Job posting

[reedchristiansen]

We are an autopilot company that is growing quickly.

Here is our web site: www.procerusuav.com

We are looking for a skilled RC airplane hobbiest with some UAV know how. The person should have several years of experience building, flying, and wiring RC airplanes. The following is a partial list of job duties.

1. Building ARF RC models, mostly foam flying wings which will become UAV test platforms to sell to customers (see web site)
2. Wiring RC airplanes with autopilot, voltage regulator, servos, speed control, batteries, video system.
3. General soldering (video cameras, cables, charge pigtails, etc)
4. Crimping conectors (coax and non coax) - General intuition of RF comms would be nice, a ham radio license would be a big plus.
5. Autopilot installation and calibration. This person would become intimate with our autopilot system. They will learn to install it, calibrate it, and spot potential problems. In essence, they would become an expert user of our system. Ideally, they would not only be able to test fly Procerus aircraft, but help customers with installations and test flights as well. This may involve some travel in the future.


We have need for a full time person right now. However, depending on skill of applicants and avaliability, part time might be acceptable.

The job location is Vineyard, Utah (about 45 miles south of Salt Lake).
Their would be no relocation payed.


This would likely be tech level pay ($8-$15 /hr).

I really don't know what is out their for this pay level. Right now we have some really talented young hobbiest doing the building, with engineers doing the test flying and autopilot installation. It would be nice to unload the engineers a bit and get someone here who can do the building and test flying.

801-376-0454

Thanks,
Reed

[Myron]

Hey Reed,

First I gotta say you have a great autopilot system and using them in flying wings is super cool.. We have pretty much dedicated all our efforts into the flying wing platform as well. Next, I gotta say that you seem to be asking alot for 8-15 per hour.
My last job(before I got into building UAS's) was selling semicon hardware from a recycler and they were paying forklift operators and temps over 12 per hour. Not to say that is a bad job, because it is very physical, but your dealing with sensitive electronics and aircraft that have stay in the air. I have also been in the electronics industry and I have seen what happens when underpaid / underqualified personel start messin with static sensitive electronics. I can totally appreciate the position your in, because we are pretty much in the same boat. I wish you the best of luck!

Myron
www.rpflightsystems.com
512-731-3154

[reedchristiansen]

Myron,

Thanks for your input. I agree, this is not work for a novice.

Right now, we are just putting out feelers and this is exactly the kind of input we are looking for. Maybe we need to up the $$ a bit - especialy if we want to attract tallent from outside the area.

Having said that, Utah has a very low cost of living.

BTW, what autopilot are you using in your airplanes? Are you doing foam cutting/building in house?

Reed

[MX]

...with engineers doing the test flying and autopilot installation. It would be nice to unload the engineers a bit and get someone here who can do the building and test flying...

As an engineer, I would enjoy that kind of hands on application. I think the engineers can better understand what they are working on if they get to experience seeing their work in real-world operation.

MX

[Myron]

Hey Reed,

Unfortunately we have an OEM agreement with the maker of our autopilot and we cant reallly talk about it in these open of threads. Maybe in PM's we can discuss a litttle further. We have a CNC foam cutter and a CNC router that we use to cut our wings and CF parts with. My partner and I do all the building designing and test flying.
We work directly with the autopilot maker to get changes or "tweeks" done. We also have an EE that designs other boards for us as needed. Oh, Texas has a low cost of living as well!

Myron

[reedchristiansen]

As an engineer, I would enjoy that kind of hands on application. I think the engineers can better understand what they are working on if they get to experience seeing their work in real-world operation.

MX

MX,

We should trade jobs for a month. I need some balance. I really do look forward to the rare days when I can sit down at the computer and actually get a few hours of development done. Most of my time now is building, flying, debuging, dealing with GPS issues, talking on the phone, etc.... A little to much hands... All things are good in moderation.


My laptop is even feeling the pain. I just spent a few hours cleaing dust and a few hairs that managed to creap *under* the glass of my LCD screen on my IBM laptop. I guess I should get one of those toughbooks...

Reed

[MX]

MX,

We should trade jobs for a month. I need some balance. I really do look forward to the rare days when I can sit down at the computer and actually get a few hours of development done. Most of my time now is building, flying, debuging, dealing with GPS issues, talking on the phone, etc.... A little to much hands... All things are good in moderation.


My laptop is even feeling the pain. I just spent a few hours cleaing dust and a few hairs that managed to creap *under* the glass of my LCD screen on my IBM laptop. I guess I should get one of those toughbooks...

Reed

Don't tempt me :) .

It's probably a matter of the grass being greener on the other side. If you sat at a desk all day, you'd be wanted to get out and do some hands on stuff. If you get out all the time, you'd look forward to stopping and sitting at a desk for a while. Somewhere in between there must be a sweet spot.

I work all day in engineering for embedded systems. Then I come home at night and do R/C aircraft, onboard electronics, GPS, aerial photography, etc. just for fun. I imagine that if the fun stuff was my job, it might not be as fun anymore.

MX

[kd7ost]

Hey Reed,

Unfortunately we have an OEM agreement with the maker of our autopilot and we cant reallly talk about it in these open of threads. Maybe in PM's we can discuss a litttle further. We have a CNC foam cutter and a CNC router that we use to cut our wings and CF parts with. My partner and I do all the building designing and test flying.
We work directly with the autopilot maker to get changes or "tweeks" done. We also have an EE that designs other boards for us as needed. Oh, Texas has a low cost of living as well!

Myron

Very interesting. :p

Dan

[Myron]

Hey Dan,

Whats so interesting?.. I think that most "small" companies that are making a run at the small UAS market have "NDA's" and other agreements in place. Its a matter of "CYA" if you know what I mean!!.. We have come so far in the past year that it is really hard to describe.. In the early days we flew on a "wing and a prayer" but today we have the hardware and the know how to get most any job done including bringing closure to missing persons cases, finding access roads for the fire dept to get to the scene more rapidly, helping law enforcement run the illegal farmers out of business, getting a sensor package into pre and post hurricans and so on.. The best thing about the small UAS market is that there are more "niches" than there are UAS systems!. We look forward to tapping just a few of those markets!

Myron

[kd7ost]

Hey Dan,

Whats so interesting?.. I think that most "small" companies that are making a run at the small UAS market have "NDA's" and other agreements in place. Its a matter of "CYA" if you know what I mean!!.. We have come so far in the past year that it is really hard to describe.. In the early days we flew on a "wing and a prayer" but today we have the hardware and the know how to get most any job done including bringing closure to missing persons cases, finding access roads for the fire dept to get to the scene more rapidly, helping law enforcement run the illegal farmers out of business, getting a sensor package into pre and post hurricans and so on.. The best thing about the small UAS market is that there are more "niches" than there are UAS systems!. We look forward to tapping just a few of those markets!

Myron

And that is very interesting. I mean that you guys are flying autonomously. ;) Am I missing something?

Dan

[kd7ost]

We are an autopilot company that is growing quickly.

Here is our web site: www.procerusuav.com

We are looking for a skilled RC airplane hobbiest with some UAV know how. The person should have several years of experience building, flying, and wiring RC airplanes. The following is a partial list of job duties.

This would likely be tech level pay ($8-$15 /hr).
Reed

Reed,

You guys have a nice product. The pay is low unless you could perhaps find a College Student, or maybe a Retiree looking to supplement their income.

I would look at the local hobby flying club. Get with the President of the local chapter(s) and see if they'll put your offer in the club news letter. They have a good network as to where the local skill is.

The other thing I can think of is to check with the local College in the engineering department. You would probably have better luck at the AMA clubs though.

Good luck. I was your technician. Um, 30 years ago. :rolleyes:

Dan

[Myron]

Dan,

So the interesting part is being able to "launch and forget"? I agree, pretty dang cool! However, once you get deeper into it, the flying is more mundane, and the application is far more interesting!. At this point, the challenge for us is more in "what can it do" than anything else..

We did a demo today for an outfit that has been charged with a pretty substantial "emergency management" task, and the results were far better than we expected. Our equipment was able to interface with their equipment(with no interference) and they were able to pump our video feed from on site to a satellite and back to a military base in San Antonio and Austin. Long story short, people hundreds of miles away were able to monitor our high res data and direct the "troops" to do what needed to be done..

Myron

[typicalaimster]

I work all day in engineering for embedded systems. Then I come home at night and do R/C aircraft, onboard electronics, GPS, aerial photography, etc. just for fun. I imagine that if the fun stuff was my job, it might not be as fun anymore.


Trust me MX I think many of us feel that way. I work as a Systems Analyst at a major internet provider. After I get laid off I think I'm going to work at a movie theater for awhile. Just so I can take a break!

[kd7ost]

Dan,

So the interesting part is being able to "launch and forget"? I agree, pretty dang cool! However, once you get deeper into it, the flying is more mundane, and the application is far more interesting!. At this point, the challenge for us is more in "what can it do" than anything else..

Long story short, people hundreds of miles away were able to monitor our high res data and direct the "troops" to do what needed to be done..

Myron

Excellent stuff Myron,

I'm with you on the mundane flying. When it's a repetitive process for a picture, it ceases to be highly exciting. But, it is still fun.
Your guys' hard work is paying off for you. Good luck.

Dan

[Myron]

Thanks Dan,

I am on the verge of breaking out my 1/4 scale stuff so I can see about flying for fun again. Its tough when you turn your hobby into work. Now I gotta figure out what to fiddle with when I get home. I'm also thing about getting back into the 1911/CQB thing again, that or restore another car...

Back to Work..... I gotta get these 3 channel video mux's integrated into a customers bird...

Myron

[billsmithjr]

builders get 25 minimum around here

[stevenh]

Hi,
I have the background and experience - but you are in Utah and I am in California.
Are you really looking for a college kid maybe local to your area? Which doesn't jive with the "travel required" bit.

[reedchristiansen]

Steven,

We are looking for someone with some RC experience. College degree is optional.

The pay is 30-35k/year with benefits. I will post a revised official posting soon.

If this is attractive enough for someone to travel to Utah, then they can contact me. Someone local would be a bit more convenient, but not required.

Reed


Hi,
I have the background and experience - but you are in Utah and I am in California.
Are you really looking for a college kid maybe local to your area? Which doesn't jive with the "travel required" bit.

[saucerguy]

Have you ever thought about just outsourcing the job to those that already have their own shops? I'd be on board here big time, just would prefer a flat rate rather then hourly, I have a biz license, could grow upon my skills and doesn't sound like what you are asking for is too challenging, I'm a builder through and through and when building planes, I completely lose track of time, and the market I'm normally in is very seasonal so having something like this would not only make up for the slow times, I'd seriously consider replacing this type of thing for what I do accross the board. I'm in Tacoma, staying put as I'm sure most potential workers are the same, especially with a job that pays so little.

[reedchristiansen]

Saucerguy,

This is a valid option and we are pursuing it with some people. This will probably work ok with things that we have advanced warning on, like airplanes.

However, we still have need for someone on location that we can give unexpected things jobs to. For example, if someone calls and want 5 custom widgets shipped that day by 5:00. We need someone in house who can drop whatever they are doing and work on it.

I agree that it is going to be hard to find someone with these skills who is willing to relocate for $35k. I have learned allot from the people on this forum by just posting the job offer.

We are working some local leads as well (flyers in hobby shops).

Reed

[saucerguy]

I gotta post my url as of a whole 2.5 years of existance along a field that was just replacing my old job that I loved, I just picked up where it left off when the owner died several years ago and the family decided to shut it down and took it light years ahead of it's original thinking with my recent ressurection: http://espresso-outfitters.com I'm the owner and 100% of what is shown is entirely my creation, both www as well as the final product created, crated delivered and generally, have had some much taller requests and and am now in a spot where all competitors are just scratching heads about all of this stuff I've introduced to the market, alot said about a one man company with zero employees, I've done all of this without any help form the outside, in many cases, I was asked to produce the impossible many time fold and all of my clients are out of State, I just deliver and it's what I live for as well. I'm a rare breed indeed, but just wanted to let you reconsider your stance, at least in my case, I just love this stuff along the rc, or anything flight related to unreal levels, especially in the building area and pretty much have absolved to do this for a living, be it working for someone else or myself, regardless, I'm in.

[eagel]

I do the same works in China right now, and have more than 20 year experience, our company also research the UAV and autopilot system


lee