F35 Lightning - Simulator Instructor Pilot

BAE Systems; King's Lynn; On-site; GBP 96,000 - 114,000; Full time

Job summary

A global defense technology company is looking for an F-35 Lightning II Simulator Instructor Pilot to provide world-class training to pilots. The role requires at least 500 hours as a pilot on an Operational Fast Jet aircraft. Responsibilities include delivering engaging lectures, assessing pilot performance, and applying current Lightning tactics to training. The position offers competitive benefits, a collaborative team environment, and opportunities for career progression within the Integrated Training Centre at RAF Marham.

Benefits

Competitive pension scheme

Employee share plans

Flexible discounted health benefits

Private health plans

Shopping discounts

Annual incentive eligibility

Qualifications

• Previous F-35 experience.
• QSFI/QFI/QWI/QPI or EWI experience in Fast Jet aircraft.
• Pairs or Fours lead qualification.
• Air to Air / Air to Surface experience.
• Military Instructional experience on an OCU/Frontline squadron/Fast jet training squadron.
• White Force experience.

Responsibilities

• Deliver world-class training to F-35B Lightning pilots.
• Lead engaging Lightning ground school academic lectures.
• Provide assessments of pilot performance and design remedial training.
• Support simulator operations through expert use of the Instructor Operator Station.
• Apply current front-line Lightning tactics to training delivery.
• Act as a recognized Subject Matter Expert for assigned aircraft systems.
• Deliver pilot-specific synthetic training on the Full Mission Simulator.
• Provide expert technical and training advice for training devices.

Skills

500hrs P1 in an Operational Fast Jet aircraft

Job description

Job Title

F35 Lightning II Simulator Instructor Pilot

Location

RAF Marham-onsite

Salary

Up to £114,000 Dependent of skills and experience

What you’ll be doing

• Deliver world-class training to F-35B Lightning pilots, consistently setting and maintaining the highest instructional and training delivery standards
• Lead engaging Lightning ground school academic lectures and FAM-phase simulator sorties, directly enabling pilots to progress from zero-to-solo on the Operational Conversion Unit (OCU) training syllabus
• Provide clear, accurate, and objective assessments of pilot performance, producing high-quality written reports and designing targeted remedial training
• Support OCU and Front Line squadron simulator operations through expert use of the Instructor Operator Station (IOS), ensuring safe, effective, and mission-relevant synthetic training
• Apply current front-line Lightning tactics and doctrine to training delivery, ensuring operational relevance and realism at every stage
• Act as a recognised Subject Matter Expert (SME) for assigned aircraft systems, owning and maintaining authoritative instructional and lecture material in line with ITC guidance
• Deliver high-fidelity, pilot-specific synthetic training on the Full Mission Simulator (FMS) and Deployable Mission Rehearsal Trainer (DMRT), both in the UK and on deployed operations, in accordance with UK Lightning syllabi
• Provide expert technical and training advice to shape and evolve synthetic training devices, mission scenarios, and tactics, ensuring UK sovereign Lightning training requirements are fully met and future-proofed

Your skills and experiences

Essential

• 500hrs P1 in an Operational Fast Jet aircraft

Desirable

• Previous F-35 experience
• QSFI/QFI/QWI/QPI or EWI experience in Fast Jet aircraft
• Pairs or Fours lead qualification
• Air to Air / Air to Surface experience
• Military Instructional experience for example on an OCU/Frontline squadron/Fast jet training squadron
• White Force experience

Benefits

As well as a competitive pension scheme, BAE Systems also offers employee share plans, an extensive range of flexible discounted health, wellbeing and lifestyle benefits, including a green car scheme, private health plans and shopping discounts - you may also be eligible for an annual incentive.

The Instructor Pilot team

Joining BAE Systems as an F-35 Lightning II Simulator Instructor Pilot offers the opportunity to become part of a highly skilled and collaborative team within the state-of-the-art Integrated Training Centre (ITC). The team is responsible for delivering high-quality synthetic and academic training to all UK F-35 Lightning II pilots, working collectively to maintain the highest standards of instruction and operational readiness.

As part of this team, you will contribute to the development and refinement of the UK sovereign training system, supporting the design of training scenarios, tactics, and mission profiles. The role provides a unique opportunity to work alongside experienced professionals, share specialist knowledge, and influence the future of F-35 pilot training within a world-class training environment.

The role offers the opportunity to enter at and progress through numerous levels of training delivery and instructional qualifications based on experience levels and previous qualifications. Progression through the varying levels shown below will expand your instructional scope and qualifications including the award of Qualified Synthetic Flying Instructor (QSFI) for Pilots and advancement onto delivering additional OCU simulator sorties normally delivered by squadron QFI’s (Basic and Advanced QCIP Qualifications).

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 of thought, rewards integrity, and merit, and where you’ll be empowered to fulfil your potential. We welcome people from all backgrounds and want to make sure that our recruitment processes are as inclusive as possible. If you have a disability or health condition (for example dyslexia, autism, an anxiety disorder etc.) that may affect your performance in certain assessment types, please speak to your recruiter about potential reasonable adjustments.

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

19th February 2026

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.

#LI-onsite

#LI-JE1