Chief UAS Pilot

Heven AeroTech; United States; On-site; USD 125,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Paid time off

Retirement plans

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Heven AeroTech in Sterling, Virginia, seeks a Chief UAS Pilot to lead the U.S. drone program across defense, public safety, and commercial sectors.

You will supervise operations, compliance, and training, acting as primary aviation advisor and coordinating with multiple departments. The role requires extensive BVLOS/RF/SATCOM experience, 1500+ flight hours on multi-rotors, Part 107 license and Class II medical, and a proven track record in program development, training delivery, and regulatory

Qualifications

• At least five years practical experience with secure RF or BVLOS and SATCOM.
• At least five years’ payload experience with EO/IR cameras, thermal imaging sensors, LiDAR, SAR, and relays.
• A minimum of 1500 hours total flight time on a multi-rotor system as PIC with at least 40 take-offs and landings in the last 90 days.
• Experience with Group II and/or Group III fixed wing UAS.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office.
• Self-motivated and disciplined.
• Experience in developing, writing, or maintaining programs and systems.
• Experience in training delivery and development.
• Ability to organize and maintain registrations, insurance, certifications, and training records.
• FAA licensed with a Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate and a Class II medical certificate.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the US Drone program in collaboration with overseas offices.
• Oversee all drones, drone pilots, programs, and training for the United States.
• Source NDAA-compliant parts and materials in coordination with supply chain management.
• Register drones and liaise with FAA, insurance, and regulatory authorities.
• Serve as the authorized primary pilot and aviation technical advisor.
• Develop, implement, and manage the drone pilot and ground crew training program.
• Conduct initial and refresher training for pilots and ground crew.
• Administer final qualification checks and oversee ongoing training.
• Maintain flight crew records and qualifications per FAA regulations.
• Certify training pilots to train customer pilots on Part 107 operations.
• Develop and manage flight plan review processes and post-flight reports.
• Manage flight and maintenance logbooks across all platforms and teams.
• Gain deep familiarity with Air Vehicles, Ground Control Stations, and Ground Support Equipment.
• Support sustainment-ready military UAS by providing product feedback to engineering teams.

Skills

Self-motivated

Disciplined

Organizational skills

Education

Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate

Class II medical certificate

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Title: Chief UAS Pilot
Company: Heven AeroTech
Location: Sterling, Virginia
FLSA: Exempt
Reports To: U.S. President of Operations

About Our Company:

At Heven AeroTech (Heven), we don't just believe in the power of people- we build our success on it. As a recognized leader in hydrogen-powered drones, we've earned recognition for creating a workplace where innovation thrives, collaboration is second nature, and every employee feels valued. Our culture is anchored in trust and a shared commitment to excellence.

Role Summary:

The Chief Unmanned System Pilot at Heven AeroTech is responsible for developing and managing the drone program across the United States and among the defense, public safety and commercial sectors. This role involves overseeing all drone operations, training programs, and compliance with regulatory requirements, ensuring safe and effective use of UAVs. The Chief Pilot will also act as the primary pilot and aviation technical advisor, collaborating with various departments to enhance operational efficiency and safety.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Oversee the Heven AeroTech United States Drone program in collaboration with our overseas offices.
• Oversee all drones, drone pilots, programs, and training for the United States.
• Work with supply chain management to source NDAA compliant parts and materials for our portfolio of UAVs in compliance with Cyber Security and logistics requirements.
• Register all drones and collaborate with insurance and the FAA and other regulatory authorities.
• Act as the authorized primary pilot and aviation technical advisor, including all associated support equipment (Ground Control Station, hydrogen generation equipment, etc.)
• Develop, implement, and manage the training program for drone pilots and ground crew.
• Conduct initial and refresher training for pilots and ground crew.
• Administer final qualification checks and oversee continuation training for personnel.
• Monitor and maintain flight crew records and qualifications in compliance with FAA regulations.
• Certify training pilots to train customer pilots on flight operations for Part 107 operations.
• Develop and manage the process for flight plan review 48 hours prior to flight and concise test reports and/or summaries after flight.
• Develop and manage all necessary flight and maintenance logbooks across all flight and Ground Support Equipment platforms and teams.
• Become intimately familiar with all areas of the product portfolio to include Air Vehicles (operations and maintenance), Ground Control Stations and associated software/user interfaces, and all Ground Support Equipment.
• Support the development of sustainment-ready military UAS by providing product feedback to the engineering teams to inform design objectives and improvements

Qualifications & Experience:

Required:

• At least five years practical experience with secure radio frequency (RF) or beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) and satellite communication (SATCOM)
• At least five years’ of payload experience with EO/IR cameras, thermal imaging sensors, LiDAR, synthetic aperture radar (SAR), and communication relays.
• A minimum of 1500 hours of total flight time on a multi-rotor system as the PIC with at least 40 take-offs and landings within the previous 90 days.
• Experience with Group II and/or Group III fixed wing UAS.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office.
• Self-motivated and disciplined.
• Experience in developing, writing, or maintaining programs and systems.
• Experience in training delivery and development.
• Ability to organize and maintain registrations, insurance, certifications, and training records.
• FAA licensed with at least a Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate and a Class II medical certificate.

Preferred:

• Experience deploying and leading UAS teams in hostile threat environments.
• Practical experience working with the DoD or law enforcement (federal, state or local) with the deployment of unmanned systems

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to travel 50% of the time, CONUS and OCONUS.
• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds at times.
• Paid vacation, sick days, and holidays.
• Paid personal and maternity/parental leaves.
• Employee and Family Assistance Program

Benefits Overview:

Heven AeroTech offers a competitive benefits package designed to support the health, financial security, and overall well-being of our employees and their families. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage, retirement plans, paid time off/sick, and additional protections such as critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident coverage, and short- and long-term disability.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

Heven AeroTech is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

Salary Range:

$125,000-$190,000 USD