Operational Test Pilot & Exercise Integration Lead

Serve as a pilot for Hermeus flight operations, including development and execution of normal, abnormal, and emergency procedures

Lead mission planning and execution for company flight test and demonstration events: profile design, go/no-go criteria, crew and control room coordination, contingency and abort planning, and post-flight debrief

Own range and airspace integration for flight activity — coordinate with range control, airspace managers, airfield operations, and test organizations to secure and protect flight windows, and deconflict Hermeus activity with other users

Act as Hermeus' lead integrator and coordinator for joint and service exercise participation: build relationships with sponsoring units and exercise planning teams, shepherd Hermeus through the exercise planning cycle, and lead on-site execution

Build and maintain the operational relationships that make flight happen — operational squadrons, test squadrons, range leadership, and government program offices

Provide the operator's perspective to engineering and program teams: influence vehicle design, mission systems, concept of employment, test plans, and mission profiles so the vehicle matures toward missions the force actually needs

Develop and maintain flight operations products — mission plans, flight cards, crew procedures, checklists, flight manuals, safety of flight documentation, and hazard analyses — and drive them through internal and external review

Own program management for Flight Test as a Service engagements: scope definition with the customer, schedule and milestone tracking, cross-functional coordination, deliverable and data product management, and customer communication through closeout

Lead and chair readiness reviews, test readiness reviews, and safety reviews with internal teams and external partners; ensure deliverables are on time and meet customer expectations

Mentor and grow the operations and mission planning function as the team and flight rate scale

Be relentless in challenging the status quo to compress planning cycles, accelerate approval timelines, and increase flight rate

Bachelor's degree in engineering, physics, or a related technical field

FAA Commercial Pilot Certificate or ATP with instrument rating

Current FAA Class 2 medical certificate, and ability to maintain it for the duration of assigned flight duties

Current or former military fighter / tactical aviator with 500+ total flight hours, including 300+ hours in fighter or high-performance aircraft

Demonstrated experience as a mission commander, flight lead, instructor pilot, or evaluator pilot

8+ years of combined operational aviation and program or project management experience, with demonstrated leadership of complex, multi-organization efforts

Hands-on experience planning and executing missions on US military ranges, including range scheduling, airspace coordination, and safety of flight processes

Experience participating in or planning joint or service-level exercises or large force test events

Experience working with government customers — DoD program offices, test organizations, or operational units

Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. security clearance

Must be a U.S. person as defined under ITAR / EAR for access to export-controlled technical data

Graduate of USAF Test Pilot School, US Naval Test Pilot School, or an equivalent test pilot or flight test engineer program