UAS Technical Expert

POSITION SUMMARY

The UAS Technical Expert supports unmanned aircraft system flight operations, customer training, testing and evaluation, technology demonstrations, Red Force activities, mission planning, scenario-based exercises, and range operations at the Constellis Training Center and other authorized locations.

Candidates can be considered for UAS Trainer, UAS Instructor and UAS Mission Planner opportunities if eligible based on experience.

This is a hands-on operational position requiring sound aviation judgment, safe flight practices, and the ability to operate UAS in structured training and range environments. Depending on qualifications and mission requirements, the employee may serve as a pilot, instructor, evaluator, mission planner, observer, or range-support team member.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Conduct safe UAS flight operations in accordance with FAA regulations, CTC policies, range procedures, customer requirements, and applicable SOPs.
• Plan and execute assigned missions, including preflight preparation, aircraft and equipment inspections, launch, flight operations, recovery, and post-flight procedures.
• Operate assigned UAS platforms, ground control stations, payloads, mission-planning applications, communications equipment, and associated support systems.
• Serve as a pilot or operator during customer training, technology demonstrations, testing and evaluation, Red Force activities, and scenario-based exercises.
• Provide classroom and hands-on UAS instruction when assigned and qualified, including support for lesson plans, practical exercises, and student evaluations.
• Support reconnaissance, surveillance, mapping, EO/IR, threat-replication, and other UAS-enabled mission requirements.
• Assist with testing and evaluation of aircraft, payloads, sensors, software, communications systems, and emerging technologies, including test execution, observations, documentation, and after-action feedback.
• Maintain required flight logs, training records, equipment records, and operational documentation.
• Conduct authorized field-level inspections and troubleshooting and report equipment deficiencies, maintenance concerns, or unsafe conditions.
• Support range preparation, equipment staging, safety procedures, launch and recovery operations, accountability, and coordination with customers, instructors, safety personnel, vendors, and range control.
• Maintain proficiency on assigned systems and comply with all safety, security, communications, information-protection, and risk-management requirements.
• Perform other UAS, training, testing, and range-support duties consistent with assigned qualifications.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Work Environment: Employment is considered CASUAL. There is no standard work environment as the location, duration, and schedule is likely to change month by month. There will be a standard agreement in place to layout compensation, hours allocated, and employee standards.

QUALIFICATIONS

• High school diploma or GED.
• Current FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate.
• At least one year of demonstrated UAS operational experience involving practical flight operations.
• Working knowledge of UAS flight principles, mission planning, airspace requirements, weather considerations, inspections, emergency procedures, and operational risk management.
• Ability to safely conduct preflight, launch, flight, recovery, and post-flight operations in a structured military, government, public-safety, commercial, training, or range environment.
• Ability to follow technical instructions, test plans, range procedures, SOPs, and customer requirements while maintaining accurate operational records.
• Ability to communicate professionally and work effectively with customers, instructors, safety personnel, and other operational staff.
• Ability to work outdoors, handle UAS equipment, maintain a flexible or irregular schedule, and travel periodically when required.
• Ability to satisfy applicable company, customer, background, and facility-access requirements.
• Preferred:
  • Three or more years of UAS operational experience.
  • Prior UAS instructor, trainer, evaluator, military, government, public-safety, or range experience.
  • Experience operating multiple UAS platforms, including multirotor, fixed-wing, FPV, autonomous, or semi-autonomous systems.
  • Experience with EO/IR sensors, ISR, mapping, reconnaissance, or other specialized payloads.
  • Experience supporting Red Force activities, scenario-based training, testing and evaluation, or technology demonstrations.
  • Experience developing or implementing Programs of Instruction, lesson plans, SOPs, practical exercises, or evaluation criteria.
  • FAA, military, technical, or industry-recognized UAS training or certifications.
  • Current or previously held U.S. Government security clearance.
  • Equivalent military, aviation, law enforcement, public-safety, instructional, or technical experience may be considered where appropriate.