sUAS Pilot II

Location: NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center (AFRC), Edwards AFB, CA

Employment Type: Full-Time

Job Summary

The sUAS Pilot II supports NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) flight operations under the Engineering and Technical Support Services (ETSS) contract.

This position provides expert-level piloting and mission support for small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) in both research and operational environments. The pilot is responsible for planning, executing, and documenting flight missions in compliance with FAA Part 107, NASA AFRC, and Edwards AFB flight safety and airspace control procedures.

The sUAS Pilot II serves as a key member of the UAS flight team, ensuring mission success through technical skill, procedural discipline, and adherence to safety and regulatory standards across multiple UAS platforms and payload configurations.

Primary Responsibilities

• Serve as Remote Pilot in Command (RPIC) for NASA AFRC small UAS missions supporting research, flight test, and field operations.
• Conduct detailed mission planning and coordination, including airspace analysis, risk assessment, range coordination, and weather evaluation.
• Operate and maintain multiple UAS types, including fixed-wing, multirotor, rotorcraft, and turbine systems.
• Ensure compliance with FAA Part 107, NASA AFRC Flight Operations, and Edwards AFB range requirements.
• Perform preflight, in-flight, and postflight inspections, ensuring aircraft and payload readiness.
• Conduct flight operations in controlled and restricted airspace, coordinating with range control and air traffic management.
• Support payload integration and flight-test instrumentation, including setup, calibration, and data collection.
• Maintain flight records, maintenance logs, and operational documentation in accordance with NASA and ETSS procedures.
• Support the development and execution of flight-test plans and data-collection missions for research objectives.
• Participate in safety reviews, risk assessments, and airworthiness evaluations as required by NASA AFRC processes.
• Assist with training and mentoring of junior UAS operators and ground-crew members.
• Provide technical feedback and system improvement recommendations based on flight experience.

Work Environment & Schedule

On-site at NASA AFRC (Edwards AFB).
Typical Schedule: 7:00 AM – 4:30 PM, 9/80 compressed schedule (80 hours over 9 workdays per two-week period).
Work may involve outdoor flight operations, varied environmental conditions, and occasional field deployments.
May require extended hours or weekend work to support test or flight operations.

Key Benefits and Impact

• Directly support NASA’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems research and flight-test missions.
• Operate advanced small UAS platforms supporting national research objectives and aerospace development.
• Collaborate with NASA engineers, flight-test professionals, and airspace authorities to conduct cutting-edge operations.
• Contribute to the safe integration of UAS technologies into the National Airspace System (NAS).
• Support NASA’s continued innovation in aerospace research, environmental monitoring, and flight-test technologies.

Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum 15 years of experience piloting remotely controlled and unmanned aircraft systems, including research or flight-test missions.
• FAA Remote Pilot Certificate (Part 107) and FAA Class III Medical Certificate required.
• Demonstrated operational proficiency with more than one sUAS type (e.g., fixed-wing, multirotor, rotorcraft, turbine, or hybrid).
• Proven ability to conduct flight operations in controlled or restricted airspace and coordinate with air traffic and range control.
• Comprehensive understanding of UAS mission planning, flight safety, and airspace regulations.
• Experience in system maintenance, troubleshooting, and configuration management of UAS platforms and payloads.
• Ability to maintain accurate mission documentation, maintenance records, and flight logs.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work in multi-disciplinary, safety-critical environments.
• U.S. Citizenship required (NASA facility access).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience operating within Edwards AFB controlled airspace or other federal flight-test ranges.
• Experience supporting NASA Armstrong or similar government UAS research operations.
• Familiarity with range safety procedures, mission coordination, and restricted-airspace flight operations.
• Experience with advanced payload integration, including data-acquisition systems, sensors, or imaging payloads.
• Knowledge of NASA flight documentation processes, configuration control, and AFRC flight operations manuals.
• Ability to obtain or maintain DoD flight-line, airfield driving, or range access credentials.
• Prior experience as an instructor, safety pilot, or team lead in UAS operations is a plus.