Chief Pilot - Unmanned Aerial Systems

Location: National Advanced Air Mobility Center of Excellence (NAAMCE)

Full-time, regular professional position.

About the role

The Chief Pilot manages and executes the vision of the National UAS Training and Certification Center, focusing on Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), electric Vertical-Take-Off-and-Landing (eVTOL), traditional aircraft flight operations, and client and partner collaborations. This role leads a team of technical experts and crew members to conduct training, applied research and development, services, crew currency and compliance, and other operational tasks for internal and external stakeholders. The position supports revenue generation goals in collaboration with other senior personnel in the UAS department.

Potential minimum compensation for this position begins at $59,661.00 and is commensurate with education and experience.

Responsibilities

• Organize and execute UAS, AAM Conventional-Take-Off-and-Landing (CTOL), Vertical-Take-Off-and-Landing (VTOL), and traditional aircraft flight operations, lab activities, and customer and partner engagements leading a team of technical experts and crew members.
• Advance revenue generation opportunities including meetings with current or potential clients and support of proposal development.
• Support public awareness of UAS and AAM and advance the Sinclair brand nationally and internationally through demonstrations, speaking engagements, and other outreach activities.
• Manage condition and readiness of UAS facilities, equipment, vehicles, crew qualifications/currency, and training and other resources including those associated with AAM CTOL, VTOL, and traditional aircraft to ensure ability to support standard and potential emergency aircraft operations and client support.
• Perform other duties assigned by the Chief Research Officer or Deputy Director for Unmanned Aerial Systems.

Requirements

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in a related topic required; master’s degree in a related topic preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of related aviation, UAS, or AAM industry work experience required.
• Background in aviation with traditional aircraft, AAM, and UAS related experience required.
• Current Remote Pilot Certificate issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) required.
• Current Private Pilot Certificate issued by the FAA required.
• Current Commercial Pilot Certificate issued by the FAA required.
• Current Instrument Rating issued by the FAA required.
• Current Certified Flight Instructor and Flight Instructor — Instrument Ratings issued by the FAA required.
• Current or ability to obtain an FAA Second Class Medical required.
• Proven prior strategic planning and project management experience preferred.
• Strong personnel management, team building, team interaction, and conflict resolution skills required.
• Strong organizational and analytical skills required.
• Ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships with internal and external customers and partners required.
• Strong PC skills, including standard office tools and industry-specific software packages required.
• UAS operational flight experience on a variety of small UAS required.
• Certification through UAS, AAM, or traditional aircraft Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) authorized training program is preferred.
• Traditional aircraft fixed-wing flight experience required.
• Traditional aircraft helicopter flight experience preferred.
• Familiarity with and ability to instruct using UAS and AAM simulators preferred.
• Familiarity with and ability to instruct using traditional aircraft simulators and flight training devices preferred.
• Ability to create and use appropriate tools to manage people and tasks required.
• Experience in building an internal/external team to execute tactical operations and advance strategic and business strategies required.
• Excellent oral and written communication and listening skills, including experience in preparing and delivering proposals, reports, and presentations required.
• Demonstrated experience developing, packaging, and delivering educational/training content preferred.
• Ability to read, research, and comprehend technical and regulatory documents required.
• Demonstrated experience managing a wide variety of technical and operational projects required.
• Proven ability to develop and sustain productive customer relationships required.
• U.S. Citizenship preferred.
• U.S. Passport preferred.

Benefits

• Tuition waiver for employee and dependents for all Sinclair courses and programs.
• Support for continued training and education, including tuition reimbursement for other universities and colleges.
• OPERS pension participation, with 14% employer contribution.
• 4+ weeks of personal and vacation leave, 3+ weeks of sick leave annually.
• 14 days of annually observed company holidays.
• Expansive and competitive insurance programs, including an HSA with annual employer contribution available.
• High-quality programs for work-life balance.