Systems and Test Analyst

Overwatch Imaging

$70K — $95K *
Aerospace & Defense
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5-7 years experience in aviation systems and flight testing
  • Hands-on experience with airborne sensor operation or integration
  • Strong troubleshooting skills with hardware and software
  • Excellent communication skills for technical and non-technical stakeholders
  • Ability to manage multiple tasks and prioritize under pressure

Responsibilities

  • Prepare and conduct flight tests with airborne sensor systems
  • Integrate sensor hardware onto aircraft before flights
  • Execute test plans during airborne missions and document results
  • Analyze flight data to resolve hardware or software issues
  • Serve as a field representative during customer interactions
  • Write and execute test plans for real-world airborne scenarios
  • Maintain documentation for test procedures and troubleshooting tips

Benefits

  • Growth opportunities in a startup environment
  • Impactful work on missions that enhance safety
  • Collaborative culture with an open-door policy
  • Late start Wednesday for focused work time
  • Generous unlimited PTO policy
  • Recognition of 10 company holidays
  • Equity and stock options in the company
  • 100% coverage of medical and dental premiums for employees and families
  • 401K matching contributions up to 4% of pay
  • Required business travel up to 50% in non-commercial aircraft settings
Full Job Description
About the Role:

We are seeking anaviation-centric Systems & Flight Test Analystto join our team. This isnota traditional help desk or SaaS QA role - this position sits at the intersection offlight operations, sensor hardware integration, and real-world airborne testing. You'll be directly involved in preparing, executing, and evaluating airborne sensor systems on small, crewed aircraft, working alongside pilots, engineers, and customers to make our airborne products safe, reliable, and mission-ready.

In this role, you will plan and support flight tests, integrate and troubleshoot sensors in aircraft environments, and operate or assist in operating payload systems (e.g., video gimbals, airborne imagers) during actual flights. You'll also be customer-facing at times, supporting field deployments, demos, and training - so poise, communication, and professionalism matter.

If you're excited by aviation, enjoy hands-on technical problem solving, and want to help deliver cutting-edge airborne systems used in defense, emergency response, and critical remote sensing missions, this role is for you.

What You'll Do:

Flight & Field Testing
  • Prepare for and participate inflight testswith airborne sensor systems, including payload setup, checklists, and test verification.
  • Assist inintegration of sensor hardware(electrical, mounting, cabling) onto aircraft prior to test flights.
  • Execute test plans during airborne missions and document outcomes for engineering evaluation.

Sensor & Systems Troubleshooting
  • Analyze issues from flight data, logs, and onboard systems to identify and resolve hardware or software anomalies.
  • Work with hardware (electrical interfaces, data links) and software to ensure correct sensor performance in flight conditions.

Customer & Aviation Support
  • Serve as afield representativeduring customer flights, demos, and deployments; communicate clearly with pilots, operators, and external stakeholders.
  • Conduct on-site technical training or support for customers as needed.
  • Support our help desk and troubleshoot issues for customers as they arise.

Quality Assurance & Collaboration
  • Write and execute targeted test plans that reflect real-world airborne use cases (not just desktop tests).
  • Log defects with detailed reproduction steps and flight conditions.
  • Work closely with engineers to refine system design based on flight and sensor test results.
  • Provide constructive feedback to product and engineering teams about recurring operational challenges.

Documentation & Knowledge Sharing
  • Maintain and improve documentation for airborne test procedures, integration guides, and in-field troubleshooting tips.
  • Contribute to internal knowledge base and training materials.


Who You Are:

Ideal Experience
  • Experience inremote sensing, airborne payload operation, video gimbal systems, or sensor integrationon aircraft or unmanned platforms.
  • Comfortable working in aviation environments - including pre-flight prep, test execution, and flight "ride-along" support.
  • You may be a formerairborne sensor operator, flight test technician, remote sensing specialist, or someone with hands-on experience integrating sensors on aircraft.

Technical Aptitude
  • Strong troubleshooting and systems-thinking skills with both hardware and software.
  • Knowledge of electrical interfaces, data acquisition systems, and basic aircraft sensor hardware is a plus.

Communication & Customer Poise
  • Excellent verbal and written communication. You can confidently explain complex technical issues to non-technical stakeholders and customers.
  • You represent the company in field environments - you're personable, professional, and comfortable interacting with pilots, customers, and partners.

Organizational & Team Skills
  • You manage multiple tasks effectively, prioritize under pressure, and help drive issues to resolution.
  • You thrive in a dynamic, small-company environment where adaptability and cross-functional teamwork are key.

Mindset
  • You're passionate about aviation, airborne systems, and real-world testing. You're excited to learn, grow, and contribute to product success through hands-on work.

Nice-to-Have (but Not Required)
  • Prior Test Experience - experience creating and executing test cases
  • Prior aviation or flight test experience (civilian or military).
  • Prior ISR experience
  • Experience with Atlassian tools (Jira, Confluence, Service Desk, etc)
  • Familiarity with remote sensing data, GIS tools, or sensor calibration procedures.


What We Offer:
  • Growth Opportunities: As a team member of a true startup, you will learn by doing and shape our future. The opportunities are limitless for those who want to grow their career.
  • Impact Opportunity: We work on missions that matter to keep people safe and make the world better, and we do it at the speed of a startup.
  • Team Collaboration: Work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment with amazing teammates. The Overwatch Imaging leadership team believes in an open-door policy, meaning everyone has a voice and access to guidance, advice, feedback, and the ability to pitch crazy new ideas.
  • Late Start Wednesday: A weekly block to have focus time away from meetings and calls. An opportunity to work from home, flex your schedule or self-directed time to focus on training and development.
  • Time Off: Generous unlimited PTO policy to empower employees to make decisions about work life balance based on work and home needs.
  • Holidays: Overwatch Imaging recognizes 10 company holidays.
  • Ownership: Equity: Stock Options in our growing company.
  • Health Benefits: Medical and Dental premiums are 100% covered for employees and their families, plus a pre-tax health savings account.
  • 401K Retirement Savings: Matching contributions up to 4% of pay.
  • Travel: Position requires business travel up to 50% and work in and around non-commercial aircraft.

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