Newlands, Cape Town

This combination of technical expertise, hands-on flight experience, and the ability to communicate findings is essential for safely and effectively testing a large VTOL fixed-wing UAV during its development.

Extensive UAV Experience:

• A proven track record of flying both, fixed-wing and multirotor UAVs with emphasis on VTOL systems.
• Experience flying large, complex UAVs, ideally with comparable size, weight, and operational characteristics to the one under development.

Deep Understanding of UAV Systems:

• Comprehensive knowledge of flight control systems (e.g., Ardupilot, PX4), including Mission Planner and QGroundControl.
• Familiarity with autopilot tuning, system integration, and troubleshooting.

Experience with VTOL UAVs:

• In-depth experience piloting, VTOL UAVs, particularly large-scale models. The pilot should be comfortable with the transitional flight modes between vertical and horizontal flight.

Flight Testing and Development Experience:

• Previous experience in flight testing, particularly with prototype aircraft or systems in development.
• Knowledge of test procedures, safety protocols, and data collection during test flights.
• Ability to provide detailed feedback to engineering teams about aircraft performance, stability, and issues encountered.

Strong Technical and Analytical Skills:

• Ability to interpret and work with telemetry data during test flights to identify potential issues or inefficiencies.
• Skilled in performing in-flight adjustments to autopilot systems and fine-tuning flight characteristics.

Mechanical Aptitude:

• An understanding of the aircraft’s mechanical and electrical systems to diagnose issues or make minor repairs/adjustments if necessary.

High Safety Awareness:

• Strict adherence to safety protocols, especially when dealing with new or experimental UAVs.
• Risk assessment skills to evaluate environmental conditions, aircraft status, and mission-critical factors before and during flights.

Problem-Solving and Adaptability:

• Ability to think quickly and react calmly during unexpected flight anomalies.
• Flexibility to adjust flight plans or techniques based on real-time conditions or feedback from the development team.

Communication and Reporting Skills:

• Capable of producing detailed flight reports outlining test results, issues, and potential improvements.
• Strong verbal communication skills to interact effectively with engineering teams and management.

Additional Ideal Experience:

• Familiarity with aerodynamic testing and data analysis tools.
• Previous involvement in UAV research and development projects
• RC modelling and building experience, especially with fixed-wing VTOL platforms.
• Experience working with military-grade or commercial-grade UAVs.