: from waiver strategy and airspace coordination to real-time mission monitoring and post-flight analysis. You will work alongside a small, highly technical team, bridging the gap between engineering development and field execution as we scale from early prototype flights to hardened, field-proven operations in complex international environments.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES- Lead BVLOS operations planning and flight test execution, including waiver compliance, pre-flight risk assessment, and real-time mission monitoring;
- Lead flight testing of a custom fixed-wing airframe, from first flight and envelope expansion through iterative design validation with the engineering team;
- Own the FAA Part 107 waiver strategy, COA applications, and international UAS regulatory compliance across operating environments;
- Develop and maintain standardized operating procedures, pre-flight checklists, and emergency response protocols for field campaigns;
- Serve as primary pilot-in-command and/or flight test director for fixed-wing UAV missions, including manual RC proficiency during test and contingency operations;
- Analyze flight logs (MAVExplorer, Flight Review) to diagnose anomalies and drive iterative improvements to mission reliability and safety margins;
- Coordinate with meteorological resources and integrate atmospheric sensing data to support mission go/no-go decision-making;
- Collaborate with science and field teams to validate mission profiles, sensor data quality, and operational success criteria;
- Manage ground control station operations, C2 link monitoring, and spectrum compliance during live missions;
- Document flight operations, incident reports, and lessons learned to build a scalable operational knowledge base for the drone program.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS- Bachelor's or Master's degree in aerospace engineering, aviation, atmospheric science, or a closely related field; equivalent operational experience will be considered.
- BA/BS + 5 years of experience or MS + 3 years of experience with at least 2 years, of hands-on UAV flight operations experience with fixed-wing platforms in real-mission or production contexts
- FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate required; demonstrated experience with BVLOS waivers, COA applications, or international UAS regulatory frameworks is strongly preferred;
- Experience operating ArduPilot-based autopilot systems, including mission scripting, failsafe configuration, and GCS software (Mission Planner, QGroundControl);
- Practical fixed-wing airframe flight experience, including manual RC aircraft proficiency and understanding of in-flight anomaly recognition;
- Familiarity with RF link monitoring, C2 spectrum compliance, and antenna management for long-range UAV operations;
- Experience with atmospheric sensing, meteorology, or operational weather forecasting is a strong plus;
- Experience supporting field campaigns or flight tests in remote or international environments is highly valued;
- Strong documentation habits: flight logs, incident reports, SOPs, and post-mission summaries suitable for regulatory review and program scaling;
- Genuine passion for operating novel aerial platforms in service of real-world scientific or environmental missions, with comfort working at the intersection of field operations, engineering, and regulatory compliance.
LOCATION: Boulder, CO
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The salary range for this role is $115,000 - $150,000. Compensation for the role will depend on a number of factors, including a candidate's qualifications, skills, competencies, and experience. FL112 currently offers healthcare coverage, annual incentive program, retirement benefits and a broad range of other benefits. Compensation and benefits information is based on FL112's good faith estimate as of the date of publication and may be modified in the future.
