Air Vehicle Pilot/Air Vehicle Operator- Group 1-3

AVIAN, Inc.; Maryland; On-site; USD 110,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee ownership

Comprehensive benefits

Flexible leave

Job summary

AVIAN, Inc. is seeking a UAS Air Vehicle Operator (AVO) / Air Vehicle Pilot (AVP) to operate Group 1-3 platforms during RDT&E flight requirements. The role includes internal/external operator duties and ground launch/recovery tasks for Navy and DoD projects.

The position requires a High School Diploma, U.S. citizenship, and ability to obtain FAA Class 2 medical certificate, with a salary range of $110,000 to $125,000. Secret clearance or Top Secret desired.

Qualifications

• Education: High School Diploma.
• Secret clearance; Top Secret desired.
• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Ability to obtain FAA Class 2 medical certificate.
• Salary range: $110,000 to $125,000.

Responsibilities

• Pilot UAS Group 1-3 aircraft during RDT&E flight requirements.
• Serve as a UAS operator, internal/external AVO/AVP and ground launch/recovery crew as required.
• Support ground maintenance and testing of assigned UAS.
• Support test data collection compilation efforts by ensuring that all data items are collected, annotated, and delivered to test data analysis facilities as required.
• Participate in pre-mission planning for test missions
• Planning, executing, and reporting for developmental test projects.
• Coordinating with project engineers to develop test points, test cards, and test metrics.
• Writing test reports
• Communicating with project stakeholders on results and mission impact.

Skills

UAS operation

Ground control

Flight testing

Team coordination

Education

High School Diploma

Job description

Job Locations: US-MD-Patuxent River

ID: 2026-2661

Category: Aviation

Type: Full Time

Telecommute: No

Overview

About the Role

AVIAN is looking for an Unmanned Air Systems (UAS) Air Vehicle Operator (AVO)/Air Vehicle Pilot (AVP) to operate Group 1-3 platforms during research development test & evaluation (RDT&E) flight requirements. The UAS AVO/AVP may serve as both an internal/external AVO/AVP and ground launch/recovery crew.

Join a Company Where You Can Make a Real Impact - and Own a Piece of the Future

Are you energized by the idea of helping a company grow smarter, serve our customers better, and connect more deeply? Do you thrive in an environment where your ideas matter, your voice is heard, and your work drives real results? If so, we'd love to meet you.

We're a mid-sized, employee-owned company on a mission to create meaningful value for both our employees and our customers. That means we're not just looking for someone to fill a seat - we're looking for someone who wants to build, innovate, and evolve with us.

Our company primarily serves the Navy and other Department of Defense clients, offering a dynamic environment where your expertise will make a difference.

Responsibilities

• Pilot UAS Group 1-3 aircraft during RDT&E flight requirements.
• Serve as a UAS operator, internal/external AVO/AVP and ground launch/recovery crew as required.
• Support ground maintenance and testing of assigned UAS.
• Support test data collection compilation efforts by ensuring that all data items are collected, annotated, and delivered to test data analysis facilities as required.
• Participate in pre-mission planning for test missions
• Planning, executing, and reporting for developmental test projects.
• Coordinating with project engineers to develop test points, test cards, and test metrics.
• Writing test reports
• Communicating with project stakeholders on results and mission impact.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Education: High School Diploma
• The candidate will serve as UAS operator, both internal operator (utilizing a console inside a ground control station) and as an external operator (controlling the air vehicle using a controller box /tablet).
• When not in control of an air vehicle, the AVO/AVP may also be required to act as ground launch/recovery crew as required.
• Minimum Secret Clearance; Top Secret desired.
• Ability to get and maintain an FAA Class 2 medical certificate.
• Due to the sensitivity of customer-related requirements, U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Salary range: $110,000 to $125,000 (The offered rate will be based on the selected candidate's knowledge, skills, abilities, and/or experience and in consideration of internal parity.)

Desired Qualifications:

• Familiar with EW, Radar and Electro-Optical Counter UAS Systems and test techniques and methods.
• Relevant flight time in larger, semi-automatic, Group 2/3 air vehicles (such as Scan Eagle, AeroSonde).
• Group 1-3 UAS; Rotary and Fixed Wing Pilot designations
• Experience with NAVAIR Test Planning and Reporting processes
• Team Leadership Experience - Manpower, Planning, Scheduling, Resource Allocation
• Familiarity with PAX River Airspace, it's use and scheduling
• Previous AVP Instructor Qualification

About being a part of Team AVIAN

As an employee-owner, you'll be a catalyst for progress - helping us find new opportunities with current or new customers, company efficiencies, streamline processes, and bring people and ideas together in smarter ways. Whether it's helping us optimize workflows, enhancing the employee experience, or delivering more impactful solutions to our customers, your inputs will have reach and relevance across the organization.

Taking care of each other is a cornerstone of our AVIAN philosophy. Being part of the AVIAN team means being part of a team that takes pride in being expansive in our community because our impact doesn't stop in the workplace. We actively engage in community initiatives, empowering our employees to make a meaningful difference.

You'll Succeed Here If You

• See opportunities where others see routine
• Are curious, collaborative, and passionate about making things better
• Enjoy connecting dots across teams, tools, and tasks
• Believe in doing the right thing the right way - even when no one's watching
• Play an active role in our growth, using your ideas and initiative to shape how we work, serve, and succeed together
• Embrace a "one team" mindset knowing we are stronger together through trust, transparency and teamwork.
• Understand the power of ownership - and are excited to be part of an employee-owned culture

Why Join Us?

• Employee Ownership: We're not just building a company - we're building a legacy. As an employee-owner, you'll share in our success and have a direct stake in our future.
• Real Growth: We're expanding, evolving, and exploring new ways to serve. Your contributions will shape our direction and help us grow stronger.
• Purpose-Driven Work: Every improvement you help make is one that adds value - not just for us, but for the people and missions we support.
• Culture of Collaboration: We're big enough to take on meaningful challenges, but small enough that everyone still knows your name.
• Comprehensive Benefits Package: Designed to support your health, financial security, and overall well-being, our health and wellness benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage, along with telemedicine services and a TRICARE supplement for veterans.
• Flexible Leave Benefits: we prioritize a balanced, supportive environment that allows you to thrive both personally and professionally and offer flexible and paid time off, 11 paid holidays, paid sick leave, maternity and bonding leave, and military training leave.

AVIAN is a service-based organization. As an equal opportunity employer, our policy of business is to seek the most qualified candidate for each talent opportunity without regard to race, creed, color, sex, age, religious belief, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sexual preference, physical or mental handicap, lawful political affiliation or veteran's status.