E-UAS Pilot/Technician

Leidos•Washington, DC

1d•$73,450 - $132,775

About The Position

The E-UAS Pilot/Technician supports enhanced situational awareness and rapid response during protection events nationwide and within the National Capital Region. The program uses Enhanced Unmanned Aerial Systems (E-UAS) for persistent aerial ISR overwatch and rapid-response drone capability, and Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) to detect, track, and mitigate unauthorized drone activity. Contractor personnel operate and sustain government-furnished E-UAS/C-UAS systems from CUSTOMER facilities and protective sites, integrating operations with CUSTOMER command-and-control systems, including VIDTERRA and TAK. When not deployed on missions, the technician works from the National Capital Region facility to service, maintain, and store equipment and complete required CUSTOMER training. The role involves nationwide and international travel, variable schedules, and event coverage as required.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship.
Typically a bachelor's degree and 4–8 years of prior relevant experience, or a master's degree and 2–6 years of prior relevant experience.
Top Secret (TS) security clearance.
Current FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate.
Ability to complete the government-provided CUSTOMER Basic Operator Course and EUAS Policy course; the training period is not to exceed one month.
Experience operating UAS ISR and/or rapid-response platforms in ISR, surveillance, public safety, emergency response, law enforcement, military, federal, or private-sector/commercial mission environments. Prior federal or law-enforcement experience is not required.
Experience with mission planning, pre-flight inspections, launch and recovery operations, flight monitoring, and post-flight documentation.
Experience operating UAS sensors or payloads such as EO/IR cameras, thermal imaging, live video streaming, mapping, or communications-relay systems.
Familiarity with airspace coordination, aviation safety practices, emergency procedures, weather considerations, and UAS operating limitations.
Ability to travel nationwide and internationally (approximately 80%) and support variable schedules, including 24/7 event coverage.
Strong communication skills and ability to work independently and as part of a coordinated operational team in high-pressure environments.
Ability to stand for long periods, work in adverse weather, climb ladders, work on rooftops, and lift 50 lbs. unassisted.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience supporting CUSTOMER, federal protective services, law enforcement, military, or National Special Security Event (NSSE) operations.
Experience with VIDTERRA, TAK, secure video distribution, encrypted data transmission, or command-and-control integration.
Experience with larger ISR UAS platforms, mobile rapid-response platforms, or multi-platform operational deployments.
Platform-specific or manufacturer certifications, or military UAS operator training.

Responsibilities

Deploy, operate, and recover government-furnished UAS ISR platforms for continuous aerial surveillance of designated protection zones.
Operate mobile rapid-response UAS platforms with EO/IR cameras, thermal imaging, and communications-relay payloads, maintaining readiness for launch within 3 minutes of a CUSTOMER request.
Provide real-time video, imagery, sensor data, and operational updates to CUSTOMER operations centers and designated stakeholders.
Conduct pre-flight, in-flight, and post-flight procedures in accordance with FAA Part 107 and CUSTOMER directives.
Support integration of UAS data feeds with CUSTOMER command-and-control infrastructure, including live video distribution via VIDTERRA and TAK.
Conduct interoperability testing with CUSTOMER IT staff before each event to validate connectivity, video distribution, and system integration.
Participate in protective advance planning meetings, pre-event briefings, and post-event debriefings with CUSTOMER stakeholders.
Maintain flight-operation documentation, incident logs, daily operational reports, after-action inputs, and FAA Part 107 and platform-specific certification/training records for CUSTOMER inspection.
Complete the government-provided CUSTOMER Basic Operator Course, EUAS Policy course, and required platform-specific certifications.
Follow CUSTOMER security protocols, information-handling requirements, and federal cybersecurity standards.
When not deployed, service, maintain, and store equipment and complete required CUSTOMER training at the National Capital Region facility.
Support variable schedules and nationwide travel, including nights, weekends, holidays, extended shifts, and 24/7 event coverage as required.