Pilot

About the role

Virgin Galactic is recruiting pilots to support the development and flight test programs of its spaceflight vehicles and to operate commercial spaceflights. Successful applicants will be based at Spaceport America in New Mexico, with occasional work at other locations. The role involves test flying and commercial pilot duties, supporting development and operation of the VG spaceflight system per government regulations and company policies, and operating sub‑orbital spaceflight service for customer‑astronauts and science‑research payload customers.

Responsibilities

• Flight duties on the VG Spaceflight System vehicles and other aircraft
• Flight planning activities
• Mission control support roles
• Development of training assets
• Vehicle operations documentation
• Planning, testing and developing follow‑on vehicles
• Recruitment, record keeping and training obligations
• Supporting safety, engineering, maintenance, commercial and marketing teams
• Supporting customer hospitality and training

Requirements

• Graduate of an SETP‑recognized test pilot school full (one‑year) course with extensive post‑graduate test program experience
• Diverse flying background with at least 2,500 hours flying experience, including multi‑engine aircraft with asymmetric thrust performance, high‑performance fast jet aircraft, and low lift‑to‑drag ratio glide experience (e.g., simulated flameout landings) in complex aircraft
• FAA Class 1 or military medical
• Degree‑level qualification in a relevant technical field
• Proven successful team member
• Excellent communication skills
• Based in New Mexico

Skills

• Minimum of 2½ years post‑graduate test pilot school flight test experience
• Operational experience of a commercial aerospace aviation project or business
• Excellent and current knowledge of a diverse range of aerospace matters
• Current FAA Commercial (or equivalent) pilot license
• Ability to communicate aviation knowledge and safety‑related information simply, succinctly, and clearly
• Previous responsibility for authorizing and implementing policies and procedures to ensure safe and efficient flight operations
• Previous experience in spaceflight
• Commercial flight operations with customer interaction

Pay

The annual U.S. base salary range for this full‑time position is $260,000.00–$278,750.00, with actual base pay varying based on job‑related knowledge, skills, location, and experience and taking internal equity into account. Additional forms of pay (e.g., bonus or long‑term incentive) may be provided as part of the compensation package.

Benefits

The position includes a full range of medical, financial, and other benefits. For more information on Virgin Galactic benefits, see the benefits page.