UxS Program Manager & Instructor in Tampa, Florida at O W T Global Llc

HQ USAFE-AFAFRICA A4ST – Security Forces

Position Overview

OWT Global is seeking an experienced UxS Program Manager & Instructor to support Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe–Air Forces Africa (HQ USAFE-AFAFRICA), A4ST, in the management, development, training, and standardization of Security Forces Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) programs throughout the theater.

This position serves as a senior technical subject matter expert and contractor deputy to the MAJCOM sUAS Directorate Program Manager, providing direct program management, operational guidance, training, and technical expertise to Security Forces squadrons employing Group 1–3 sUAS.

The successful candidate will serve as a primary technical advisor and point of contact for supported units, helping commanders and program managers establish, operate, maintain, and mature compliant sUAS programs. The position requires a strong understanding of Department of the Air Force sUAS policy, aviation safety, risk management, training and standardization, airspace coordination, equipment management, and operational employment.

The ideal candidate is an experienced sUAS operator and instructor who can move comfortably between program management, technical advising, classroom instruction, flight instruction, tactical employment, and red-team/adversary operations.

Key Responsibilities

sUAS Program Management

• Serve as a senior technical advisor and contractor deputy to the USAFE-AFAFRICA MAJCOM sUAS Program Manager.
• Provide program management and technical support to Security Forces squadrons operating Group 1–3 sUAS.
• Act as a primary point of contact for unit sUAS program managers, commanders, operators, instructors, and other stakeholders.
• Assist units in establishing and maintaining compliant sUAS programs in accordance with applicable Department of the Air Force policy and guidance.
• Advise units on program requirements necessary to achieve operational capability and authorization to conduct sUAS flight operations.
• Conduct program reviews, staff assistance visits, and readiness assessments as directed.
• Identify program deficiencies, develop corrective actions, and assist units in achieving and maintaining compliance.
• Provide recommendations to MAJCOM leadership regarding sUAS program development, standardization, training, equipment, and operational employment.

Regulatory & Operational Compliance

• Provide technical assistance regarding applicable requirements contained within DAFMAN 11-501, Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Management, and DAFMAN 11-502, Group(s) 1 and 2 Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems.
• Assist units with requirements associated with sUAS procurement, accountability, lifecycle management, airworthiness, cybersecurity, ATO processes, spectrum coordination, airspace coordination, flight authorization, risk management, and operational procedures.
• Review and assist with unit documentation, requests, waivers, operating procedures, and other programmatic requirements.
• Assist units in identifying and resolving barriers to operational employment.
• Advise commanders and program managers on safe and compliant sUAS operations within U.S. and OCONUS environments.
• Assist with maintaining accurate operator, training, currency, qualification, and flight records in applicable systems, including SUASMAN.

Fleet & Lifecycle Management

• Lead or assist with procurement, fielding, configuration, inventory, maintenance tracking, and lifecycle management of Group 1–3 sUAS and associated sensor payloads.
• Track system readiness, equipment status, deficiencies, repairs, software/firmware updates, and end-of-life requirements.
• Provide recommendations regarding system selection, configuration, standardization, and modernization.
• Coordinate with government stakeholders, vendors, logistics organizations, and supported units to resolve equipment and sustainment issues.
• Assist with centralized procurement and accountability efforts across supported organizations.

Training & Standardization

• Develop, implement, and continuously improve sUAS training programs for Remote Pilots in Command (RPICs), sUAS Operators (sUAS-O), Visual Observers (VOs), instructors, and other designated personnel.
• Design and deliver initial, continuation, remedial, and advanced sUAS training.
• Develop training curricula, lesson plans, practical exercises, evaluations, and qualification/currency programs.
• Provide instruction and standardization across multiple Group 1–3 sUAS platforms.
• Conduct ground and flight instruction in accordance with applicable DAF requirements and approved unit training programs.
• Mentor and evaluate operators and instructors to promote standardized, safe, and tactically relevant employment.
• Assist units in maintaining operator currency, proficiency, qualification, and training documentation.
• Serve as an instructor and technical SME for both conventional and tactical sUAS employment.

Tactical UAS & Red-Team Operations

• Serve as a tactical sUAS instructor for Security Forces personnel and other supported organizations.
• Conduct adversary/red-team UAS operations to replicate realistic threat employment and test Counter-UAS (C-UAS) capabilities.
• Employ Group 1–3 sUAS in realistic tactical training scenarios, including reconnaissance, surveillance, target observation, and adversarial flight operations.
• Provide instruction on tactical UAS employment, threat capabilities, limitations, vulnerabilities, and countermeasures.
• Provide expertise in FPV and combat FPV UAS employment, including relevant tactics, techniques, and procedures.
• Support exercises, demonstrations, operational testing, and capability assessments.
• Translate real-world UAS threat tactics and commercial UAS capabilities into relevant training and operational recommendations.

SOP, TTP & Program Development

• Develop, review, and update sUAS Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs), checklists, risk-management products, and emergency response procedures.
• Develop standardized processes for flight operations, training, maintenance, incident response, and program management.
• Assist in developing MAJCOM-level guidance and theater-specific procedures for sUAS employment.
• Develop test plans, evaluation criteria, and operational assessment methodologies for emerging UAS capabilities.
• Identify emerging UAS technologies and assess their operational relevance to Security Forces missions.

Stakeholder & Technical Liaison

• Serve as a technical liaison between HQ USAFE-AFAFRICA, Security Forces squadrons, installation leadership, government agencies, vendors, and other stakeholders.
• Provide timely responses to technical and programmatic questions from supported units.
• Coordinate with Air Force, DoD, FAA, host-nation, and other applicable organizations as required.
• Represent the program during meetings, working groups, exercises, training events, demonstrations, and technical engagements.
• Translate complex regulatory, technical, and operational requirements into practical guidance for unit personnel.

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED.
• Minimum 4 years of UAV/UAS flight experience; 5 years preferred.
• Demonstrated SME-level knowledge of Group 1–3 sUAS and their operational employment.
• Minimum 1 year of flight instruction, UAS instruction, or customer-facing technical training experience; 3 years preferred.
• Current FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate.
• Demonstrated experience operating and instructing on small UAS platforms.
• Demonstrated experience with UAS program management, operations, training, or standardization.
• Experience developing or maintaining sUAS SOPs, checklists, training materials, or operational procedures.
• DoD Secret security clearance required; Top Secret eligibility preferred.
• FAA Class II Medical Certificate required for this position.
• Ability and willingness to live and work OCONUS in Germany.
• Ability and willingness to travel CONUS and OCONUS up to 100%, in support of training, exercises, program assessments, and operational requirements.
• Ability to work non-standard schedules, including nights, weekends, holidays, and extended hours when mission requirements dictate.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently while operating within a government program management structure.

Preferred Qualifications

• Current or previous sUAS Instructor (sUAS-I) qualification.
• sUAS Examiner (sUAS-E) experience or equivalent evaluation experience.
• Prior experience serving as an Air Force, DoD, or MAJCOM-level sUAS Program Manager or deputy program manager.
• Prior experience working directly with the U.S. Air Force, MAJCOMs, Security Forces, or other DoD organizations.
• Prior sUAS red-team/adversary operations experience.
• Experience with FPV and combat FPV systems and tactics.
• Experience developing sUAS training curricula, instructor guides, test plans, SOPs, TTPs, and evaluation programs.
• Experience with sUAS cyber/security requirements, ETP processes, ATO processes, airworthiness, spectrum coordination, airspace coordination, and flight authorization.
• Experience with SUASMAN or similar UAS management/records systems.
• PMP certification or equivalent project/program management experience.
• FAA Private Pilot Certificate, Commercial Pilot Certificate, or military aviation experience.
• Prior military UAS, aviation, C-UAS, ISR, or tactical aviation experience.
• Experience operating UAS in contested, deployed, austere, or OCONUS environments.

Core Competencies

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• sUAS Subject Matter Expertise
• Program & Project Management
• Training & Instruction
• Flight Safety & Risk Management
• UAS Standardization & Evaluation
• Tactical UAS Employment
• Red-Team / Adversary UAS Operations
• Regulatory & Program Compliance
• Technical Problem Solving
• Stakeholder Management
• Curriculum & SOP Development
• Fleet & Lifecycle Management

Clearance & Citizenship

• Active Secret clearance required; U.S. Citizen.

Location

• Germany

What We Offer

• Competitive compensation
• Comprehensive benefits starting day one (medical, dental, vision)
• 401(k) with generous company match and immediate vesting
• Paid Time Off (PTO) and Federal holidays
• Opportunity to support meaningful missions impacting national security