Airborne Sensor Operator

Socket.dev; United States; On-site; USD 826,560 - 1,194,379; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance options

Dental and vision insurance

Retirement plan eligibility

Parental leave

Job summary

Metrea Special Aerospace, ISR Inc. seeks an Airborne Sensor Operator to support CONUS/OCONUS ISR missions. You will operate electro-optical and infrared sensors, manage mission equipment, and coordinate with crew to optimize aircraft payloads.

The role requires a high school diploma, 4+ years ISR aviation experience, multi-crew exposure, and proficiency with mission computers. Willingness to deploy and maintain operational readiness is required.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• 4+ years ISR aviation experience.
• 2+ years in multi-crew ISR platforms.
• Ability to operate airborne mission computers and related systems.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
• Experience with SPINs, ROE, and SOPs.

Responsibilities

• Operate electro-optical, infrared, and other sensors for ISR missions.
• Coordinate with crew and assets to optimize payload effectiveness.
• Complete pre-mission data collection, planning, and briefings.
• Record mission data and maintain logs and post-mission products.
• Support operation and maintenance of equipment and facilities.
• Operate tactical radio/communication equipment and mission consoles.
• Maintain OPS/COMSEC logs and document significant events.
• Complete required training and certifications for operations roles.
• Finish all ancillary training and required forms on schedule.
• Demonstrate multitasking in high-stress environments.

Skills

ISR aviation experience

Multi-crew experience

Airborne mission computers operation

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Company Overview

Metrea delivers effects-as-a-service to national security partners across five domains and more than a dozen mission areas. These include airborne ISR, electronic warfare, secure communications, aerial refueling, special air missions, aerial firefighting, and advanced simulation. We own the whole stack: designing, building, and operating turnkey capabilities that give our partners decisive, asymmetric advantage against rapidly evolving threats.

Our operating model is built around three interlocking pillars. The Support Groups provide a global shared-service – spanning people, finance, platform, operations, legal, and engagement. This frees up our Core Groups, who develop and own mission capabilities end-to-end, to focus entirely on delivery. The Market Groups apply a regional lens, ensuring that our agile and adaptable capabilities remain aligned to the wicked problems that matter most to our partners across the Americas, EMEA, and Asia-Pacific.

At the heart of our model is a simple but powerful idea: be a true partner with skin in the game. Our partners need effects, not just equipment. By owning the full stack – from the lab to the field – we are able to drive a continuous cycle of innovation that keeps our partners ahead. It's a fast-moving, intellectually demanding environment where talented people are given real responsibility, work on problems that matter, and contribute to an enterprise that is growing quickly and deliberately.

Headquartered in Washington, DC, with facilities across the United States, the United Kingdom, as well as Continental Europe and Asia-Pacific.

Group Overview

Special Air Missions Group (SAM) is responsible for developing and delivering Metrea’s Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR), Special Mobility, and Aerial Firefighting (AFF) capabilities. SAM oversees the integration of new mission systems, ensuring operational readiness across specialized aviation operations. It manages fleet maintenance, regulatory compliance, and strategic partnerships to enhance mission effectiveness. By consolidating expertise and infrastructure, SAM ensures Metrea’s airborne capabilities remain adaptable and mission-ready across dynamic operational environments.

Position Summary

The Airborne Sensor Operator (ASO) is responsible for operating electro-optical, infrared, and other mission sensors in support of Continental United States (CONUS) or Outside Continental United States (OCONUS) Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance operations. The ASO also complies with assignments to support the operation and maintenance of equipment and facilities. The ASO is responsible for operating all tactical radio/communication equipment, mission computer consoles, recording equipment, and any mission equipment incorporated on the aircraft.

What You'll Do

• Operates electro-optical, infrared, and other sensors in support of ISR mission directives
• Conducts airborne coordination with other crew members and assets to maximize the effectiveness of aircraft payloads
• Performs required pre-mission activities, including but not limited to obtaining mission-specific data, pre-mission planning and coordination with supported elements, performing pre-flight equipment inspections, and briefing other crew members on mission details
• Performs required post-mission activities including but not limited to maintaining any applicable operations logs, recorded data, workload data, and generating / reviewing post-mission products
• Complies with assignments to support the operation and maintenance of equipment/facilities
• Operates all tactical radio/communication equipment, mission computer consoles, recording equipment, optical sensors, and any other mission equipment incorporated on mission aircraft
• Complies with all Operations Security (OPSEC) and Communications Security (COMSEC) requirements. Documents operations, security events, equipment status, authorized software changes and any other significant events in an operations log
• Completes initial and monthly recurring training and maintains certification for operations positions
• Completes Government and Corporate ancillary training
• Completes all administratively required forms and documents on schedule
• Ability to demonstrate multitasking in high stress situations/environments

What You Bring

• Education: High School Diploma or GED
• 4+ years of ISR Aviation experience related to job duties described
• 2+ years of ISR Aviation experience in multi-crew platform required
• Must have the ability to operate airborne mission computers and related systems, and have tactical moving map software knowledge
• Microsoft Office Suite
• Experience with theater specific Special Instructions (SPINs), Rules of Engagement (ROE), and Special Operating Procedures (SOPs)

Preferred:

• 2+ years of prior overseas rotation experience
• Previous maritime interdiction experience
• Previous Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC), Tactical Air Controller-Airborne (TAC-A), or Air Warden experience
• Previous Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), Moving Target Indicator (MTI), and Surface Search Radar experience
• Previous Mode 1 and 3 certifications

Additional Eligibility Qualifications

• FAA Class III medical certificate required
• Ability to meet program training, DoD medical examination requirements for deployment, any additional pre-deployment contractual requirements, and ability to maintain deployable status
• Must be able to accomplish all duties with little or no assistance
• Must have good command of the English language, oral and written
• Ability to work both independently and in a team environment

Benefits

• Medical insurance options
• Dental and vision insurance
• Retirement plan eligibility
• Parental leave

Work Authorization / Security Clearance

• Employee must be a US citizen and not hold dual citizenship with another country
• Employee must be able to hold and maintain a Top Secret (or higher) Security Clearance
• Current U.S. Passport with 6 months’ validity required
• Current U.S. Driver’s License required

AAP/EEO Statement

Metrea Special Aerospace, ISR Inc., is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time non-exempt position with daily working hours for this position varying Monday through Sunday while deployed. Hours and work shifts may vary in accordance with business needs. You will be scheduled to forward deploy/work approximately 60-90 days CONUS/OCONUS followed by rotation off-site for approximately 60-90 days. Rotation schedules might be adjusted to meet program requirements.

Work Environment

This position is primarily a CONUS/OCONUS deployed position, though some remote work may be required while not deployed. During deployment, employees will be living under field conditions and must be able to work with little supervision in austere or arduous environments. The work environment varies based on applicable contract requirements.

Travel

50-65% to CONUS and OCONUS locations.

Base Pay Range

The salary or hourly compensation range shown above is a good faith estimate and reflects the expected base pay for this position upon hire. This is just one component of Metrea's overall approach to total rewards and final compensation decisions, including the ultimate salary or hourly rate agreed upon, may vary depending on factors such as job location, job-specific knowledge, skills, experience, and the overall negotiated compensation package. Eligible full-time employees also receive a comprehensive benefits package designed to support their health, wellbeing, and long-term success.

$600 — $867 USD

Our Firmware

At Metrea, our single core value is Rooted in Humility, and our four cornerstone attributes are Entrepreneurial, Systematic, Discerning, and Over-Deliver. These form what we call our Teammate Firmware. Just like technical firmware connects software and hardware, our Firmware is the constant interface between our mission and our people. It defines how we show up, how we work together, and how we solve complex problems.

Our team Firmware creates a web‑like, hyper‑collaborative, dynamically hierarchical way of working that helps us adapt quickly, communicate openly, and distribute decision-making to where expertise actually lives. It enables groups to self-organize around hard problems, shift fluidly as priorities evolve, and operate with the trust, curiosity, and discipline required in a complex mission space. This foundation allows us to deliver elegant, effective solutions and uphold our purpose: protecting our precious inheritance.