Aerostat Operator 3/Flight Director

Position Overview

QinetiQ US is seeking an experienced Operator 3/Flight Director with specific experience in supporting aerostat operations to support aerostat systems providing persistent surveillance and detection capabilities to the U.S. Government customer across multiple operational sites in Rio Grande Valley, Texas along the US Southern border.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the operational crew in a 24/7 operation in the areas of aerostat pre-launch, launch, ascent, transition, station keeping, and recovery.
• Directs and performs all aerostat electronic subsystem preflight and post-flight checks and inspections as required.
• Maintains status of local weather conditions and trends as they influence mission support.
• Communicates with the Control Center, Meteorological Forecast Facilities, and other Government agencies as appropriate.
• Prepares and maintains the flight system weight logs and the weight and balance records for the operational aerostat.
• Evaluates aerostat lift and purity trends. Reports any unusual trends to management and recommends remedial action.
• Applies advanced technical knowledge to solve unusually complex problems (i.e., those that typically cannot be solved solely by reference to manufacturers’ manuals or similar documents) in working on electronic equipment.
• Functions as a key member of the flight crew for inflation, deflation, launch, recovery, and in-flight activities.
• Operates the aerostat launch/recovery control systems including their back-up systems.
• Directs and performs corrective and preventive activities on the aerostat pressure and control subsystems, power subsystems, mechanical and hydraulic subsystems, aerostat hardware and rigging, tether subsystem, and aerostat envelope.
• Trains and certifies other personnel in selected aerostat system procedures and on the proper operation of all aerostat special purpose vehicles.
• Applies advanced technical knowledge to solve unusually complex problems (i.e., those that typically cannot be solved solely by reference to manufacturers' manuals or similar documents) in working on electronic equipment.
• Examples of such problems include location and density of circuitry, electromagnetic radiation, isolating malfunctions, and frequent engineering changes.
• Directs and performs corrective and preventive maintenance on the aerostat telemetry and control subsystems, power and control subsystems, tether subsystem, meteorological equipment, ground station electronic subsystems, payload and communications subsystems, and site facility electronics as appropriate.
• Trains and certifies other personnel in selected aerostat electronic subsystem procedures.
• Exercises independent judgment in performing such tasks as making circuit analyses, calculating wave forms, tracing relationships in signal flow, and regularly using complex test instruments.

Required Qualifications

• GED or High School Diploma.
• 5 Years’ direct experience with Aerostat related systems.
• Associate and Bachelor of Science degree in any technical discipline can be substituted for years’ experience.
• Must obtain an Aerostat Flight Director Certification and remain current for continued employment.
• Valid U.S. Driver’s license required.
• Must be able to understand, speak, read, and write English fluently.
• Must be willing to work in a 24/7 shift scenario and be assigned to various shifts as required to meet mission requirements.
• Proof of U.S. residency required.
• Ability to carry up to 50 lbs.
• Ability to climb ladders.
• Ability to work from elevated platforms of 8 feet or higher and for extended periods of time.
• Ability to work in narrow and confined spaces under elevated temperatures.
• Successfully completed Background Investigation with a Favorable Suitability Determination, and issuance of DHS Suitability determination.