Leading the first flight.
Aircraft lead engineer for the first Gen 6 autonomous eVTOL and test conductor for its first flight. Technical leadership at the point where planning, people, and aircraft come together.
Engineering leadership · Flight test
From complex systems
to first flight.
I’m Maxwell Duke, a flight-test engineering leader, systems builder, and pilot. I bring teams, aircraft, and test systems together to turn ambitious engineering into demonstrated capability.
12+Years in aerospace development
7Flight-test engineers led at Wisk
CFI / CFII / MEIA pilot’s perspective on engineering
01 /
Selected work
Where engineering takes flight.
A few threads from a career spanning experimental aircraft, avionics, and autonomous flight.
Connecting aircraft and operator.
Architected and delivered a flight-test ground control station, defining interfaces, telemetry, alerting, recording, and failover behavior for autonomous-aircraft operations.
Engineering for certification.
Coordinated TXi display-system integration and contributed to Part 23 and Part 27 avionics certification programs, working with FAA representatives and presenting to EASA.
From the project archive
Hands-on engineering
Making testing repeatable
Built the tools around the test: a microcontroller bench, a reusable Python test library, and automated workflows for configuration and flight-data analysis.
Project details
- Created and contributed to a Python library for TXi systems testing, led software engineers, and authored dozens of test plans. The tools later supported GI275 testing.
- Automated generation and review of engine-sensor configurations, including version comparisons and change summaries.
- Created AS350 test matrices and Python post-processing tools that generated plots and summary tables from flight data.
Learning through scaled flight
Planned and conducted Vahana subscale flight tests, then brought the findings back into the aircraft through analysis, equipment design, and hands-on build work.
Project details
- Executed subscale flight-test programs for Vahana and worked on the design, manufacture, assembly, and maintenance of test vehicles.
- Analyzed flight and hardware-in-the-loop data using MATLAB.
- Combined mechanical equipment design and PCB work with practical test operations.
Connecting models to flight
Developed battery and propulsion models for the Swift 021, using test-stand measurements and flight results to guide propeller selection and endurance predictions.
Project details
- Used static and inflow thrust-stand tests to model performance across voltage and operating conditions.
- Compared cruise-endurance predictions across density altitude with flight results in Colorado.
- Connected performance verification with test readiness reviews and coordination of systems engineers and RC pilots.
02 /
The work timeline
Built on experience.
From hands-on design to systems integration and team leadership. Open a role to explore the work.
Oct 2021 — PresentManager since Aug 2025
Wisk AeroStaff Flight Test Engineer → Supervisor → Manager → Chief Flight Test Engineer (Interim)
Leading the people and systems behind autonomous eVTOL flight test, from test readiness and trajectory validation to real-time operations and post-flight analysis.
- Manage and mentor seven flight-test engineers across planning, readiness reviews, flight briefs and debriefs, real-time support, and analysis.
- Served as aircraft lead engineer for the first Gen 6 aircraft and test conductor for its first flight.
- Architected and delivered the flight-test ground control station, including aircraft-ground interfaces, telemetry, alerting, recording, redundancy, and degraded-mode behavior.
- Serve as Safety of Flight signatory for the Gen 6 ground segment; led Cora testing as test director and flight-trajectory creator during deployed operations.
- Created and improved Python trajectory-verification tools and a JavaScript flight-test dashboard.
May 2020 — Oct 2021
Swift EngineeringSystems Test & Development Lead
Connected vehicle-performance testing, flight-data analysis, and embedded battery systems for UAV development.
- Defined and managed flight-test objectives for vehicle-performance verification and supported deployed operations on the 021 UAV.
- Introduced test readiness reviews and led an integrated team of two systems engineers and two RC pilots.
- Created Python and Bokeh tools for flight-data and battery-performance analysis.
- Developed battery-management software in C on STM32 and designed and tested a next-generation lithium-ion battery pack using CHROMA equipment.
Mar 2019 — Mar 2020
A³ by AirbusFlight Test Engineer
Hands-on flight-test engineering for autonomous scaled aircraft on the Vahana project.
- Planned, organized, and conducted autonomous scaled-aircraft flight-test operations under FAA Part 107.
- Analyzed flight, static-thrust-stand, and hardware-in-the-loop data using MATLAB.
- Designed, built, and tested aircraft equipment using SolidWorks, CNC, laser cutting, and machine-shop tools.
Apr 2015 — Mar 2019Flight test from 2018
GarminFlight Test & Aircraft Systems Engineer
Worked across flight test and aircraft systems certification, bringing avionics integration and aircraft performance into a shared test program.
- Collaborated with FAA designated engineering representatives and ODA unit members to execute and certify avionics programs under Parts 23 and 27.
- Authored and executed flight-test cards, plans, and reports, including the AS350 helicopter pilot-performance data package.
- Coordinated interfaces and integration for TXi primary-flight, multifunction, and engine displays; presented the product to EASA as subject-matter expert.
- Created a reusable Python library for TXi systems testing and automated engine-sensor configuration workflows, with tools later reused for GI275.
- Built a microcontroller test bench to simulate an autopilot bus and troubleshot systems on company and customer aircraft.
May 2014 — Apr 2015
Scaled CompositesDesign Engineer
An experimental-aircraft foundation built on rapid design, manufacturing, and practical pilot safety.
- Designed and manufactured metal and composite components for experimental aircraft.
- Designed and taught pilot-safety classes covering parachute instruction and crash survival.
Apr 2006 — Feb 2011
United States Marine CorpsForce Reconnaissance · Sergeant
Leadership and communications experience across two operational deployments.
- Led a boarding team and made initial crew contact during the rescue of a pirated commercial vessel.
- Served as assistant radio chief and cryptographic custodian, planning and operating secure HF, VHF, and satellite communications.
03 /An engineering mind.
Beyond the job title
An engineering mind.
A pilot’s perspective.
Education · 2011 — 2014
B.S. Mechanical Engineering
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Graduated cum laude with a minor in Flight Education. Led a senior project team that designed and built a 3D printer. Industry Advisory Board member.
Flight instructor · May 2014 — Present
An engineer at the controls.
Flying and teaching have been a parallel thread throughout my engineering career, bringing the pilot and operator perspective into how I approach aircraft systems.
- Commercial Pilot · ASEL & AMEL
- Flight Instructor · CFI, CFII & MEI
- Instruction under Parts 61 & 141
- FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot certificate
Outside the flight line
A workshop of my own
I’ve built a custom CNC mill and converted an SUV to propane. I like understanding how a system works, then getting my hands on it. Outside the workshop, I enjoy hiking, flying, and adding functionality to my homelab.
Tools & disciplines
04 / Keep in touch
Let’s talk about
what comes next.
Engineering leadership, complex aircraft systems, or a shared enthusiasm for flight.