Remote Sensor Operator

DEA Aviation Ltd; Retford; Remote; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company pension contribution 4%

Octopus EV Salary Sacrifice Scheme

Bupa Salary Sacrifice Scheme

Annual Leave Purchase

Cycle to Work

Free flu vaccination voucher

Perbox platform

Job summary

DEA Aviation Ltd. is hiring a Remote Sensor Operator at Gamston Airport, Retford for permanent work.

You will conduct EO/IR, SWIR and radar sensor operations for RPAS missions and support ISR tasking through planning, sensor employment, real-time reporting and data handling. The role requires independent operator capability at intermediate/proficient level, with involvement in payload activity, trials, training and evidence capture as needed.

Qualifications

• EO/IR, SWIR, radar sensor operations experience preferred.
• Experience with RPAS payloads and ground control systems is desirable.
• Ability to perform mission planning, reporting and data handling to a professional standard.

Responsibilities

• Prepare for airborne and RPAS tasks with tasking, airspace and collection requirements.
• Operate independently on land, maritime and reconnaissance missions and manage mission flow without close supervision.
• Respond to dynamic tasking from ground command and adjust search patterns and reporting.
• Conduct handovers, briefings and post-flight debriefings, noting risks and outcomes.
• Operate sensor systems to collect imagery/video and track targets for extended periods.
• Troubleshoot sensor, ground station, comms and data transfer issues.
• Store, back up and disseminate raw data and produce real-time and post-mission reports.
• Support PED by processing and analysing aerial imagery and spatial data.
• Extract IMINT and report to standards.
• Maintain mission records and evidence packs.
• Operate RPAS payload systems from control stations or deployable environments.
• Collaborate with pilots, payload operators, aircrew and analysts to maintain a shared tactical picture.
• Contribute to RPAS trials, payload integration and evidence capture.

Skills

Independent operator

Tactical judgement

Clear communicator

CRM awareness

Calm under pressure

Attention to detail

Adaptable

Mentor others

Job description

Remote Sensor Operator

Department: Task Specialist

Employment Type: Permanent

Location: Gamston Airport, Retford

Description

To conduct remote sensor operations for manned airborne and Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) missions, providing proficient and independent operation of Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR), Short-Wave Infrared (SWIR), radar and associated mission systems. The role supports Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) tasking through effective mission planning, sensor employment, near real-time reporting, data handling and post-mission exploitation. The post holder is expected to operate at Intermediate / Proficient Operator standard and support RPAS payload activity, trials, training and evidence capture where required.

Key Responsibilities

Mission Planning and Execution

• Prepare for airborne and RPAS tasks through review of tasking, Air Tasking Orders, route, airspace, collection requirements, customer outputs and crew briefings.
• Operate independently on a variety of land, maritime, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, making tactical sensor decisions and managing mission flow without constant supervision.
• Receive and action dynamic tasking from ground command elements, adapting search patterns, sensor priorities and reporting flow as the situation develops.
• Conduct clear handovers, crew briefings and post-flight debriefings, ensuring risks, collection gaps and task outcomes are understood.

Advanced Sensor Operation and Troubleshooting

• Operate sensor systems to collect still imagery, full motion video and track moving targets for extended periods.
• Conduct Hailing, Phase 1 PED Imagery Intelligence, pattern of life, surveillance, reconnaissance and target tracking tasks to required customer and mission standards.
• Use sensor functions to maximise collection quality, including appropriate zoom, focus, gain, polarity, metadata, look angle and image framing.
• Troubleshoot common sensor, ground station, communications, downlink, display, recording and data transfer issues before escalating.

Data, Reporting and Exploitation

• Store, back up, label and disseminate raw mission data in line with company procedures and customer handling requirements.
• Produce clear oral and written reports, including near real-time updates and post-mission flight reports, with accurate timings, coordinates and event summaries.
• Support Level 1 Processing, Exploitation and Dissemination (PED) by manipulating, processing and analysing digital aerial imagery and spatial data.
• Extract Imagery Intelligence (IMINT) and report it using recognised standards
• Maintain accurate mission records, flight logs and evidence packs to support quality assurance, customer reporting and future tasking.

RPAS and Remote Mission Systems

• Operate or support RPAS payload systems from a ground control station, remote sensor console or deployable mission system environment.
• Work effectively with remote pilots, payload operators, aircrew, Task Specialists, intelligence analysts and liaison officers to maintain a shared tactical picture.
• Contribute to RPAS trials, payload integration, procedure development and evidence capture.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Confident independent operator able to manage the sensor task, mission flow and reporting chain without close supervision.
• Strong tactical judgement, able to balance collection quality, aircraft or RPAS constraints, safety and customer priorities.
• Clear communicator with effective Crew Resource Management (CRM) awareness, concise radio/chat discipline and good briefing/debriefing skills.
• Calm under pressure, able to troubleshoot equipment and communications issues without losing the mission picture.
• High attention to detail, especially when capturing imagery, coordinates, metadata, logs and customer reporting outputs.
• Adaptable and comfortable working in live operations, deployed sites, remote ground stations and mixed crew environments.
• Mature and discreet around sensitive mission data, customer information, aircraft, RPA systems and operating areas.
• Able to mentor junior operators, reinforce standards and support training or procedure updates where required.
• Forward leaning and practical, identifying improvements in sensor employment, data workflows, reporting quality and RPA payload procedures.

Benefits

• Company pension contribution up to 4%
• Octopus EV Salary Sacrifice Scheme
• Bupa Salary Sacrifice Scheme
• Annual Leave Purchase
• Cycle 2 Work
• Free flu vaccination voucher
• Perbox platform