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Amazon is hiring drone testing pilots

Amazon is hiring drone testing pilots

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Ads on the site seek candidates for "flight operations engineer" positions

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Amazon announced its plans for delivery drones — Amazon Prime Air — late last year. And then, for a long time: nothing. As observers pointed out, the project had at least a few hurdles to fruition. But the company seems to be making progress: it's posted open jobs for a "flight operations engineer" in both Cambridge and in Seattle.

Two years ago, Amazon bought UK drone startup Evi Technologies, and it seems the company's expanding R&D work in the Cambridge area. Amazon has been looking to fill positions like "senior research scientist," but the Cambridge engineer position, posted late last month, sounds more hands-on. Qualifications for the gig include five or more years of "lead" flight test experience, and three or more years of "support" flight experience. The Seattle job similarly requires five or more years "of relevant aviation experience, either civilian or military, with either manned or unmanned aviation." A slightly less exciting but just as important job for "flight safety manager" is also up.

Here's the full listing for the Cambridge pilot position:

Job Description

We're working on the future. If you are seeking an environment where you can drive innovation... If you want to apply state-of-the-art technologies to solve extreme-scale real world problems... If you want the satisfaction of providing visible benefit to end-users in an iterative fast paced environment... This is your opportunity.

Come work on the Amazon Prime Air Team!

Amazon Prime Air is looking for flight operations and certification personnel for flight testing our UAS technologies. You can expect to collaborate on test plans, plan the test evolution, and execute the flights while working closely with our flight engineering and flight test teams in Seattle. We're looking for aerospace, systems, or other engineers with extensive UAS flight experience. Success will require attention to detail, a safety-oriented attitude, flexibility, and creative problem solving.

Qualifications

· 5+ (lead) 3+ (support) years flight test experience

· Bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering or related field required (will take other types of engineers if they have the flight test experience)

· Experience with flight test planning, coordination, and execution

· Excellent communications skills

Preferred Qualifications

· Experience in UAS/aircraft certification

· Demonstrated ability to brief upper management

· Aviation safety experience preferred