Senior Operations Engineer (Hardware)

FlightWave, a wholly owned subsidiary of Red Cat Holdings, is looking to fill a Sr. Operations Engineer position with a focus on hardware/electronics integration. We are a dynamic and growing drone technology company focused on the manufacturing of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS drones) for use in defense, public safety, and other government security organizations.

In this role, you will be responsible for designing and building tools and fixtures used in the production of FlightWave aircraft and ground systems.  This may include tools used for process automation, board-level testing, wire harness testing, mechanical assembly and inspection, etc. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in a production environment and versatile skills that span electrical and mechanical domains.

Location Note: This role is onsite in Carson, California.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and build board-level test jigs, harnesses, and fixtures for electronics testing in production.
• Develop and document test procedures for PCBs, integrated assemblies, and full system electrical validation.
• Support bring-up, troubleshooting, and debugging of flight hardware during production.
• Collaborate with hardware and software design teams to align on jigging, tooling, and test objectives, and drive design improvement feedback loops.
• Define and implement automation solutions for repetitive electrical and mechanical tasks; improve repeatability.
• Maintain documentation including MBOMs, electrical work instructions, and change control processes.
• Train technicians and engineers on test setup, execution, and troubleshooting procedures.
• Identify and deploy new equipment to streamline production operations.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience in a manufacturing oriented engineering environment
• B.S. in Electrical, Mechanical, Aerospace, Industrial Systems, etc.
• Experience with PCB test development, electrical harnessing, and fixture design.
• Proficiency in reading schematics, using electrical debug tools (e.g., oscilloscope, multimeter), and basic scripting (e.g., Python).
• Familiarity with production test and quality processes for hardware products.
• Experience with ECAD, preferably Altium
• Experience with MCAD, preferably SolidWorks

Preferred Qualifications

• Background in unmanned systems, robotics, or aerospace electronics.
• Experience with custom test automation platforms or embedded system validation.

• Experience with statistical process qualification tools such as Gage R&R, process capability analysis (Cp, Cpk), SPC, or measurement systems analysis (MSA).

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds independently, including tools, equipment, and hardware.