Crew Chief - Flight Test

Zone 5 Technologies; San Luis Obispo (CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

Life Insurance

401(k) with company-match

Paid time off

Sick time

Holidays

Job summary

Zone 5 Technologies in San Luis Obispo, CA is seeking an experienced Crew Chief to provide maintenance for unmanned aircraft systems and DoD-based projects. You will perform pre/post flight inspections, assist with packout, and support GSE and avionics integration in outdoor test environments.

Travel up to 50% is required, including CONUS/OCONUS tests. The role demands hands-on maintenance, troubleshooting, and readiness for field operations in varying weather.

Qualifications

• Associate’s degree in Aerospace, Avionics, Electrical, or Mechanical Technology or equivalent hands-on training, or A&P Mechanic’s License.
• 3+ years of UAV operations, Military or General Aviation aircraft service, maintenance, or defense flight test environments.
• Knowledge of aircraft subsystems: avionics, flight controls, telemetry, propulsion.
• Familiarity with flight line operations and ground support equipment (GSE).
• Ability to read and interpret basic wiring diagrams, schematics, and test documentation.
• Physically capable of lifting 50 lbs and working in outdoor field test conditions.
• Ability and willingness to travel up to 50%.

Responsibilities

• Perform routine pre-flight and post-flight inspections, fueling, Flight Control Rigging, and servicing tasks to ensure aircraft are safe and mission-ready.
• Prepare and transport test equipment, spares, and tools required for flight test operations, both on-site and at remote locations.
• Conduct basic maintenance and servicing of support vehicles to ensure reliable ground transportation during test activities.
• Operate, maintain, and troubleshoot ground support systems (Aircraft support equipment, towing equipment, etc.) critical to test operations.
• Install, configure, and maintain airborne and ground-based camera systems used for flight test data capture.
• Assist with aircraft weight and balance calculations, ensuring proper loading for safe and compliant flight operations.
• Apply proper load distribution practices to trailers during pack out and transport, maintaining safety, balance, and compliance with road regulations.
• Prepare and execute ground and flight test operations for unmanned aircraft systems, including pre-flight and post-flight inspections.
• Support integration of avionics, propulsion, payloads, and autonomy systems onto UAV platforms.
• Operate ground control stations (GCS) and monitor flight telemetry during test missions under engineer or pilot supervision.
• Perform troubleshooting, corrective maintenance, and hardware swaps during rapid test cycles.

Skills

UAV operations

Flight line operations

Telemetry knowledge

Wiring diagrams reading

Education

Associate’s degree in Aerospace, Avionics, Electrical, or Mechanical Technology

A&P Mechanic’s License

Job description

San Luis Obispo, California, United States

At Zone 5 Technologies, we're redefining what's possible in unmanned aircraft systems. Our team of engineers and innovators is developing cutting-edge autonomous solutions that push the boundaries of UAS technology - solving complex challenges that matter.

We're building the future of UAS capabilities, and we're looking for exceptional talent to join us. If you're driven by hard problems, energized by rapid innovation, and ready to make an impact on next-generation flight systems, you belong here.

We are seeking an experienced Crew Chief to provide maintenance support for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and other related DoD based projects. Zone 5 maintains a weekly flight test cadence at test ranges local to the San Luis Obispo, CA area. In addition, there will be occasional flight test demonstration events at both CONUS and OCONUS locations that will require travel to support. Flight maintenance requires significant time spent outdoors in various weather conditions.

Key Responsibility

• Aircraft Servicing
  Perform routine pre-flight and post-flight inspections, fueling, Flight Control Rigging, and servicing tasks to ensure aircraft are safe and mission-ready.


• Packout Support
  Prepare and transport test equipment, spares, and tools required for flight test operations, both on-site and at remote locations.


• Vehicle Maintenance
  Conduct basic maintenance and servicing of support vehicles to ensure reliable ground transportation during test activities.


• Ground Support Equipment (GSE)
  Operate, maintain, and troubleshoot ground support systems (Aircraft support equipment, towing equipment, etc.) critical to test operations.


• Camera Equipment Setup & Maintenance
  Install, configure, and maintain airborne and ground-based camera systems used for flight test data capture.


• Weight & Balance
  Assist with aircraft weight and balance calculations, ensuring proper loading for safe and compliant flight operations.


• Trailer Loading & Weight Distribution
  Apply proper load distribution practices to trailers during pack out and transport, maintaining safety, balance, and compliance with road regulations.


• Prepare and execute ground and flight test operations for unmanned aircraft systems, including pre-flight and post-flight inspections.


• Support integration of avionics, propulsion, payloads, and autonomy systems onto UAV platforms.


• Operate ground control stations (GCS) and monitor flight telemetry during test missions under engineer or pilot supervision.


• Perform troubleshooting, corrective maintenance, and hardware swaps during rapid test cycles.

Qualifications

Required:

• Associate’s degree in Aerospace, Avionics, Electrical, or Mechanical Technology, or equivalent hands-on training, or A&P Mechanic’s License


• 3+ years of experience in UAV operations, Military or General Aviation aircraft service, maintenance, or defense flight test environments,


• Knowledge of aircraft subsystems: avionics, flight controls, telemetry, propulsion.


• Familiarity with flight line operations and ground support equipment (GSE).


• Ability to read and interpret basic wiring diagrams, schematics, and test documentation.


• Physically capable of lifting 50 lbs and working in outdoor field test conditions.


• Ability and willingness to travel up to 50%

Preferred:

• Experience supporting DoD UAV platforms or autonomous aircraft.


• Knowledge of data acquisition and telemetry systems.

Pay range for this role

$80,000 - $115,000 USD

What's in it for you:

• Comprehensive benefit package options include medical, dental, vision, life, and more.


• 401k with company-match


• 3 weeks of paid time off each year


• 40 hours of sick time


• 12 annual company holidays

Why Join Zone 5 Technologies?

• Innovative Environment: Work on cutting-edge technology that is shaping the future of defense and aerospace.


• Collaborative Culture: Join a team of passionate professionals dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.


• Career Growth: Opportunities for professional development and career advancement.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

Zone 5 Technologies is a federal contractor and participates in E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility. As required by law, we will verify the identity and employment authorization of all new employees using the E-Verify system. Learn more about your rights and responsibilities under E-Verify: https://www.e-verify.gov .

As set forth in Zone 5 Technologies’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A \"disabled veteran\" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A \"recently separated veteran\" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An \"active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran\" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An \"Armed forces service medal veteran\" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.