Job Description:
At Airbus UpNext, we fly future technologies at speeds well beyond what seems feasible today. We're looking for passionate individuals to join a new demonstrator that will shape the future, enabling safe operations of Uncrewed Aerial Systems in the most challenging operational contexts and paving the way for effective collaboration between crewed and uncrewed vehicles in complex missions.
As part of a fast-paced, agile team, your mission will be to enable UAS to intelligently react to unforeseen situations and adverse external conditions, so as to preserve the integrity of the flight and achieve its operational objectives.
If you have a burning desire to make an impact and want to work in a startup-like environment backed by the strength of Airbus, this is your opportunity to fly the most challenging missions anytime, anywhere.
The UAS Flight Test Engineer (M/F) position is within Airbus UpNext Spain, based in Getafe, starting ASAP, and it consists of a limited contract linked to the deliverable of the demonstrator - estimated completion date end of December 2028.
Main responsibilities
Flight Test Design & Preparation: Lead the definition of the Flight Test Plan, including detailed test objectives, flight envelopes, success criteria, and safety procedures. Design and prepare complex flight scenarios to rigorously validate the flight autonomy functions.
Test Execution: Lead and coordinate the execution of the flight test campaigns on various UAS platforms, working closely with internal and external partners, ensuring all tests are conducted safely and in compliance with applicable regulations and Airbus requirements. Drive flight readiness activities and manage test execution logistics.
Data Collection & Analysis: Define and manage the data capture strategy during testing, ensuring the collection of high-quality evidence. Lead the post-flight data analysis to validate requirements and inform the next steps of the agile development cycle.
V&V Strategy Contribution: Contribute to the Verification & Validation (V&V) strategy and plan by providing flight test expertise. Support V&V activities using advanced simulation infrastructure (SiL/HiL) to bridge the gap between simulation and flight test.
Safety and Airspace Operations: Contribute to the Safety and Assurance Strategy by leading safety and risk assessments for flight tests. Ensure compliance with UAS regulations, standards (e.g., SORA), and safe airspace operations.
Knowledge Capitalization & Handover: Contribute to the analysis and capitalization of all technical data, ensuring a complete and valuable technical handover of all project learnings and operational assets at completion.
Risks & Opportunities: Identify and analyze risks & opportunities affecting the development and execution of the flight test campaigns, implementing corrective and preventive actions agreed within the project reviews.
Your boarding pass
What you bring:
Proven experience in UAS flight testing, including test design, planning, execution, and leading flight operations in various contexts.
Strong command of systems integration and V&V methodologies, particularly in the context of airborne systems.
Expertise in flight test data analysis and processing, with the ability to translate raw data into clear validation evidence.
Demonstrated knowledge and experience in UAS operations and airworthiness regulations and standards, including the SORA (Specific Operations Risk Assessment) framework.
Knowledge and experience with safety assessments and related methodologies for flight test campaigns.
Knowledge of avionics systems, airborne software and hardware.
Demonstrated ability to work in multi-disciplinary engineering teams, manage technical risks, and make critical decisions in a fast-paced, agile technology development environment.
A holistic, "big picture" systems thinking mindset with strong synthesis capacity and ability to translate high-level objectives into concrete test roadmaps and detailed test plans.
Strong English communication skills to champion the project’s technical vision to stakeholders and sponsors.
Eagerness to take initiatives to propose simpler and efficient ways of working. Impatience and burning desire to attain rapidly, along with a healthy skepticism for progress. Ability to cope with short deadlines.
Values of transparency, humility & empathy. Autonomy, adaptability, availability & accountability.
Readiness to step out of your comfort zone. Willingness to have fun.
What you get:
Pivotal Role in a Strategic Mission and develop Critical Competences: play a key part in a project at the forefront of the development of technology to enable UAS flight and open the way for complex missions.
Build Something that last: Your work will create high-value assets 💎 and learning contribution for Airbus’s future.
Work on the Edge of Technology: Explore disruptive technologies at their limits.
Agile and Empowering Environment: Thrive in a work culture that empowers you to act and think like a start-up while being supported by the strong expertise of Airbus. 💪🏻 We value an eagerness to take initiative and propose efficient ways of working.
A Great Team and Culture: Be part of a high-achieving, experienced and fun team in a shared open-space office with highly skilled colleagues. We are guided by the “Care for Each Other” value.
The responsibilities and the technical scope of the job might evolve according to the agile working environment of the project, so being flexible is important.
Flexibility & Fun: Enjoy the ability to craft your calendar 🗓️ with flexible hours and the opportunity to work remotely, alongside regular UpNext community bonding events. And yes, we have complimentary freshly ground coffee ☕ and beverages 🧃
About us
Founded in 2017, Airbus UpNext focuses on flying future technologies at speeds well beyond what seems feasible today. In doing so, it is actively shaping the future of the aerospace industry.
Designed as a talent incubator, Airbus UpNext is a place where you can act and think like a startup while building on the strong expertise of Airbus, a place where you are empowered to test & challenge new processes and ways of working.
Airbus UpNext’s demonstrators evaluate, mature and validate potential new products and services that encompass radical technological breakthroughs. It has three flagships locations in France, Germany and Spain, to rapidly develop and test future technologies in scaled applications.
Our mission is:
To identify the trends that could disrupt the future of the aerospace industry and evaluate them to demonstrate their potential as a viable product.
To accelerate traditional research cycles and prototype development to achieve proof of concept in a real environment and at a convincing scale and speed.
To develop real-world applications for emerging aerospace technologies, thereby driving their maturity and increasing their value.
To be THE reference for Technology Value Assessment
Our Values: #Be Simple #Be Audacious #Be Open #Speed of Execution, #Caring for Each Other
This job requires an awareness of any potential compliance risks and a commitment to act with integrity, as the foundation for the Company’s success, reputation and sustainable growth.
Company:
Airbus UpNext S.L.Employment Type:
Fixed term-------
Experience Level:
ProfessionalJob Family:
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