Senior Base Pilot

Draken Europe; Northern Ireland; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Draken Europe is seeking an experienced Senior Base Pilot to provide authoritative operational leadership for flying operations in Northern Ireland. This senior role involves ensuring compliance with safety and regulatory standards while leading the BN2T operations team.

The successful candidate will have a strong safety leadership background and hold a valid UK CPL(A) or ATPL(A). This position offers the opportunity to influence operational standards and the organization's safety culture.

Qualifications

• Must have a valid UK CPL(A) or ATPL(A).
• Required Class 1 Medical certification.
• Experience with CAA and/or MAA regulatory frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day leadership of BN2T flying operations.
• Act as the accountable lead for contracted service delivery.
• Maintain operational standards in compliance with regulations.

Skills

Strong safety leadership

Regulatory awareness

Professional communication

Risk management

Decision-making in complex environments

Education

Valid UK CPL(A) or ATPL(A)

Class 1 Medical

AUPRT and MCC

Background in commercial or military aviation

Job description

Draken offers exciting careers that matter. We believe that mission success does not start with the mission itself. It begins with our people.

The Role

Draken is seeking an experienced BN2T Islander Captain to join our team as Senior Base Pilot, providing authoritative operational leadership and local accountability for the safe, compliant, and effective delivery of contracted flying operations in Northern Ireland.

This senior role combines command experience with structured operational oversight, safety leadership, and people management, aligned with Draken’s leadership and Safety Management System (SMS) expectations.

As Senior Base Pilot, you will hold delegated responsibility for BN2T operations at your assigned base, acting as the principal operational authority and single point of accountability for flight operations delivery.

You will ensure operations are conducted in full compliance with:

• CAA / MAA regulations
• Company approvals and Operations Manuals
• Contractual and customer requirements

Working closely with the Fleet Captain and senior leadership team, you will support operational assurance, risk management, and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

Operational & Safety Leadership

• Provide day-to-day leadership of BN2T flying operations
• Act as the accountable lead for contracted service delivery at base level
• Maintain operational standards in line with Company Manuals, regulatory approvals, and SMS
• Operate as a BN2T Commander, demonstrating sound judgement and calm decision-making
• Promote effective TEM, CRM, and professional airmanship
• Lead hazard identification, risk assessment, and mitigation activities
• Foster a Just Culture, encouraging open reporting and learning
• Ensure audit and inspection readiness, including timely closure of findings
• Liaise closely with Operations and Engineering to ensure aircraft serviceability and readiness
• Contribute to operational reviews, improvement initiatives, and bid support as required
• Lead, mentor, and develop base pilots
• Support recruitment, onboarding, supervision, and succession planning
• Ensure pilots are briefed, supported, and competent within regulatory and contractual constraints
• Act as a visible role model for professionalism, compliance, and safety leadership

About You

You will bring:

• Strong safety leadership and regulatory awareness
• Confidence in accepting accountability and making defensible decisions
• Clear, professional communication with aircrew, engineers, customers, and leadership
• The ability to operate effectively in complex, time-critical environments
• A balanced approach to mission delivery and risk management

Essential Qualifications

• Valid UK CPL(A) or ATPL(A)
• Class 1 Medical
• AUPRT and MCC
• Practical experience with CAA and/or MAA regulatory frameworks
• Background in commercial, government, or military aviation operations

Why Join Draken?

At Draken, senior pilots are entrusted with genuine operational authority and clear accountability. This role offers the opportunity to influence operational standards, safety culture, and outcomes within a complex, highly regulated environment — while continuing to fly.

Join us and make a measurable impact on aviation safety, leadership, and operational excellence.

Our employee values

Draken is committed to eliminating unlawful and unfair discrimination and we celebrate the differences that a diverse workforce brings. A range of perspective and talent supports our values and drives our success, with a mix of voices generating better discussions, business decisions and outcomes for all.

To us, diversity means bringing your own perspective to the conversation; inclusion means having a voice - and equality means that your voice is heard.

At all our sites internationally, every member of the Draken team is accountable to ensure that we are all treated fairly and with respect.

Intolerance has no place in our Company. We condemn it outright. Instead, we strive to create a culture where each person who joins our team feels they have the opportunity to succeed, to grow, and to work within an environment where they can be themselves.

We are also an Armed Forces friendly organisation, and as part of our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant, welcome applications from veterans and services spouses and partners who met the criteria in our job specifications.

In line with our Disability Confident Commitments, we provide reasonable adjustments to facilitate our interview process, please liaise with us if any reasonable adjustments are required.

About Us

Whether it is adversarial support, electronic attack or customised rotary‑wing training, we offer the most accurate and advanced readiness training in the industry. Our vast, differentiated fleet, cutting-edge hardware and experienced instructors are engaged to help your mission take off.

Being ready is not only a matter of when. But where. We provide services in the UK, US and across the NATO countries. Making sure that our allies can manoeuvre around defeat and prepare to prevail.