UAS Pilot
Listed on 2026-10-04
-
Engineering
Aerospace / Aviation / Avionics, Robotics
Location
:
Onsite — Austin, TX
Employment Type
:
Direct Hire, Full‑Time
Job Title
: UAS Pilot
The modern battlefield has changed. Cheap, autonomous suicide drones have turned the tactical advantage upside down, and the world is looking for a solution. At 9 Mothers, we aren't just "innovating." We are building the shield.
Backed by top-tier investors, we develop AI-powered machines designed to intercept and neutralize Group 1/sUAS threats in real time. Our flagship product, Edda, is a low-cost, autonomous-capable point defense turret that detects and engages high-speed FPV drones at close range.
Why 9 Mothers?While others build for "awareness" or "long-term research," we build for the immediate survival of those in harm's way. We are a team of hackers, engineers, and mission-driven builders who value field-ready capability over polished slide decks. If you want to see your flying turn into fielded hardware next month, not next year, this is your playground.
Position SummaryWe are seeking a Drone Test Pilot to be the threat our systems are built to defeat. You'll fly FPV and COTS drones against our counter-drone systems so that our product is tested against realistic, aggressive flight profiles. You'll also fly live demonstrations for customers.
This is not a photography or mapping role. We need someone with real stick skills who can fly fast, fly repeatably, recover when things go wrong, and tell our engineers exactly what happened in the air.
Essential Duties Test Flight OperationsFly FPV and COTS drones against Edda and our other systems in structured test campaigns, executing specific flight profiles (speed, altitude, approach angle, evasive maneuvering) on demand and repeatably
Emulate realistic threat behavior, including high-speed attack runs, low-altitude approaches, and swarm-style multi-drone scenarios alongside other pilots
Conduct pre-flight planning, risk assessments, checklists, and airspace coordination for every flight session
Operate safely within FAA Part 107, range safety protocols, and company SOPs in an active live-fire test environment
Fly live demos for customers, both at our Austin-area range and at off-site customer locations
Rehearse and execute demo scripts reliably under pressure, with the confidence to adapt when conditions change
Build, repair, and maintain the drone fleet, including battery, motor and prop swaps, connectors, soldering, and frame repairs
Configure and tune aircraft using Ardu Pilot: firmware flashing, sensor calibration, PID tuning
Capture flight logs and telemetry and hand clean data to perception and robotics engineers
Maintain flight records, aircraft registrations, and maintenance logs
Provide clear, specific debriefs to engineering after every session: what you flew, what you saw, and what looked off
Current FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate
2+ years of hands-on FPV (5 , 7 and 10 ) flying experience (professional, racing, freestyle, or military)
Strong manual flying skills: comfortable in Acro mode with no GPS assistance, at high speed and low altitude
Proficiency flying common COTS platforms
Working knowledge of Ardu Pilot, including firmware flashing, configuration, and basic log review
Ability to build and field-repair small drones, including basic soldering and electronics
Familiar with battery safety and procedures
Methodical and disciplined: you run the same checklist the same way on flight 200 as on flight 1, and you write things down
Comfortable working outdoors for full days in central Texas conditions, including direct sun and high heat
Valid driver's license and ability to travel for off-site demos and test events
Must be a U.S. Person as defined by ITAR
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