Senior V-BAT Air Vehicle Operator, Production Flight Test (R4844)

What you'll do:

• Serve as the Air Vehicle Operator during production, acceptance, regression, and troubleshooting flights. 

• Safely operate the aircraft throughout all phases of flight in accordance with approved procedures, limitations, and test cards. 

• Conduct mission planning, preflight preparation, system configuration, and post-flight activities. 

• Review aircraft records, configurations, maintenance status, weather, airspace, and operational risk before flight. 

• Coordinate with flight test engineers, maintainers, production personnel, and other members of the flight crew. 

• Identify abnormal system behavior and support real-time troubleshooting during ground and flight operations. 

• Accurately document flight results, aircraft discrepancies, test-card completion, and operational observations. 

• Support the creation and disposition of nonconformance reports, corrective actions, and retest requirements. 

• Participate in flight briefs, debriefs, safety reviews, and operational risk assessments. 

• Provide clear feedback to engineering and production teams regarding aircraft performance, system functionality, and recurring issues. 

• Maintain proficiency and qualification on assigned aircraft, ground-control systems, and operating procedures. 

• Support aircraft delivery, customer acceptance activities, demonstrations, and field operations as required. 

• Assist with the development and improvement of checklists, test procedures, training materials, and flight-test processes. 

• Maintain a professional, safety-focused work environment and exercise stop-work authority when unsafe conditions exist. 

• Work flexible schedules, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, or extended shifts, based on weather and production requirements. 

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum of 2000 documented unmanned flight hours or 1000 manned flight hours 

• Experience conducting production acceptance flights, developmental testing, operational testing, or customer acceptance testing. 

• Knowledge of aircraft maintenance documentation, quality systems, and nonconformance-reporting processes. 

• Experience operating in controlled, restricted, or special-use airspace. 

• FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate  

• Ability to obtain and maintain an FAA Class II Medical Certificate  

• Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret DoD security clearance  

• Ability to pass background check, drug screening, and customer-required medical/dental screenings  

• Willingness to travel up to 25% in support of CONUS and OCONUS test events and/or deployments  

• Proven ability to lead and operate independently in small teams, including in austere or high-tempo environments  

• Strong aviation judgment, decision-making, and risk management skills 

Preferred Qualifications:

• FAA Private Pilot License (PPL)  

• FAA Instrument Rating and/or Commercial Pilot License  

• Maritime or shipboard UAS operational experience  

• Demonstrated instructor experience (manned or unmanned aviation)  

• Experience troubleshooting aircraft hardware, software, navigation, propulsion, datalink, or flight-control issues.