Flight Test Engineer

ABOUT ALTA ARES Alta Ares is an air defense Neoprime. We build AI-guided interceptors to counter drones and cruise missiles, along with the software platform that powers them. Our customers are NATO-aligned militaries and defense institutions, and our systems are regularly deployed during live exercises and operational demonstrations across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Founded in 2024, we have grown to 90 people, raised over $60M, and increased revenue 40× this year. We are now entering a new phase of international expansion, industrial scaling, fundraising, and product development. Flight Test Planning & Execution - Plan, prepare, and lead flight test campaigns for high-performance unmanned aerial systems, from early prototypes to mature configurations - Write test plans, test cards, risk assessments, and safety cases for each campaign - Act as test conductor on the range: run pre-flight checks, coordinate the test team, and make go/no-go decisions - Coordinate with range authorities, airspace regulators, and military test centres to secure test slots and approvals Data Acquisition & Analysis - Define instrumentation and requirements for each test objective - Process and analyse flight data to assess performance, stability, and system behaviour against requirements - Produce clear test reports, flag anomalies, and drive root-cause investigations with the engineering teams - Build tools and scripts to automate post-flight analysis and grow a structured test database Verification, Qualification & Safety - Build and maintain the test and evaluation strategy, tracing requirements to test evidence - Support qualification and acceptance campaigns with customers - Own flight safety processes, incident reporting, and lessons learned - Help define procedures for operating systems safely in live and operational environments Cross-functional Collaboration - Work closely with Avionics, Software, GNC, Mechanical, and Product teams to shape test objectives and feed results into design iterations - Support customer demonstrations and military exercises across Europe and beyond - Contribute to the training of operators and field teams Requirements Candidate profile - Degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Electrical Engineering, or a related field - 2+ years of flight test experience on UAS, fixed-wing or rotary-wing aircraft, or guided munitions - Proven track record writing test plans and leading test campaigns in the field - Solid understanding of flight dynamics, flight control systems, and aircraft performance - Strong data analysis skills - Experience with telemetry, ground control stations, and onboard data logging Skills & Qualities - Calm, methodical, safety-first mindset under operational pressure - Strong organisational skills, able to coordinate multidisciplinary teams on the range - Hands-on and comfortable with field work, hardware troubleshooting, and outdoor conditions - Clear and concise written and verbal communication - High integrity, discretion, and understanding of security culture - Team spirit - Fluent English; French is a plus Nice to Have - Drone pilot certification - Experience at military test ranges or with DGA or equivalent national test centres - Experience with live-fire, weapons, or counter-UAS trials - Former military service, particularly in aviation, air defense, or UAS units - Familiarity with PX4/ArduPilot, flight log tools, and simulation or HITL environments - Willingness to travel frequently to test sites across Europe