Airborne Sensor Operator Manager

About the role

The Airborne Sensor Operations (ASO) Manager serves as the authority for airborne sensor operations, training, and workforce management across all operating locations. Reporting to the Head of Flight Operations, this role is central to enabling compliant, safe, reliable, effective, efficient, and evolvable flight operations by ensuring the effective integration, standardization, and performance of ASO personnel and sensor systems in support of Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations on King Air and Challenger platforms.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the subject matter expert for airborne sensor systems, radios, and mission equipment, and establish the standards that enable compliant, safe, reliable, effective, efficient, and evolvable (CSRE3) sensor operations across all locations.
• Define, implement, and evaluate performance standards for sensor operations, ensuring consistent execution across all phases of ground and flight operations on King Air and Challenger platforms.
• Provide operational and technical guidance to ASOs in accordance with company procedures, mission partner requirements, and Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTP), ensuring compliance with applicable program, regulatory, and company requirements.
• Own the ASO training and standardization program, including development and maintenance of initial and recurrent training curricula, simulator and computer-based instruction, and evaluation standards.
• Approve ASO qualifications, upgrades, and proficiency, and oversee a cadre of Standardization ASOs responsible for training and evaluations across all sites.
• Maintain standardized training records and report training status, ensuring a consistent and deployable level of proficiency across the ASO workforce.
• Provide functional leadership of ASOs across all operating locations through Lead ASOs, establishing expectations for performance, professionalism, and operational readiness.
• Serve as the hiring manager for ASO personnel, including developing selection criteria, conducting interviews, and selecting candidates, and provide ongoing performance feedback and professional development through Lead ASOs.
• Lead workforce planning, staffing, and strategic and operational-level scheduling to ensure the availability and effective utilization of qualified ASOs across all locations.
• Establish and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), checklists, and processes across all locations, ensuring alignment with system configurations and operational requirements.
• Drive human-system integration by evaluating and refining how sensor systems are employed within the aircraft, optimizing operator interface, workflow, and crew coordination.
• Develop, validate, and refine Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTP) through iterative testing and operational feedback, and ensure effective transition of new capabilities into training and field operations.
• Evaluate system updates and modifications, assess operational impact, and provide feedback to Engineering and Program Management to support system performance and continuous improvement.
• Identify emerging technologies and trends in airborne sensor systems to inform long-term capability development and investment decisions.
• Deploy to operating locations to conduct missions, perform standardization evaluations, and reinforce operational consistency across the enterprise.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience, with demonstrated ability to think critically, communicate clearly in writing, and translate complex operational concepts into actionable guidance.
• 6+ years of Airborne Sensor Operator experience in ISR operations.
• Experience leading teams, programs, or functional areas in an operational environment.
• Experience developing and executing structured training and standardization programs.
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate and certify operator performance.
• Strong understanding of ISR operations, including sensor employment, mission execution, and crew integration.
• Experience supporting operational test, evaluation, or development of TTP for sensor systems.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and influence personnel across multiple locations through indirect leadership.
• Experience working with integrated sensor systems, mission systems, and airborne communication equipment.
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.
• Experience supporting or leading developmental test and evaluation (DT&E) and/or operational test and evaluation (OT&E) of airborne sensor or mission systems.
• Experience integrating mission systems from an operator perspective, including human-machine interface, workflow optimization, and crew coordination.
• Ability to assess system performance, identify limitations, and provide actionable feedback to engineering and program teams.
• Experience introducing new capabilities into operations, including testing, validation, training, and fielding.
• Ability to communicate effectively with aircrew, leadership, and cross-functional teams.
• Ability to operate in both CONUS and OCONUS environments and maintain deployable status.
• Experience maintaining qualification and currency as an Airborne Sensor Operator.
• Proficiency with mission systems, tactical software, and standard office tools.