Flight Operations Generalist

Icarus•El Segundo, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Flight Operations Generalist is responsible for taking Icarus' solar-powered aircraft from the hangar to the sky and back. This role involves setting up test sites, preparing aircraft for flight, conducting preflight inspections, operating the aircraft during flight, and troubleshooting issues under the direction of engineers. The Generalist acts as the central point of contact for flight operations, especially when Icarus deploys to the field. The mission is to re-establish and maintain dominance in the Stratosphere.

Requirements

3+ years of hands-on UAS, RC, or aircraft operations experience, or equivalent military experience as a UAV operator, maintainer, or crew chief.
Demonstrated ability to set up, preflight, operate, and recover an unmanned aircraft.
Strong hands-on troubleshooting skills across mechanical, electrical, and software systems.
Comfort with ground control station software.
Familiarity with the Linux command line for debugging and troubleshooting.
Calm, decisive judgment under pressure, especially with an aircraft in the air.
Comfort taking direction from engineers and translating it into safe flight operations.
Willingness to travel to remote test sites and work long, physical days outdoors.
Strong communication skills.
High trust, extreme ownership, no ego.

Nice To Haves

FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate.
Experience with developmental flight test, first-flight events, or build-up test programs.
Background building RC or UAS aircraft (SAE Aero, Design Build Fly, or serious hobbyist).
FAA Airframe and Powerplant license or military aviation maintenance background.
Experience operating in austere or remote field environments.
Aviation-adjacent military specialty with "air sense" (JTAC, CCT, etc).

Responsibilities

Set up the test site, including ground control station, communications, power, ground support equipment, and safety measures.
Assemble, configure, and prepare aircraft for flight, including mechanical, electrical, and payload setup.
Perform preflight inspections and checklists, ensuring aircraft readiness.
Configure and verify the ground control station, telemetry links, and mission plan before each flight.
Operate the aircraft in flight from the ground control station, executing test plans under engineer direction.
Monitor telemetry and aircraft health in real-time, responding to anomalies.
Manage launch and recovery operations, including non-traditional takeoff and landing configurations.
Diagnose and fix mechanical, electrical, and software issues in the field to maintain the test campaign.
Refurbish and reset the aircraft between flights.
Capture flight logs, document events, and provide feedback to engineering.
Maintain positive control of tools and hardware for aircraft safety.
Build and improve standard operating procedures for repeatable and safe flight operations.
Solve novel problems in the field.