Developmental Test Project Officer / UAS Pilot

Absidefense; California (MD); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work schedules

Excellent benefits

Job summary

ABSI Aerospace & Defense, a veteran-led company in Southern Maryland, seeks a hands-on Developmental Test Project Officer / UAS Pilot to lead complex test events. You will coordinate multi-domain cUAS and UART testing, align stakeholders, manage resources and risk, and qualify as a Group 1-2 UAS pilot as required.

The role reports to the Director of Programs and Partnerships and requires clear communication with government offices, aircrews, engineers, and fleet representatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field with 8+ years of experience.
• Experience planning, coordinating, and documenting complex test events.
• Aviation or flight test background with UAS experience.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams in hands-on environments.
• Strong technical writing, data analysis, and briefing skills.
• Willingness to obtain/maintain Group 1-2 UAS qualifications.
• Willingness to travel occasionally and work outside standard hours.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning, coordination, execution, and reporting of developmental test events.
• Serve as main interface among test team, government offices, aircrew, engineers.
• Coordinate multi-domain cUAS test activities and resource alignment.
• Develop test plans, schedules, and mission requirements.
• Provide hands-on leadership during test preparation and execution.
• Lead team communications, readiness reviews, and debriefs.
• Analyze test data and prepare technical reports and briefings.
• Apply NAVAIR flight-test instructions and risk management practices.
• Maintain UAS qualifications and support flight operations as needed.

Skills

Project leadership

Test planning

UAS flight test

Cross-functional teamwork

Technical writing

Data analysis

Safety & compliance

Aviation operations

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

SharePoint

Microsoft Teams

Job description

Primary Portfolio Assignment: Professional Services Division

Location: St. Inigoes, MD

US Citizenship Required for this Position: Yes

Clearance Type: Ability to obtain and maintain Secret clearance

Work Schedule: Full Time, Exempt

Reports to: Director of Programs and Partnerships

Positions Supervised: None; provides functional leadership to integrated test teams

Travel: Occasional travel as required to support developmental test events

DESCRIPTION

ABSI Aerospace & Defense is a mission-driven, veteran-led company headquartered in the St. Mary’s County Innovation District in Southern Maryland. Through three integrated divisions—Professional Services, Flight Services, and Aerial Targets—ABSI delivers test and evaluation, training and logistics support, uncrewed systems operations, low-cost aerial targets, and counter-UAS training and field support to the Department of Defense and allied partners. Our success depends on employing and retaining world-class subject matter experts and personnel equally committed to our mission. To support our workforce, ABSI offers highly competitive salaries, flexible work schedules, excellent benefits, instant 401K vesting and a full cafeteria plan that employees can tailor to their individual needs.

ABSI is seeking a hands-on Developmental Test Project Officer / UAS Pilot to support UX-24 developmental test activities. This position leads the planning, coordination, execution, and reporting of complex test events and serves as the primary interface among the test team, government program offices, aircrew, engineers, and fleet representatives. The Project Officer provides deckplate leadership in the test environment, coordinates multi-domain cUAS and UART test activities, and keeps stakeholders, resources, risks, and technical objectives aligned. As required, the employee will qualify to operate Group 1-2 UAS as test targets; flight duties support, but do not define, the position's primary project leadership role.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Lead the planning, coordination, execution, and reporting of developmental test events in support of program and test objectives.
• Serve as the primary interface among the test team, government program offices, aircrew, engineers, fleet representatives, and other participating organizations to maintain stakeholder alignment and enable successful execution.
• Lead and coordinate multi-domain cUAS and UART test activities, integrating technical, operational, schedule, resource, and mission requirements across participating teams.
• Develop and maintain test plans, test cards, mission requirements, schedules, readiness products, and other supporting documentation for developmental test activities.
• Provide hands‑on leadership during test preparation and execution by coordinating personnel and resources, assigning and tracking action items, identifying dependencies, and managing risks to safe and efficient completion.
• Lead test team communications, coordination meetings, readiness reviews, mission briefs, debriefs, and follow‑up activities.
• Monitor test execution, assess progress against objectives, elevate issues, and coordinate timely adjustments with technical and operational stakeholders.
• Analyze test data and aircraft or system performance; prepare technical reports, presentations, recommendations, and briefings that clearly document test results and conclusions.
• Apply applicable NAVAIR flight‑test instructions, approved procedures, and operational risk‑management practices throughout planning and execution.
• Obtain and maintain required Group 1-2 UAS qualifications and, as required, serve as an sUAS pilot or target operator in support of developmental test missions and associated flight operations.
• Perform other duties consistent with the position and program requirements, as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with at least 8 years of relevant experience performing the essential functions listed above.
• Technical background demonstrated through relevant education, military training, professional credentials, or progressively responsible experience in aviation, engineering, flight test, UAS, or a closely related field.
• Aviation experience as a pilot, Naval Flight Officer, Air Vehicle Pilot, flight test engineer, aerospace engineer, or in a comparable technical aviation role.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross‑functional technical or operational teams in a hands‑on test, flight, field, or mission environment.
• Experience planning, coordinating, executing, and documenting complex test events, flight operations, demonstrations, or comparable technical activities.
• Ability to integrate competing technical, operational schedule, safety, and stakeholder requirements and drive actions to closure.
• Strong technical writing, data‑analysis, briefing, and presentation skills, including the ability to communicate test results and recommendations to technical and senior audiences
• Ability and willingness to complete required training and qualification to operate Group 1-2 UAS and to perform flight‑line or field duties in support of test events.
• Ability to work flexibly around test schedules and mission requirements, including occasional travel and work outside standard business hours when required.
• S. citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain the security clearance, base access, and credentials required for assigned work.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Graduate of a recognized military or civilian Test Pilot School.
• Familiarity with the NAVAIR M-3905.1 Flight Test Manual series of instructions.
• Prior Navy aviation leadership experience at the O-3/O-4 level, or comparable military or civilian test‑team leadership experience.
• Experience serving as a Project Officer, Test Director, Test Pilot, Test Naval Flight Officer, or lead flight test engineer for developmental test programs.
• Experience coordinating multi‑domain cUAS testing, UART activities, UAS target operations, or related integrated test events.
• Current or prior qualification operating Group 1-2 UAS.
• Knowledge of NAVAIR developmental test processes and experience working with government program offices, test squadrons, operational aircrew, engineers, and fleet stakeholders.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and web‑based collaborative resources such as SharePoint and Microsoft Teams.

ABSI Aerospace & Defense is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind: ABSI is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and applicants and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at ABSI are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, status as a covered veteran, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. ABSI will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.