Flight Test Engineer

About Applied Intuition

Applied Intuition, Inc. is powering the future of physical AI. Founded in 2017 and now valued at $15 billion, the Silicon Valley company is creating the digital infrastructure needed to bring intelligence to every moving machine on the planet. Applied Intuition services the automotive, defense, trucking, construction, mining and agriculture industries in three core areas: tools and infrastructure, operating systems, and autonomy. Eighteen of the top 20 global automakers, as well as the United States military and its allies, trust the company’s solutions to deliver physical intelligence. Applied Intuition is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, with offices in Washington, D.C.; San Diego; Ft. Walton Beach, Florida; Ann Arbor, Michigan; London; Stuttgart; Munich; Stockholm; Bangalore; Seoul; and Tokyo. Learn more at applied.co.

We are an in-office company, and our expectation is that employees primarily work from their Applied Intuition office 5 days a week. However, we also recognize the importance of flexibility and trust our employees to manage their schedules responsibly. This may include occasional remote work, starting the day with morning meetings from home before heading to the office, or leaving earlier when needed to accommodate family commitments.

About The Role

Applied Intuition is seeking a dynamic Flight Test Engineer to accelerate the validation and evaluation of autonomous aerial systems through high-fidelity simulation and real-world operation. You will collaborate with software developers, solution engineers, technical program managers, external partners, and customers to conduct full-system development testing, ensuring our autonomy stacks bridge the gap between live, virtual, and constructive aircraft system capabilities. This is a high-impact opportunity to define the testing infrastructure for the next generation of flight, ensuring rapid, safe deployment in an innovative environment.

At Applied Intuition, you will:

• End-to-End Test Ownership: Lead the strategic development and execution of comprehensive test plans, operating with high autonomy to define the roadmap for validating complex flight systems.
• Mission-Critical Execution: Direct ground and flight test operations at private and government ranges, managing everything from resource logistics to the safe, rigorous deployment of hardware and software.
• Data-Driven Collaboration: Bridge the gap between the field and the lab by performing initial data analysis and providing engineering teams with the technical observations needed to iterate on autonomy stacks.
• Process Architecture: Design and refine standardized testing procedures and safety protocols to ensure rapid, reliable system evaluation in a fast-paced development environment
  
  

We’re looking for someone who has:

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• High agency and the ability to directly influence test programs
• Strong understanding of the US Defense space and ability to navigate DOD organizations
• Experience in acquisition, test, and evaluation of aviation products
• An advanced (graduate) degree in a technical field related to aerospace
• Completed training in NTPS, USAF TPS, Navy TPS, or equivalent
• Ability to create and refine test objectives, and lead test plan working groups, test reviews, and safety reviews
• Ability to author clear and concise test plans, test reports, communication plans, hazard analyses, quick look reports, checklists, and test cards
• Experience communicating between technical experts and vehicle operators
• Experience running test missions as a test conductor or test director
  
  

Travel Requirements:

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• Must be willing to travel up to 50% of the time.
• This role can be based in one of the following locations: Washington, DC; or Fort Walton Beach, FL, San Diego, CA or Ann Arbor, MI. Relocation offered.
  
  

Security Requirements:

• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Must have an active U.S. security clearance
  
  

For more information about U.S. security clearances: click here.

Nice to have:

• Prior military flight test experience

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• Prior FAA airspace sUAS experience
• Prior sUAS autopilot operations, such as QGroundControl, Pixhawk, and MAVlink
• Proven ability as a self-starter that can adapt and define their role
• FAA Part 107 license
• FAA private pilot license
• Prior experience deploying for flight test campaigns
  
  

Compensation at Applied Intuition for eligible roles includes base salary, equity, and benefits. Base salary is a single component of the total compensation package, which may also include equity in the form of options and/or restricted stock units, comprehensive health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance coverage, 401k retirement benefits with employer match, learning and wellness stipends, and paid time off. Note that benefits are subject to change and may vary based on jurisdiction of employment.

Applied Intuition pay ranges reflect the minimum and maximum intended target base salary for new hire salaries for the position. The actual base salary offered to a successful candidate will additionally be influenced by a variety of factors including experience, credentials & certifications, educational attainment, skill level requirements, interview performance, and the level and scope of the position.

Please reference the job posting subtitle for where this position will be located. For pay transparency purposes, the base salary range for this full-time position in the location listed is: $155,000 to $190,000 USD annually.

Don’t meet every single requirement? If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Applied Intuition is an equal opportunity employer and federal contractor or subcontractor. Consequently, the parties agree that, as applicable, they will abide by the requirements of 41 CFR 60-1.4(a), 41 CFR 60-300.5(a) and 41 CFR 60-741.5(a) and that these laws are incorporated herein by reference. These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities, and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin. These regulations require that covered prime contractors and subcontractors take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status or disability. The parties also agree that, as applicable, they will abide by the requirements of Executive Order 13496 (29 CFR Part 471, Appendix A to Subpart A), relating to the notice of employee rights under federal labor laws.