UAV Test Engineer (Systems/Mechatronics)

About the role

Seneca is seeking a Test Engineer to build the technical foundation of its UAV test program. This individual‑contributor role focuses on designing test plans, instrumenting vehicles, creating test infrastructure, and analyzing system‑level performance across mechanical, electrical, and software domains.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and own system‑level test plans for ground and flight testing, defining objectives, sequences, and success criteria.
• Design and maintain test infrastructure and instrumentation to capture high‑quality, actionable data.
• Provide technical oversight of test execution, validate readiness, guide pilots and operators, and ensure procedural rigor.
• Analyze telemetry, logs, and performance data to characterize system behavior, identify root causes, and inform engineering decisions.
• Drive continuous improvement of test methods, documentation, workflows, and tools.
• Collaborate cross‑functionally with hardware and software teams to align test activities with development needs and translate findings into design actions.

Required profile

• 3–5 years experience in UAV, robotics, aerospace, or electromechanical systems testing.
• Strong mechatronics intuition to debug mechanical, electrical, and software‑integration issues at a system level.
• Experience designing structured experiments and test plans.
• Hands‑on experience instrumenting complex systems and validating data quality.
• Ability to define requirements and prototype fixtures.
• Competence analyzing logs, telemetry, and multi‑domain performance data.
• Comfortable working in both lab and field environments, including variable outdoor conditions.
• Basic CAD proficiency.

Required skills

• PX4/ArduPilot or similar robotics frameworks
• ROS
• Basic CAD
• Reliability testing
• Accelerated life testing
• Environmental testing
• FAA Part 107 certification (or willingness to obtain)

What we offer

• Competitive salary reflective of skills and experience
• Equity compensation to become a part‑owner
• Comprehensive health coverage (medical, dental, vision)
• Health Savings Account (HSA) for pre‑tax medical savings
• Unlimited PTO plus paid company holidays