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

Find more English Speaking Jobs in France on Arbeitnow