Lead Drone Pilot in at Blue Air Training

The Lead Drone Pilot is responsible for overseeing small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) flight operations while leading the development, implementation, and management of the drone training program and instructional oversight to ensure standardized, compliant, and mission-ready drone operations across the US Companies. This role will serve as the lead subject matter expert for drone operations, flight instruction, operational readiness, and training development. The information below is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required for this position.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Flight Operations and Tactical Employment

• Serve as Pilot in Command (PIC), trainer, and curriculum manager for sUAS operations in accordance with FAA Part 107 and applicable regulatory requirements, supporting the development, implementation, and governance of operational flight standards and procedures.
• Assist in establishing and maintaining the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), flight authorization processes, pilot currency and qualification tracking, Notice to Airman (NOTAM) and airspace coordination, airspace deconfliction requirements, and operational planning processes.
• Support the Company’s Part 107 and Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) waiver posture, operational risk management framework, and overall governance structure that defines how the Company safely, compliantly, and effectively conducts flight operations in dynamic and demanding environments.
• Partner across the program to support operational success by coordinating with Logistics on sUAS platform lifecycle management and sustainment activities, collaborating with Business Development on customer engagement efforts, demonstrations, and proposal support flight operations, and working closely with Program Management to align operational requirements with lifecycle planning, resource forecasting, and budget development.
• Assist in the development and advancement of the Company’s sUAS training pipeline by shaping the Company’s Part 107 and tactical sUAS curriculum, including ground school instruction, flight training programs, syllabi development, evaluation and grading criteria, check ride standards, and Learning Management System (LMS) courseware content to ensure standardization, mission-ready training, and operational compliance.
• Support vendor flight evaluations and operational assessments by assisting in the review and evaluation of National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) / Blue UAS-compliant platforms from partner vendors. Provide operational and pilot-focused insight to support platform selection, mission suitability analysis, capability assessments, and integration decisions related to UAS technologies, payloads, and operational employment.
• Help shape sUAS safety practices and operational risk management processes by contributing to incident and mishap reporting, airworthiness assessments, and operational safety reviews. Support range coordination and airspace deconfliction with manned aviation operations and assist with maintenance test flight coordination with designated safety representatives to ensure safe, compliant, and mission-ready flight operations.
• Day-to-day leadership of Blue Air's sUAS instructor cadre, the active student cohort, and any contracted pilots brought on for specific events.
• Functional coordination with contractors and partner-vendor pilots flying alongside the program.

Training and Curriculum Development

• Lead student cohorts through the training pipeline while continuously incorporating lessons learned, operational feedback, and evolving mission requirements to improve, refine, and strengthen curriculum effectiveness, training standards, and overall student readiness.
• Support threat replication and advanced training operations by contributing to integrated manned and sUAS close air support (CAS) sorties and Red Cell adversary scenarios, and operationally representative profiles. Assist in the employment of First-Person View (FPV) systems, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR), loitering munition surrogate platforms, and electronic warfare (EW)-enabled UAS profiles against ground forces, Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) teams, air defense units, and fighter squadrons to enhance realism, readiness, and operational training effectiveness.
• Lead the integration of the manned instructor cadre into sUAS operations by supporting transition or cross training, standardization, and operational familiarization, while leveraging traditional aviation expertise to strengthen UAS tactics, safety culture, instructional quality, and mission execution capabilities.
• Build and develop the instructor cadre with operational leadership and training personnel to establish instructor qualification standards, conduct standardization evaluations and check rides, and support instructor certification, progression, and upgrade programs to ensure consistent, high-quality training and operational excellence.

SKILLS AND/OR QUALIFICATIONS

• Strong understanding of FAA Part 107 regulations, airspace management, flight operations, and operational risk management principles.
• Demonstrated proficiency operating small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) in training, operational, or tactical environments.
• Working knowledge of UAS mission planning, flight authorization processes, airspace coordination, and range operations.
• Ability to safely conduct flight operations in dynamic environments involving manned and unmanned aviation integration.
• Ability to develop, follow, and enforce Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), training standards, and operational governance processes.
• Ability to instruct, mentor, and evaluate students, pilots, and instructors in both classroom and operational environments.
• Proficiency with mission planning software, ground control systems, Learning Management Systems (LMS), and operational reporting tools.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple operational, instructional, and program priorities simultaneously.
• Working knowledge of operational safety practices, incident/mishap reporting, and flight risk mitigation procedures.
• Ability to work effectively in team-based operational environments supporting military, government, or defense-related customers.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and decision-making in time-sensitive and safety-critical environments.
• Familiarity with tactical aviation concepts, integrated training environments, and mission support operations preferred.
• Ability to maintain professionalism, operational discipline, and attention to detail in high-visibility customer-facing environments.
• Proficient in the English language with excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare operational documentation, training materials, evaluations, and safety reports.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Must demonstrate safe and healthy workplace practices.
• Must be able to work nights, weekends, and holidays as needed.
• Must be able to travel.
• Must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities of a Lead Drone Pilot in daily work performance.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a US security clearance.
• Not barred from any military installation.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• Current FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate
• Current qualification or demonstrated proficiency Company-supported (list here) UAS platforms.
• Significant tactical, military, or contracted sUAS experience, including pilot-in-command, mission command, instructor, or operational training experience across multiple aircraft or UAS platforms.
• Knowledge of tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) supporting large-scale combat operations, special operations, joint fires integration, CAS and multi-domain training environments.
• Experience coordinating UAS operations within restricted, controlled, or military training airspace, including support for integrated manned/unmanned operations, JTAC-supported events, adversary replication scenarios, and dynamic range environments.
• Experience contributing to or managing a flight safety program, including operational risk management, incident and mishap reporting, safety investigations, corrective action development, trend analysis, and the implementation of procedures and best practices to support safe and compliant flight operations.

Preferred

• FAA Part 61 pilot certification
• Prior instructor, evaluator, or standardization qualification experience.
• Prior military aviation experience, particularly within fighter, CAS, adversary air, ISR, electronic warfare, test and evaluation, or tactical training environments involving integrated manned and unmanned operations..
• Experience supporting the development, authorship, coordination, and approval of BVLOS and other FAA Part 107 waiver packages, including operational risk assessments, safety mitigations, regulatory coordination, and compliance documentation.
• Experience operating and supporting UAS mission profiles, including FPV systems, loitering munition surrogate platforms, ISR swarm operations, and EW-enabled UAS capabilities in support of realistic training, threat replication, and operational mission sets.
• Experience developing and integrating courseware within a structured training organization, including aligning instructional content, qualification standards, evaluation criteria, and LMS materials to support standardized, scalable, and operationally effective training programs preferred.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or demonstrated program/project management experience, particularly in support of operational planning, training development, platform integration, or defense-related aviation and UAS programs.
• Bachelor's degree in aviation, engineering, or a related field.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING CONDITIONS

• Ability to safely operate small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) and associated ground control equipment in operational, field, and training environments.
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, kneel, climb, and work outdoors for extended periods of time in varying terrain and weather conditions.
• Ability to lift, carry, and transport UAS equipment, batteries, payloads, support gear, and cases weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to maintain sustained visual observation and situational awareness during flight operations.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally, including support of remote, austere, or military training environments.
• Ability to work flexible schedules, including evenings, weekends, extended operational hours, and temporary deployments based on mission requirements.
• Ability to obtain and maintain required medical clearances, installation access, and customer-specific operational requirements as applicable.
• Ability to effectively communicate in high-noise and dynamic operational environments, including over aviation radios and mission communication systems.
• Ability to operate in environments involving aviation activity, military training exercises, electronic warfare systems, and live operational scenarios while adhering to established safety protocols.

Work is performed in a combination of office, classroom, hangar, flight line, range, and outdoor operational environments. Position may involve exposure to varying weather conditions, aircraft noise, dust, heat, cold, and physically demanding field environments, including frequent interaction with military personnel, aviation crews, operational leadership, and external customers in dynamic training and operational settings. Operational duties may require work in controlled or restricted airspace, military ranges, and joint training environments involving both manned and unmanned aviation assets.

Disclaimer: This position requires the ability to safely and successfully perform the essential job functions as outlined in the job description. Reasonable accommodations will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities, as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable federal, state, and local laws. Candidates will be expected to meet qualitative and/or quantitative productivity standards as part of the job requirements, with allowances where necessary under the ADA, FMLA, and other relevant laws.