Flight Operations Lead Captain

Company Overview Metrea delivers effects-as-a-service to national security partners across five domains and more than a dozen mission areas. These include airborne ISR, electronic warfare, secure communications, aerial refueling, special air missions, aerial firefighting, and advanced simulation. We own the whole stack: designing, building, and operating turnkey capabilities that give our partners decisive, asymmetric advantage against rapidly evolving threats. Our operating model is built around three interlocking pillars. The Support Groups provide a global shared-service – spanning people, finance, platform, operations, legal, and engagement. This frees up our Core Groups, who develop and own mission capabilities end-to-end, to focus entirely on delivery. The Market Groups apply a regional lens, ensuring that our agile and adaptable capabilities remain aligned to the wicked problems that matter most to our partners across the Americas, EMEA, and Asia-Pacific. At the heart of our model is a simple but powerful idea: be a true partner with skin in the game. Our partners need effects, not just equipment. By owning the full stack – from the lab to the field – we are able to drive a continuous cycle of innovation that keeps our partners ahead. It's a fast-moving, intellectually demanding environment where talented people are given real responsibility, work on problems that matter, and contribute to an enterprise that is growing quickly and deliberately. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with facilities across the United States, the United Kingdom, as well as Continental Europe and Asia-Pacific. Group Overview Air Mobility Group (AIRMOB) is responsible for developing and delivering Metrea’s aerial refueling (AAR) capabilities, ensuring the readiness and operational effectiveness of the tanker fleet. AIRMOB oversees fleet management, maintenance, and airworthiness, working to sustain and enhance refueling operations. It manages the integration of new processes and technologies, ensuring that tanker aircraft remain mission-ready through effective logistics, maintenance oversight, and regulatory compliance. By coordinating across various teams, AIRMOB ensures the fleet meets both current and future operational needs, supporting a range of specialized air mobility missions. Position Summary The Flight Operations Pilot Liaison is a pivotal role responsible for ensuring operational excellence, safety, and regulatory compliance of our flight operations. This position requires an individual with exceptional leadership skills and in-depth knowledge of FAA regulations who will uphold the standards of Metrea's flight operations and safety procedures. This role oversees and vectors pilots to maintain the highest standards of safety and proficiency and assists the Head of Flight Operations on administrative and operational tasks. In addition to these leadership responsibilities, the position also serves as a Pilot-in-Command (PIC) of Metrea Strategic Mobility’s KC-135 tanker aircraft. In this capacity, the individual exercises final authority for the safe and compliant operation of assigned missions, leads flight crews through all phases of flight, and ensures strict adherence to FAA regulations, company policies, operational specifications, and contractual requirements. PIC responsibilities include mission planning and execution, sound aeronautical decision-making consistent with the SMS, and the completion of post-flight duties. The role requires maintaining all required qualifications, training, certifications, and currency, and performing additional flight-related duties as assigned. What You'll Do Responsible for the Pilot Records Database (PRD) process, in determining hiring eligibility for crew membersActs as a liaison between crew members and other managersMay plan and modify routes for company aircraft in operationsMaintain an adequate roster of properly qualified, current, and available pilots to meet company requirementsEnsure that each pilot assigned to flight duty meets the applicable requirements and that the certification for these requirements is maintained in the crew member’s recordMonitor pilot currency and legality and remove any pilot from the schedule before the expiration of any applicable qualification requirementWill serve as PIC in KC-135 operations, adhering to all applicable provisions and regulationsAdhere to company Flight Operation Procedures (FOPs), Ground Operation Procedures (GOPs), FAA regulations, and Safety NoticesMaintain all currencies, qualifications, and advanced systems knowledge related to the MSM KC-135 tanker fleet What You Bring Bachelor's degree in Aviation Management or related field or 10 years equivalent experienceMust be highly knowledgeable in applicable Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Metrea Manuals, and all related policies and proceduresExtensive KC-135 flight experienceStrong organizational and leadership skillsExcellent communication and presentation abilitiesSet a high standard for providing our customers with world-class air refuelingKnowledgeable on the use of Foreflight Additional Eligibility Qualifications ATP Multi-Engine Land with B-707/B-720 Type Ratings (Restricted ATP permissible)Previous USAF Instructor and Evaluator certification for KC-135 desiredValid Driver’s License and US PassportAbility to maintain Top Secret clearance Benefits Comprehensive medical plan options including HSA / FSA accountsDental and vision coverage6% employer 401(k) matchFully paid parental leave for all new parentsGenerous PTOLife and disability insuranceLong-term and Short-term disability coverageAD&D CoveragePet InsuranceEmployee Assistance ProgramSubsided gym membership / plans through Wellhub Work Authorization / Security Clearance Applicants must be a U.S. citizen.Ability to maintain Top Secret clearance throughout employment.Role requires adherence to export control regulations (ITAR/EAR). AAP/EEO Statement The Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or other characteristics protected by law. Position Type and Expected Hours of Work This is a full-time exempt position with typical working hours of Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Hours and work shifts may change in accordance with department and business needs. Exempt Employees must have the ability to be on-call and available, as business needs require. Work Environment This job operates in an office setting as well as inflight on the C/KC-135 aircraft. Travel 30% Base Pay RangeThe compensation range shown below is a good faith estimate and reflects the expected base pay for this position upon hire. This is just one component of Metrea's overall approach to total rewards and final compensation decisions, including the ultimate salary or hourly rate agreed upon, may vary depending on factors such as job location, job-specific knowledge, skills, experience, and the overall negotiated compensation package. Eligible full-time employees also receive a comprehensive benefits package designed to support their health, wellbeing, and long-term success. Pay Range: $195,000 USD - $215,000 USD Our Firmware At Metrea, our single core value is Rooted in Humility, and our four cornerstone attributes are Entrepreneurial, Systematic, Discerning, and Over-Deliver. These form what we call our Teammate Firmware. Just like technical firmware connects software and hardware, our Firmware is the constant interface between our mission and our people. It defines how we show up, how we work together, and how we solve complex problems. Our team Firmware creates a web-like, hyper-collaborative, dynamically hierarchical way of working that helps us adapt quickly, communicate openly, and distribute decision-making to where expertise actually lives. It enables groups to self-organize around hard problems, shift fluidly as priorities evolve, and operate with the trust, curiosity, and discipline required in a complex mission space. This foundation allows us to deliver elegant, effective solutions and uphold our purpose: protecting our precious inheritance.