Field Application Engineer (UAV Flight Testing)

About The Borderlands Group

The Borderlands Group is a defence advisory and engineering company. We partner with international defense technology companies to help them build, deploy, test, and scale their products in real operational environments.

Our work connects international defence innovators with Ukraine’s engineering talent, operational expertise, and real-world product feedback. Depending on the project, we support our partners with engineering, field operations, technical recruitment, product testing, and building local capabilities in Ukraine.

One of our international defence-tech clients is now expanding its presence in Ukraine, and we are looking for an experienced Field Application Engineer to become a key technical link between the product, its users in Ukraine, and the international R&D team.

You will have significant autonomy in Ukraine and work closely with the international R&D team. As the company grows locally, there is also an opportunity to help build and eventually lead the integration, testing, and technical support capability in Ukraine.

Why join us

Work where technology meets reality

Go beyond development and see how advanced UAV technology performs in real operational environments, with direct feedback from the people using it.

Have a direct impact on the product

Your flight tests, integrations and field feedback will directly influence product priorities and the international R&D team’s development roadmap.

High autonomy and ownership

This is a role for someone who wants responsibility rather than step-by-step instructions. You’ll have the freedom to solve problems, make things work and shape how the function develops.

International collaboration

Work closely with an international R&D team and connect Ukrainian operational expertise with global defense technology development.

Growth opportunity

As the Ukrainian operation grows, there is an opportunity to expand your scope and potentially build and lead your own integration, testing and support team.

Highly competitive compensation

We offer a highly competitive compensation package reflecting your experience, technical expertise and level of responsibility.

Responsibilities

Integration and flight testing (primary)

• Integrate autonomy software onto customer and partner UAV platforms — flight controllers, companion computers, cameras, video links — and own the UA integration lab
• Plan and fly test campaigns for new software releases (fixed-wing primary); document results and reproduce/triage bugs with the Danish R&D team
• Establish safe, disciplined test procedures (SOPs, range coordination, incident reporting)

Commercial and customer support

• Support sales engagements as the technical counterpart: demos, live flights, proof-of-concept integrations, and technical Q&A
• Build a professional support function for customers and partners: clear channels, response times, escalation to the Danish team, and a knowledge base of integration guides
• Deliver activation, training, and technical onboarding for OEM customers

Team build-up (as we scale)

• Recruit, onboard, and lead integration, test, and support engineers in Ukraine
• Translate frontline and end-user feedback into concrete product requirements for the Danish development team

Requirements

• Fluent English and Ukrainian (spoken and written)

• Experienced, active drone pilot — confident piloting of a fixed-wing aircraft will be an extreme advantage; multirotor expected, FPV proficiency preferred
• Hands-on UAV integration experience: flight controllers (e.g., ArduPilot/PX4 or proprietary stacks), companion computers, cameras, RF/video links
• Technically fluent across the hardware/software boundary: log analysis, firmware flashing, basic scripting — able to hold your own with software engineers and write precise, reproducible bug reports
• Comfortable customer-facing: demos, training, and technical discussions with OEM engineers and end users
• Willingness to travel within Ukraine and occasionally to Denmark
• Eligible to work with defence-related technology under applicable Ukrainian and EU rules

Strong Pluses

• Degree or equivalent experience in electronic engineering, mechatronics, or a related field
• Prior experience with defence UAV programs or military end users
• Experience leading a small technical team or setting up a support function
• Experience with computer-vision, autonomy, or AI-enabled payloads