Systems Integration & Flight Test Engineer

As a Senior Systems Integration & Flight Test Engineer, you own end-to-end system integration and validation. You connect hardware, software, RF communications, avionics, PNT, payloads, ground systems and operators so individual components become a reliable, mission-ready system.

You turn operational needs and incomplete field evidence into measurable requirements, controlled configurations, representative tests and objective acceptance evidence. The role covers integration, root-cause analysis, flight readiness, technical release and operational handover.

What you’ll do

• Translate operational needs and field failures into system requirements, acceptance criteria and validation plans.
• Maintain system architecture, interface-control, wiring, network, timing and configuration documentation.
• Define technical assumptions, test gates, known limitations, ownership and rollback conditions.
• Integrate UAV platforms, avionics, radios, payloads, sensors, PNT, edge computers, mission software and ground equipment.
• Reproduce failures and lead root-cause analysis across RF, power, EMI, software, networking, mechanical and operator factors.
• Build representative integration rigs, HIL environments and instrumented UAV configurations.
• Define logging, synchronisation, ground truth, instrumentation and data-quality requirements.
• Conduct fault injection across power, sensors, PNT, radios, networks, interfaces and timing.
• Develop repeatable scripts, checklists and methods for regression and acceptance testing.
• Plan and execute bench, HIL, ground, range, environmental and flight tests with clear safety controls.
• Prepare test cards, contingency actions, flight-readiness evidence and technical go/no-go recommendations.
• Analyse data, track anomalies and confirm closure against acceptance criteria.
• Produce release packs, installation instructions, operational limitations, acceptance checklists and rollback procedures.
• Support field trials, customer demonstrations, operator training, deployments, incident response and after-action reviews.

Who you are

You are curious, hands-on and driven to deliver systems that perform in the real world. You work confidently across disciplines, communicate clearly and remain calm under pressure.

You establish root cause, validate corrective actions and maintain configuration traceability. You can state uncertainty, challenge unsupported conclusions and stop testing when safety or evidence is insufficient.

Flight testing and operational deployments may require international travel or participation in a formally managed out-of-hours support arrangement.

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aerospace, Systems, Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics, Robotics, Software Engineering or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of experience in systems integration, verification, validation, flight testing or mission-critical UxV systems.
• Proven experience taking a complex system from incomplete evidence through root cause, validation, release and operational use.
• Practical experience with UAVs, aerospace or autonomous systems.
• Working knowledge of PX4, MAVLink, flight controllers, telemetry, flight logs, mission planning and ground-control systems.
• Cross-domain understanding of electrical systems, embedded software, IP networking, RF communications, mechanical integration and PNT.
• Experience creating system architectures, ICDs, wiring definitions, network plans and controlled configuration baselines.
• Hands-on ability with configuration, scripting, packet capture, log analysis, test equipment and field repair.
• Experience with HIL, SIL, telemetry replay, test automation or fault injection is an advantage.
• Strong data-analysis, technical writing and problem-solving skills.