Staff Technician, Flight Operations & Pilot Duties (r4117)

Staff Technician, Flight Operations & Pilot Duties (R4117)

We are seeking a Flight Operations Technician to support UAV flight operations, maintenance, and pilot duties across Shield AI's fleet of quadcopter and fixed-wing drones. This role requires a hands-on professional who can execute safe, reliable, and efficient flight operations while performing technical upkeep and supporting engineering development. The ideal candidate has a blend of aviation technical experience and UAV flight operations expertise, with a focus on safety, precision, and mission execution.

What You'll Do:

• Serve as Remote Pilot in Command (RPIC) or Pilot in the Loop (PIL) for Shield AI UAV flight operations, including quadcopters and fixed-wing platforms.
• Plan and conduct flight missions for testing, validation, demonstrations, and training.
• Perform pre-flight and post-flight inspections, ensuring aircraft are flight-ready and mission-compliant.
• Operate Ground Control Stations (GCS) to monitor aircraft telemetry, sensors, and payload systems.
• Support mission planning, airspace coordination, and compliance with FAA Part 107 and military flight safety standards.
• Execute field deployments for testing and demonstrations, including setup and teardown of operational sites.
• Conduct routine inspections, preventive maintenance, and component-level repairs for UAVs and support equipment.
• Troubleshoot electrical, propulsion, avionics, and communication systems.
• Assist in hardware integration, firmware updates, and sensor payload installations.
• Maintain accurate documentation of maintenance, flight logs, and system configurations.
• Support engineering teams in collecting and analyzing flight data for performance improvement.
• Work cross-functionally with software, mechanical, and test engineering teams to identify issues and propose solutions.
• Participate in flight readiness reviews, safety assessments, and post-mission debriefs.
• Contribute to flight procedure documentation and continuous process improvement efforts.
• Serve as a technical representative during customer demos, training, and field testing events.

Required Qualifications:

• Strong situational awareness and commitment to safety.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and technical curiosity.
• Ability to perform under pressure in dynamic environments.
• Clear communication and collaboration in cross-functional teams.
• Passion for advancing autonomous flight and national security missions.
• Associate's degree or equivalent military/technical experience in aviation, electronics, robotics, or mechatronics.
• FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate (or ability to obtain within 60 days).
• 2+ years of experience operating or maintaining unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), including both rotary and fixed-wing platforms.
• Hands-on experience with flight control systems, telemetry, and ground control software.
• Familiarity with FAA regulations, airspace coordination, and operational safety best practices.
• Ability to travel frequently for field operations, testing, and demonstrations (domestic and international).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with autonomous or semi-autonomous UAV systems.
• Knowledge of RF communication systems, sensor payloads, and data link troubleshooting.
• Familiarity with Linux systems and scripting for test automation or flight data processing.
• Prior experience in defense, aerospace, or military UAV operations.
• Current or former military unmanned aviation background highly desirable.