Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) Test Administration & Event SME

Corner Alliance•Washington, DC

About The Position

Corner Alliance is seeking a UAS SME / Test Administration and Event Support Specialist with 6-10 years of experience to support a 12-month public safety communications research effort focused on advancing unmanned aircraft systems communications test methodology for public safety applications. The effort includes two major phases: a stakeholder workshop and a live flight-testing event. Support will include project planning, stakeholder coordination, venue and logistics support, communications, execution support, data collection, reporting, and debriefs. This role is contingent upon award. As a UAS SME / Test Administration and Event Support Specialist, you will help plan, coordinate, administer, and document stakeholder engagement and live UAS flight-testing activities. You will bring expertise in UAS operations, public safety communications, test administration, event logistics, stakeholder coordination, data collection, and technical documentation. The client will define, develop, and approve all UAS test methodologies, measurement frameworks, metrics, and evaluation criteria. Corner Alliance will not create, modify, or approve test methods. In this role, you will help facilitate stakeholder engagement, support event planning and logistics, administer client-defined test plans, collect data according to established procedures, and document results in alignment with client direction.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or higher in aviation systems, engineering, robotics, telecommunications, emergency management, information systems, public safety technology, or a related field.
6-10 years of experience supporting UAS, public safety communications, test administration, operational experimentation, technical event execution, or related programs.
Experience supporting stakeholder workshops, technical working sessions, field demonstrations, live test events, or operational exercises.
Experience coordinating event logistics, participant communications, facilities, schedules, materials, and execution support for technical or public safety-focused events.
Knowledge of UAS platforms, UAS operations, live flight-testing considerations, operational missions, communications links, RF signaling, or connected public safety technologies.
Experience administering established test plans, following defined procedures, collecting structured data, and documenting observations without altering approved methodology.
Experience supporting data collection activities, including observation capture, stakeholder feedback, technical notes, survey inputs, and performance-related information.
Ability to translate technical and operational discussions into clear meeting summaries, findings reports, action items, and final deliverables.
Strong facilitation, coordination, writing, and verbal communication skills.
Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality assurance.
Ability to work effectively with public safety stakeholders, technical experts, industry participants, academic partners, research organizations, and client leadership.
Ability to manage shifting priorities, operational constraints, technical uncertainty, and event execution requirements in a professional environment.
Ability to travel as required for stakeholder workshops, planning sessions, live flight-testing activities, debriefs, or related events.
U.S. citizenship and the ability to meet client suitability requirements.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in a relevant technical, aviation, communications, public safety, or operational field.
10 or more years of experience supporting UAS, public safety technology, wireless communications, emergency response operations, or live technology demonstrations.
Experience with public safety communications use cases, UAS communications testing, RF performance measurement, single-link and multi-UAS systems, routing protocols, or ad hoc networks.
Experience supporting communications metrics such as throughput, latency, packet loss, signal characteristics, link reliability, or operational communications performance.
Experience coordinating live-flight environments, safety planning, test administrators, technical support personnel, UAS operators, and field logistics.
Experience planning or supporting stakeholder engagement with public safety, industry, academia, research institutions, and small business participants.
Experience preparing workshop reports, event reports, after-action materials, debrief summaries, technical documentation, or executive-ready briefings.
Familiarity with structured test administration, data collection protocols, event readiness reviews, and iterative feedback or learning sessions.
Coachability, resourcefulness in learning new skills, innovation, strong writing skills, analytical thinking, prioritization skills, and rapport building with clients and colleagues.

Responsibilities

Provide subject matter expertise on unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), public safety communications, live flight-testing environments, and operational technology demonstrations.
Lead project initiation activities, including confirmation of project objectives, event sequencing, planning assumptions, stakeholder engagement priorities, communication protocols, and decision-making processes.
Plan and coordinate a stakeholder workshop focused on public safety UAS communications needs, operational missions, and research gap areas, including identification and outreach to participants from public safety, industry, academic, research, and partner organizations.
Facilitate workshop design and execution, including day-of event coordination, participant support, logistics management, and knowledge capture of stakeholder observations.
Document workshop findings, including operational missions, communications needs, research gap areas, stakeholder themes, and potential subject matter expert (SME) participation for later testing activities.
Coordinate live test event design and readiness planning, including facilities, test range or controlled-airspace access, stakeholders, operational resources, support personnel, UAS availability, and data collection readiness.
Coordinate FAA compliance considerations for live flight activities in alignment with client direction and operating partner authorities.
Coordinate controlled live-flight activities, readiness reviews, technical rehearsals, and iterative feedback sessions, ensuring UAS assets, facilities, support resources, and operational materials are available through direct provision or coordination with industry, research institutions, small businesses, or other partners.
Administer live test event activities and execute representative public safety UAS test scenarios — including single-link and multi-UAS communications, RF (radio frequency) signaling metrics, routing protocols, and radio communications links — in accordance with client-defined test plans, procedures, metrics, and evaluation criteria.
Collect and document data in accordance with established procedures, including qualitative inputs (observations, stakeholder feedback, operational notes) and quantitative communications performance metrics (end-to-end throughput, latency, packet loss, and performance across single-link or ad hoc network scenarios), as directed by the client.
Facilitate event debriefs, iterative feedback reviews, lessons learned discussions, and closeout meetings.
Develop final reports for the stakeholder workshop and live flight-testing event that document event execution, stakeholder participation, data collection activities, observations, and relevant outcomes.
Maintain clear separation between Corner Alliance's execution support role and the client's sole authority over test methodology, measurement frameworks, metrics, and evaluation criteria.
Carry out our Commitments to Deliver, Grow, and Thrive.