Flight Test Pilot

At Auterion, we build the future of drones and autonomous robots. Our Munich-based production and flight test team is responsible for getting world-class multicopters into the hands of our enterprise and government customers — at scale, on schedule, and with uncompromising quality.

As a Flight Test Pilot, you are the final gatekeeper before our multicopters leave the factory. You will execute high-volume Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT), flying production aircraft through standardized acceptance profiles, validating that every unit meets Auterion’s performance, safety, and quality standards. Your hands-on piloting skill, mechanical aptitude, and procedural discipline will directly shape the customer experience of our products.

This role is ideal for a precise, safety-minded pilot who thrives in a fast-paced, production-oriented environment and enjoys working at the intersection of aviation, robotics, and modern manufacturing.

Responsibilities and Duties:

• Execute High-Volume Factory Acceptance Flights: Operate production multicopters through standardized FAT profiles to verify performance, flight characteristics, payload integration, and system behavior on every aircraft leaving the Munich facility.
• Maintain Operational Flight Proficiency: Serve as a fully proficient Flight Test Pilot, capable of accurately and repeatably executing the maneuvers and procedures defined by the Flight Test Engineering team, with a focus on consistency across hundreds of acceptance flights.
• Support Reporting and Debriefing: Actively participate in post-flight debriefs, providing clear, subjective feedback on vehicle performance, handling qualities, and system behavior. Help engineers correlate pilot observations with measured data and flag systemic trends across the production fleet.
• Maintain, Retrofit, and Repair Test Vehicles: Perform hands-on maintenance, inspections, component swaps, and repairs to keep the acceptance fleet at the highest standard of airworthiness and configuration control. Drive root-cause analysis on units that fail acceptance and feed findings back into production.
• Prepare Bench Setups: Assemble and configure hardware for ground and bench testing, including system integration checks, sensor calibrations, and pre-flight verifications that precede each acceptance flight.
• Execute Logistic Preparations for Flight Test Campaigns: Manage the hands-on logistics for occasional off-site test campaigns, including packing equipment, arranging transportation, and setting up remote operational sites to ensure campaign success.
• Become a Subject-Matter Expert: Develop in-depth knowledge of Auterion hardware and software, including Skynode, PX4, AuterionOS, Auterion Mission Control, and Auterion Suite, and apply that expertise to make every acceptance flight efficient and informative.
• Influence Product Quality: Act as a critical feedback source between production and engineering, translating patterns observed in acceptance testing into actionable recommendations for design, process, and quality improvements.

Qualifications and Skills:

This role demands a blend of piloting precision, mechanical craftsmanship, and methodical rigor — qualities that drive product excellence and align with our core values: Be Bold, Own the Outcome, and Team Over Players.

• Proven Piloting Skill: Demonstrably strong piloting skills on multicopters, with a focus on precision, safety, and procedural discipline. Comfort flying repetitive standardized profiles to a consistently high standard.
• Hands-On Drone Expertise: Direct experience flying and building drones or autonomous vehicles. Proficiency in hardware tasks like soldering, wiring, mounting, and assembling electronic subassemblies is a strong plus; CAD design and 3D printing experience is welcome.
• Mechanical Aptitude: Strong mechanical sense and hands-on experience maintaining and repairing aircraft, drones, or complex electro-mechanical systems.
• Test and Quality Mindset: A structured, procedure-oriented way of working with meticulous attention to detail. Prior experience in a production, acceptance, or flight test environment (aviation, automotive, or robotics) is a strong plus.
• Software Knowledge: Familiarity with the PX4 ecosystem and ground control stations (e.g., QGroundControl, Auterion Mission Control) is a significant advantage.
• Regulatory & Operational Readiness: Knowledge of EU safety regulations regarding testing and flying UAS is required. You must hold or be able to obtain the EU-Drone License A1/A3 (A2 is a plus) and must be an EU citizen.
• Engineering Foundation (a Plus): A technical degree or vocational qualification in aerospace, mechatronics, robotics, or a related field is welcome but not required — practical piloting and mechanical experience matter most.

Benefits

• Flexible working hours
• Stock Options
• Generous holiday allowance
• Pension plan
• Extended social security package
• Enhanced maternity & paternity leave
• Learning and development opportunities

About Auterion

We are building the leading software platform for AI-powered autonomous systems for enterprise and government customers. Our team is supporting the most important missions and solving the most challenging problems.

At Auterion, we bring together the sharpest minds who love to solve the hardest problems. Join a vibrant team built on innovation, openness, and excellence, where you’ll be empowered to develop ideas, collaborate across all levels, and make an impact that matters.