UAV Test Engineer (Systems/Mechatronics)

The role

This individual contributor role focuses on designing test plans, instrumenting vehicles, creating test infrastructure, and analyzing system-level performance. You will work across mechanical, electrical, and software domains to own system-level test execution end to end.

What you will do

• Develop and own system-level test plans for ground and flight testing.
• Design and maintain test infrastructure and instrumentation.
• Provide technical oversight of test execution.
• Analyze telemetry, logs, and performance data to characterize system behavior.
• Drive continuous improvement of test methods, documentation, workflows, and tools.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with hardware and software teams.

Required qualifications

• 3–5 years experience in UAV, robotics, aerospace, or electromechanical systems testing.
• Strong mechatronics intuition to debug mechanical, electrical, and software-integration issues.
• 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.

Nice to have

• Passion for UAVs and aviation
• Exposure to PX4/ArduPilot, ROS, or similar robotics frameworks.
• Familiarity with reliability, accelerated life, or environmental testing.
• FAA Part 107 certification or willingness to obtain one.

Benefits

• Competitive Salary
• Equity Compensation
• Comprehensive Health Coverage including medical, dental, and vision plans
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Unlimited PTO
• Paid company holidays

About the company

Seneca is building cutting-edge drone and sensor technology for wildfire suppression. The mission-driven company aims to eliminate wildfire risk across 500 million acres of high-risk U.S. + allied territory.