UAS Flight Test Operator

Heven AeroTech•Bingen, WA

17h•$40 - $52•Onsite

About The Position

The UAS Flight Test Operator will apply field UAS experience to support ground and flight test execution for hydrogen-powered hybrid VTOL and multirotor Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). This role is focused on operator-side test execution rather than engineering ownership of test-plan development or design changes. The UAS Flight Test Operator executes approved test cards, procedures, checklists, and flight profiles under the direction of the Chief Pilot, flight test engineers, and other designated test leads. The role supports test events by operating the air vehicle and/or ground systems, preparing the test article, monitoring system state, recording operator observations, and helping ensure the test team receives accurate configuration, maintenance, and flight-log information. This position requires automobile travel up to approximately two hours each way to flight test ranges. Some ground tests can be performed locally. The UAS Flight Test Operator will help maintain the health and readiness of the flight test system, including Ground Control Systems, Ground Support Equipment, payloads, radios, Air Vehicles, and test support equipment. This requires a working understanding of major UAS components and the discipline to keep assigned systems prepared for safe and repeatable test execution. The role maintains logbooks, maintenance records, test article configuration records, discrepancy notes, and operator observations required to support flight test traceability. The UAS Flight Test Operator is expected to bring a pragmatic, real-world operator perspective to the flight test team. As a member of a small team, the role may assist with assembly, setup, teardown, inspection, configuration checkout, and test preparation of Air Vehicles, Ground Control Systems, and Ground Support Equipment. The role is expected to provide user and operator feedback to engineering, and may contribute operator notes to build instructions, operating procedures, and test summaries. Engineering test plans, engineering analysis, design authority, and air vehicle modification design remain owned by the appropriate engineering leads. The UAS Flight Test Operator will also support subsystem bench testing, iron bird proof testing, diagnostic activities, debugging, and root cause analysis efforts led by engineering. In this capacity, the role helps reproduce issues, capture operator observations, verify approved configuration changes, and support controlled test execution. As a UAS flight test operator, this position will become familiar with the Air Vehicle, Ground Control Station and associated software/user interfaces, Ground Support Equipment, payloads, radios, and test support equipment. Previous UAS Operator/Maintenance Instructor, military instructor certifications/qualifications, developmental test support, Field Service Representative experience, and/or relevant technical education are preferred.

Requirements

This position may require access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). To conform to the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)
Technical degree, military UAS training, test operator experience, or equivalent field experience preferred.
Minimum of 4+ years military or commercial UAS experience.
Experience supporting UAS developmental flight test
Experience maintaining logbooks, maintenance records, configuration records, and discrepancy notes in a controlled operational or test environment.
Experience working with payloads, radios, GCS software, and autopilot ecosystems such as Trillium, Persistent Systems, Silvus, Vigilant Spirit, Applied Navigation/Quattro, QGroundControl, Embention, Micropilot, or Mission Planner.
Ability to follow approved test cards, checklists, flight profiles, and test conductor direction without drifting outside the approved test scope.
Excellent troubleshooting and communication skills.
Ability to perform in a cross-functional flight test team environment.
Strong pre-flight, post-flight, configuration-control, and anomaly-documentation discipline.
Good at keeping complex systems working well and performing preventative maintenance.
Good at maintaining a safe work environment and working to improve the safety of personnel and equipment.
Friendly, collaborative, and tactful in conflict resolution.

Nice To Haves

Experience with military, fixed wing VTOL, multirotor, and Group 2+ categories in theater are highly desired.
Experience supporting developmental flight test, ground test, iron bird testing, or controlled system checkout.
Experience with SOCOM's Mod Payload design standard.
Experience with multiple GCS software packages including QGroundControl, Embention, Micropilot, and Mission Planner.
Ability to support harness inspection, installation, checkout, and basic repair for payload or radio integration under engineering direction.
DOD Secret clearance, or ability to obtain one.

Responsibilities

Execute approved flight test cards, ground test procedures, checklists, and flight profiles for Group 2+ UAS under the direction of Flight Test Engineers, or designated test leads.
Operate the Air Vehicle, Ground Control Station, Ground Support Equipment, payloads, radios, and support equipment during flight test events.
Prepare test articles, GCS equipment, payloads, radios, ground support equipment, and test support equipment for test events.
Verify that assigned systems match the approved test configuration before ground or flight test execution.
Record accurate operator observations, timestamps, discrepancies, logbook entries, configuration notes, and maintenance actions needed for post-test review.
Support preparation of test reports and summaries by providing operator notes, flight logs, configuration records, and factual observations.
Collaborate with flight test engineers, engineering leads, and internal stakeholders to support safe and repeatable test execution.
Support installation, checkout, and troubleshooting of approved electromechanical upgrades, payload integrations, radio integrations, and harness changes under engineering direction.
Support development of sustainment-ready military UAS by providing operator feedback to the engineering team on usability, maintainability, field readiness, and operational constraints.