Sr Principal Pilot - Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)
$156,400–$234,600 year
On-sitePalmdale, California, United States
Job Summary
Remotely pilot UAVs to determine compliance with specifications during experimental, engineering, and flight test events. Define, plan, and execute complex flight programs while conducting disciplined briefings and debriefings. Coordinate with maintenance personnel to analyze and correct vehicle discrepancies, and support engineering with test plan development. Attend Technical Interchange Meetings, Preliminary Design Reviews, Critical Design Reviews, and Flight Readiness Reviews. Demonstrate vehicle performance to customers and government officials as needed. This role supports key engineering milestones including TIMs, PDR, CDR, and FRR within Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems Test and Engineering. The position requires a 9/80 work schedule with every other Friday off and occasional odd shifts.
Required Qualifications
- Relocation assistance may be available
- Top Secret clearance
- 10% of the Time travel
- Bachelor's of Science degree AND 8 years of related professional/military experience
- Master's degree AND 6 years of related professional/military experience
- Ph.D. AND 4 years of related professional/military experience
- Experience in flight test operations
- FAA Commercial Multi & Single Engine instrument rated pilot (or military equivalent)
- Current FAA Class II Medical or higher
- 500 hours of flight experience as Pilot in Command
- Ability to maintain instrument currency in manned aircraft
- Ability to work the occasional odd shift (Nights and Weekends)
- Willingness to obtain and maintain the appropriate medical clearance(s)
- Willingness to obtain and maintain all training qualifications
- Active US Government Top Secret clearance (with a background investigation within the past 6 years or enrolled into Continuous Evaluation)
- Ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program (SAP) clearance
- Ability to obtain and maintain subsequent SAP PARs following commencement of employment
- U.S. Citizenship
Desired Qualifications
- Flight test experience
- Military flight experience
- Previous experience operating UAVs
- Aviation instructor experience
- Current applicable Special Access Program (SAP) clearance
Hiring someone like this?
Get your role in front of qualified candidates on Sorce.