Production Flight Test Manager Full Time NEW

Teal Drones, a wholly owned subsidiary of Red Cat Holdings, is looking to hire a full-time Production Flight Test Manager. Teal is a rapidly growing technology company focused on creating world-class unmanned aircraft system solutions for defense, public safety, and government security applications.

The Production Flight Test Manager is a key operational leadership role responsible for managing Production Flight Test as a post-production quality and acceptance function. This team serves as the final verification gate before aircraft systems are released to customers or downstream operations.

This role is responsible for ensuring completed aircraft are tested safely, consistently, and against clearly defined acceptance criteria. The manager will own daily test execution, test readiness, defect tracking, First Pass Yield, reject rates, retest performance, recurring failure trends, and the definition of acceptable performance limits for production flight acceptance.

The ideal candidate is a data-driven leader who can manage flight test operations while turning test results into actionable information for Manufacturing, Quality, Engineering, Software, Hardware, and Flight Operations. This position requires the ability to identify trends, escalate systemic issues, define where performance is outside acceptable limits, and drive corrective action through the appropriate quality and engineering processes.

This role reports directly to the VP of Operations and plays a critical role in aircraft acceptance, quality performance, delivery execution, and continuous improvement.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Manage Production Flight Test personnel, including professional development, scheduling, timecards, expense reporting, coaching, feedback, and accountability.
• Lead daily Production Flight Test coordination meetings to align flight priorities, aircraft readiness, range availability, personnel support, acceptance status, and delivery schedules.
• Manage and schedule post-production flight testing for all applicable sUAS platforms, ensuring aircraft readiness, test-site coordination, personnel coverage, and deconfliction across multiple test locations.
• Own and maintain the Production Flight Test schedule to ensure completed aircraft are tested, documented, dispositioned, and released in support of delivery timelines.
• Track and report aircraft status through the full Production Flight Test process, including completed, awaiting test, passed, failed, requiring retest, blocked, and ready for delivery.
• Own and report key Production Flight Test metrics, including:
• First Pass Yield, FPY
• Pass and fail rates
• Reject rates
• Retest rates
• Repeat failure trends
• Defect categories
• Aircraft aging in test queue
• Test throughput
• Acceptance cycle time
• Ready-for-delivery conversion rate
• Define, monitor, and communicate acceptable limits for Production Flight Test performance, including reject-rate thresholds, FPY targets, retest limits, and escalation triggers.
• Identify recurring defects and failure modes using test data, reject trends, and FPY analysis.
• Ensure bugs, failures, nonconformances, and recurring issues identified during Production Flight Test are accurately documented through the appropriate quality, engineering, and bug-reporting systems.
• Partner with Manufacturing, Quality, Engineering, Software, Hardware, and Flight Operations to ensure test failures are reviewed, assigned, dispositioned, and driven to resolution.
• Establish clear standards for what constitutes a pass, fail, retest, hold, or escalation condition during Production Flight Test.
• Ensure Production Flight Test data is complete, accurate, timely, and usable for quality reviews, delivery planning, engineering feedback, and continuous improvement.
• Support implementation of sampling strategies, AQL-based inspection approaches, and data-backed acceptance criteria where appropriate.
• Ensure Production Flight Test activities comply with applicable FAA rules and regulations, company policies, pilot qualification requirements, airspace requirements, and flight standards.
• Coordinate NOTAM establishment and required operating notifications for various test sites as needed.
• Communicate regulatory, compliance, airspace, NOTAM, pilot qualification, and flight standards matters to the senior management to ensure Production Flight Test activities remain aligned with applicable requirements and company policies.
• Ensure the team participates in continuous improvement initiatives focused on quality, safety, standardization, throughput, defect reduction, and operational excellence.

Required Qualifications

• 2 to 3 years in management or leadership role.
• Proven experience in flight test planning and execution.
• Part 107 FAA Remote Pilot Certificate required. If not currently certified, the company will reimburse the cost of obtaining the certification upon successful completion, subject to company policy.
• Strong understanding of production acceptance testing, test documentation, defect reporting, and aircraft release criteria.
• Experience tracking and reporting operational or quality metrics such as FPY, reject rates, pass/fail rates, retest rates, defect trends, and throughput.
• Ability to analyze test data, identify recurring failure patterns, and communicate clear corrective-action priorities.
• Ability to define acceptable performance limits and escalation thresholds based on production quality data.
• Advanced knowledge of UAS systems, including multi-rotor, fixed-wing, and VTOL platforms, with experience in sensor integration and payload operations.
• Demonstrated leadership ability, including mentoring junior test pilots and technicians while maintaining safety, quality, and operational discipline.
• Familiarity with regulatory compliance standards, including FAA, ASTM, and other applicable safety standards.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to work cross-functionally with Manufacturing, Quality, Engineering, Software, Hardware, Flight Operations, and senior leadership.

Additional Desired Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field such as aerospace engineering, aviation technology, UAS technology, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of two years of experience as a UAS professional pilot, military pilot, or holder of a Part 61 Airman’s Certificate.
• Previous employment as a test pilot.
• Military or civilian equivalent Test Pilot School, TPS, graduate.
• Experience with PX4, ArduPilot, MAVLink, and QGroundControl.
• Experience with Atlassian-based products such as Jira and Confluence.
• Experience using quality systems, bug-tracking systems, production dashboards, or manufacturing execution systems.
• Experience building or improving FPY, reject-rate, retest, or defect-tracking systems.
• Familiarity with FAA Drone Zone, LAANC, Drone NOTAMs, and waivers.
• Experience with fixed-wing drones and FPV drones, including hobby or racing experience, is highly desirable.

Physical Requirements And Working Conditions

• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to stand for long periods of time.
• Ability to work in outdoor environments, across all four seasons, and in varying weather conditions.
• Ability to remain calm and focused under pressure during critical phases of flight testing and unforeseen challenges.
• Vigilance and adherence to safety protocols to protect personnel and maintain compliance with regulatory standards.
• Stamina to withstand long periods of standing, walking, and potentially climbing stairs or ladders to access observation areas.
• Proficient hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity to handle equipment and documents related to flight operations.
• Visual acuity to observe flight operations, monitor aircraft performance, and review documentation with precision.

Background Check

This position will require successfully completing a post-offer background check. Qualified candidates with a criminal history will be considered and are not automatically disqualified, consistent with federal and state law.

EEO and ITAR/EAR Work Authorization Disclosure

Red Cat Holdings provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This position requires direct or indirect access to hardware, software, technology or technical data controlled under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Successful candidates for positions subject to ITAR/EAR restrictions must provide proof of U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Residence and must not require sponsorship for export-restricted work authorization.

E-Verify

The company participates E-Verify ensure eligibility for employment and compliance with Right to Work rules.

Compensation: Base pay, plus generous annual equity package and potential bonuses.