@ ICT SLB
Thanks for your reply. I have to admit my friend worked at the company and recommended me, so I kind of jumped the queue.
I don't have much real world experience, and I did a PhD not where my heart lay, but where the funding was. I think they liked my private flying experience, and my RC work. The place I interviewed at was a Silicon Valley startup who is doing really cool manned flight stuff for the personal aviation world.
In addition to kicking butt in the technical knowledge, I was going to wow them by back engineering the handling qualities of the Amazon Prime UAV if it were flown by a real pilot. I think that would get there attention.
Thanks again for the reply and wish me luck!