Contract Instructor Pilot (CIP) Lead

BAE Systems; King's Lynn; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Contract Instructor Pilot Lead within a dynamic team responsible for training F-35 pilots. This role involves leading a team of instructors, delivering high-quality training, and developing innovative training solutions. You will play a crucial role in ensuring that the Lightning Force meets its demand for trained aircrew, collaborating closely with Squadron and Force Leadership. This position offers the chance to make a significant impact in a supportive and inclusive environment, where your expertise will shape the future of pilot training. If you're passionate about aviation and training, this role is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• Experience in fast jet aircrew instruction with a focus on F-35 training.
• Strong ability to build relationships with stakeholders and customers.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a team of aircrew instructors while ensuring high training standards.
• Deliver F-35 pilot ground school and maintain course content and training scenarios.

Skills

Fast Jet aircrew instructional qualification

Communication skills

IT skills

Presentation skills

Customer relationship management

Knowledge of Lightning aircraft

Job description

Job Description - Contract Instructor Pilot (CIP) Lead (00122068)

Job Title: Contract Instructor Pilot (CIP) Lead

What you’ll be doing:

Your main responsibilities will involve:

1. Responsible for the line management, development and behaviours of a team of aircrew instructors and facilitators.
2. Delivery of F-35 pilot ground school in accordance with BAE Systems and MOD regulatory frameworks, including the contractual obligation to update, maintain and deliver the course content, including all visual aids, classroom lectures, and synthetic training scenarios.
3. Continuous development of emergent technologies to provide a fully immersive training environment for the Simulator Programme at RAF Marham. This includes transition into operational training and includes the safety-critical zero live hours to solo element for the Operational Conversion Unit (OCU), as well as Currency and Mission Training capability for the wider Lightning Force.
4. Accountable for the training governance of all instructors, including the amendment of the ATO. The incumbent will be required to follow DSAT and MASED 95 processes for extant and future instructor qualifications.
5. Maintains oversight and delivery of Student Pilot Conversion training. The job holder will be expected to deliver ground school lectures and core simulator instruction as a fully contributory member of the instructional team.
6. Maintains Technical Authority for delivery of aircrew ground school and synthetic Lightning training.
7. Responsible for the financial aspects of the team including utilisation, over time, travel and absence management.
8. Ensuring the team's adherence to the organisations SHE standards; and ensuring actions to address SHE issues are prioritised and resourced appropriately.

Your skills and experiences:

1. Fast Jet aircrew instructional qualification and associated experience.
2. An ability to establish, develop and maintain strong relationships with Customers and Stakeholders.
3. Appreciation of current and future synthetic training requirements and programmes.
4. Excellent communication, IT and Presentation skills.
5. Prior F-35 Lightning Front Line Pilot; QFI or QWI.
6. In-depth knowledge of Lightning aircraft and Customer training structure and processes (DSAT).

The BAE Systems UKF-35 Sustainment Team:

An exciting and rewarding opportunity has arisen for a Contract Instructor Pilot (CIP) Lead within the National Support Solution delivered by BAE Systems UK F-35 Sustainment Team, based at RAF Marham.

The CIP Lead will ensure the Lightning Force demand for trained aircrew is met in full, this includes generating the specified CIP numbers at the requisite capability which is directly linked to KPI achievement. The output will be achieved by the CIP Lead influencing the design of the syllabus and training events as well as personally delivering training and tasking a team of 9 CIPs from BAES.

This role will be the primary interface with Squadron Leadership and Force Leadership in respect of pilot training, ensuring the service is delivered to plan and the experience provided exceeds expectations.

The CIP Lead will be representing UK F-35 Sustainment at F-35 Program Working Groups and BAE Systems Flight Ops Functional Meetings based on their leadership role at Marham.

This position will also act as the BAE Systems Pilot Subject Matter Expert for F-35 Lightning II, interfacing with the wider US Programmes, Training and Flight Operations Teams/Functions as required to enhance our customer offering and delivery.

Why BAE Systems?

This is a place where you’ll be able to make a real difference. You’ll be part of an inclusive culture that values diversity, rewards integrity, and merit, and where you’ll be empowered to fulfil your potential. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds and particularly from sections of the community who are currently underrepresented within our industry, including women, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities and LGBTQ+ individuals.

Please be aware that many roles at BAE Systems are subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors such as your nationality, any nationalities you may have previously held, and your place of birth can restrict the roles you are eligible to perform within the organisation. All applicants must as a minimum achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard. Many roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting where applicants must typically have 5 to 10 years of continuous residency in the UK depending on the vetting level required for the role, to allow for meaningful security vetting checks.

Closing Date: 16th April 2025

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.