{"id":577561,"url":"https://alion.io/job/skydio-flight-test-operator-data-collection-fixed-term","title":"Flight Test Operator - Data Collection Fixed Term","company":{"id":6786,"name":"Skydio","domain":"skydio.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/skydio","size_band":"201-500","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Ashby","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":73,"open_postings":25,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.88,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":64,"computed_at":"2026-10-26T05:57:25Z"}},"role":"Field & Service","role_family":"Field & Service","seniority":"junior","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"hybrid","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"explicit","locations":["San Mateo, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":50,"max":60,"currency":"USD","period":"hour","gross":null,"usd_annual":120000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":1,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-09-09T18:17:26Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-09-09","last_verified_at":"2026-10-26T21:42:42Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":47,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":47},"description":"Skydio is the leading US drone company and the world leader in autonomous flight, the key technology for the future of drones and aerial mobility. The Skydio team combines deep expertise in artificial intelligence, best-in-class hardware and software product development, operational excellence, and customer obsession to empower a broader, more diverse audience of drone users, from utility inspectors to first responders, soldiers in battlefield scenarios, and beyond.\nAbout the Role:\nSkydio is looking for a Data Collection Flight Test Operator to join our data collection and flight testing team. In this role you'll fly Skydio aircraft across a wide range of environments and scenarios, gathering the data that trains and validates our autonomy and AI systems.\nThis is a field role, and the travel is real: expect to be on the road roughly 90% of the time, at test ranges, customer sites, and unimproved field environments across the United States. You'll execute structured flight missions, capture sensor and telemetry data, and feed findings directly back to the engineering teams building the product.\nIf you want to spend most of your time flying in the real world rather than at a desk, this is that job.\nLocation: San Mateo, CA (U.S.) - approximately 90% travel\nEmployment Type: Fixed Term - 12 months\nHow You’ll Make an Impact:\nSafely operate Skydio aircraft across diverse environments - urban, rural, industrial, forested, and degraded-visual conditions - to collect data for product development and validation.\n\nExecute structured flight test plans, including repeatable scripted scenarios and exploratory flights.\n\nCollect, label, and manage high volumes of sensor, imagery, and telemetry data, following established data handling and chain-of-custody procedures.\n\nMaintain accurate flight logs and documentation in compliance with FAA regulations and Skydio's safety procedures.\n\nReport anomalies, near-misses, and incidents promptly and thoroughly, including clear detail on environmental and operational factors.\n\nPartner with engineering and autonomy teams to align on data needs, test objectives, and operational constraints.\n\nMaintain and troubleshoot aircraft, attachments, and ground equipment; keep kit ready for upcoming campaigns.\n\nWhat makes you a good fit:\nRequired Qualifications:\nFAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate in good standing.\n\n100+ hours / 1+ years of experience operating small unmanned aircraft in real-world operational environments.\n\nStrong situational awareness and a demonstrated commitment to safe flight practices.\n\nAbility to follow structured test procedures precisely while adapting to changing field conditions.\n\nStrong written and verbal communication skills, with the discipline to document thoroughly in the field.\n\nValid U.S. driver's license and a driving record acceptable under Skydio's insurance requirements.\n\nPreferred Qualifications:\nBackground in aviation, robotics, or field data collection.\n\nExperience with UAS flight testing, flight log analysis, or technical data capture.\n\nExperience operating under Part 107 waivers (BVLOS, night, or operations over people).\n\nFamiliarity with Skydio platforms or other advanced autonomous aircraft.\n\nComfort troubleshooting hardware and software issues independently in the field, without on-site engineering support.\n\nGIS or 3D photogrammetry experience.\n\nConditions of Employment/Physical Requirements:\nTravel approximately up to 90% of the time to test sites, ranges, and field environments across the U.S.\n\nFrequent early mornings, extended field days, and occasional weekend work driven by weather windows and site availability.\n\nSuccessful completion of a background check.\n\nAbility to lift and carry equipment cases weighing up to 50 lbs.\n\nAbility to work outdoors for extended periods in varied weather, including heat, cold, wind, and precipitation.\n\nAbility to stand, walk, and traverse uneven terrain at field sites for extended periods.\n\nCompensation: This is a fixed term, full-time position with a limited duration as outlined in the job description. The hourly wage range for this position is $50 - $60 per hour*. Compensation will vary based on factors, including skill level, proficiencies, transferable knowledge, geographic location and experience. Fixed Term, full-time employees may be eligible to participate in the Company’s group health insurance plans after fulfilling tenure and waiting period requirements, subject to the terms and conditions of the plans. Fixed-term, full-time employees are also eligible to receive the following benefits: Paid vacation time, sick leave, statutory holiday pay and 401K savings plan. This position and all associated benefits are subject to applicable federal, state, and local laws, as well as the Company’s policies and eligibility criteria.\n*Compensation for certain positions may vary based on the position’s location.\n#LI-AS1\nAt Skydio we believe that diversity drives innovation. We have created a multidisciplinary environment that embraces the power of diverse perspectives to create elegant solutions for complex problems. We are committed to growing our network of people, programs, and resources to nurture an inclusive culture.\nQualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by federal, state or local anti-discrimination laws.\nFor positions located in the United States of America, Skydio, Inc. uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit https://www.e-verify.gov/","description_format":"text","description_chars":5727,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":1,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":null,"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["401k plan","Health insurance"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Drones & UAVs","Computer Vision","Military Drones","Drone AI"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-09-09T18:52:30Z"}],"visa":[{"country":"US","licensed_sponsor":true,"evidence":"H-1B filings in 12 months: 34 · green card filings: 6","filings_12m":34,"filings_prev_12m":24,"green_card_filings_12m":6,"median_offered_wage_usd":198500,"route":null,"cap_exempt":false,"checked_at":"2026-10-15T11:24:14+00:00","sources":["US Department of Labor: LCA disclosure data (H-1B, H-1B1, E-3)","US Department of Labor: PERM disclosure data (green cards)"],"filings_for_role_12m":0}],"liveness":{"score":35,"band":"fade","label":"Fading","p_open":1,"p_active":0.581,"p_room":0.6,"age_days":46,"expected_fill_days":64,"reasons":["conf:2","stale_co","velocity","win:late","crowd:junior,brand"],"computed_at":"2026-10-26T05:57:25Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":120000,"is_top_pay":true},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/skydio-flight-test-operator-data-collection-fixed-term","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/skydio-flight-test-operator-data-collection-fixed-term.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-27T00:04:41Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":90,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-28T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":6786},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=6786"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fskydio-flight-test-operator-data-collection-fixed-term"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fskydio-flight-test-operator-data-collection-fixed-term"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fskydio-flight-test-operator-data-collection-fixed-term"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/skydio-flight-test-operator-data-collection-fixed-term\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fskydio-flight-test-operator-data-collection-fixed-term"}]}