Flight Operations Lead Captain

Metrea; Temecula (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical plan options

Dental and vision coverage

401(k) match

Paid parental leave

Generous PTO

Job summary

Metrea is looking for a Flight Operations Lead Captain in Temecula, California. This pivotal role ensures flight operations' operational excellence and safety while overseeing pilots and regulatory compliance. You will serve as Pilot-in-Command of KC-135 aircraft, responsible for mission planning and execution, ensuring strict adherence to FAA regulations and company policies.

The ideal candidate has extensive KC-135 flight experience, strong leadership skills, and excellent communication abilities. This is a full-time position with comprehensive benefits and the opportunity to work with innovative aviation solutions.

Qualifications

• Extensive KC-135 flight experience required.
• Ability to maintain Top Secret clearance.
• Valid Driver’s License and US Passport needed.

Responsibilities

• Ensure operational excellence and safety of flight operations.
• Oversee and vector pilots for high standards.
• Serve as Pilot-in-Command of KC-135 aircraft.

Skills

Leadership skills

Knowledge of FAA regulations

Organizational skills

Communication abilities

Use of Foreflight

Education

Bachelor's degree in Aviation Management or related field

10 years equivalent experience

Job description

Company Overview

Metrea delivers effects-as-a-service to national security partners across five domains and more than a dozen mission areas—including airborne ISR, electronic warfare, secure communications, aerial refueling, special mission aviation, aerial firefighting, and advanced simulation.

Wherever we operate, we build vertically integrated full stacks of capability—designing, building, and operating turnkey solutions that let customers scale capacity while benefiting from continuous cycles of innovation. With operators and engineers under one roof, we close the gap between lab and field—what we call connecting design with effect. Metrea’s solutions are built for elegance: effective, efficient, and evolving. This approach enables our partners to do more with less and achieve outsized, asymmetric advantage against rapidly evolving threats.

Headquartered in Washington, DC, Metrea has facilities across the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, and beyond.

Air Mobility Group (AIRMOB)

Responsible for developing and delivering Metrea’s aerial refueling (AAR) capabilities, ensuring the readiness and operational effectiveness of the tanker fleet. AIRMOB oversees fleet management, maintenance, and airworthiness, working to sustain and enhance refueling operations. It manages the integration of new processes and technologies, ensuring that tanker aircraft remain mission‑ready through effective logistics, maintenance oversight, and regulatory compliance. By coordinating across various teams, AIRMOB ensures the fleet meets both current and future operational needs, supporting a range of specialized air mobility missions.

Position Summary

The Flight Operations Lead Captain is a pivotal role responsible for ensuring operational excellence, safety, and regulatory compliance of our flight operations. This position requires an individual with exceptional leadership skills and in-depth knowledge of FAA regulations who will uphold the standards of Metrea's flight operations and safety procedures. This role oversees and vectors pilots to maintain the highest standards of safety and proficiency and assists the Head of Flight Operations on administrative and operational tasks.

In addition to these leadership responsibilities, the position also serves as a Pilot-in-Command (PIC) of Metrea Strategic Mobility’s KC-135 tanker aircraft. In this capacity, the individual exercises final authority for the safe and compliant operation of assigned missions, leads flight crews through all phases of flight, and ensures strict adherence to FAA regulations, company policies, operational specifications, and contractual requirements. PIC responsibilities include mission planning and execution, sound aeronautical decision‑making consistent with the SMS, and the completion of post‑flight duties. The role requires maintaining all required qualifications, training, certifications, and currency, and performing additional flight‑related duties as assigned.

What You’ll Do

• Responsible for the Pilot Records Database (PRD) process, in determining hiring eligibility for crew members.
• Acts as a liaison between crew members and other managers.
• May plan and modify routes for company aircraft in operations.
• Maintain an adequate roster of properly qualified, current, and available pilots to meet company requirements.
• Ensure that each pilot assigned to flight duty meets the applicable requirements and that the certification for these requirements is maintained in the crew member’s record.
• Monitor pilot currency and legality and remove any pilot from the schedule before the expiration of any applicable qualification requirement.
• Will serve as PIC in KC-135 operations, adhering to all applicable provisions and regulations.
• Adhere to company Flight Operation Procedures (FOPs), Ground Operation Procedures (GOPs), FAA regulations, and Safety Notices.
• Maintain all currencies, qualifications, and advanced systems knowledge related to the MSM KC-135 tanker fleet.
• Duties as assigned by Head of Flight Operations.

What You’ll Bring

• Must be highly knowledgeable in applicable Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Metrea Manuals, and all related policies and procedures.
• Extensive KC-135 flight experience.
• Strong organizational and leadership skills.
• Excellent communication and presentation abilities.
• Set a high standard for providing our customers with world‑class air refueling.
• Knowledgeable on the use of Foreflight.

Additional Eligibility Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aviation Management or related field or 10 years equivalent experience.
• ATP Multi‑Engine Land with B‑707/B‑720 Type Ratings (Restricted ATP permissible).
• Previous USAF Instructor and Evaluator certification for KC-135 desired.
• Valid Driver’s License and US Passport.
• Ability to maintain Top Secret clearance.

Our Firmware

At Metrea, our single core value, Rooted in Humility, and our four cornerstone attributes—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.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical plan options including HSA / FSA accounts.
• Dental and vision coverage.
• 6% employer 401(k) match.
• Fully paid parental leave for all new parents.
• Generous PTO.
• Life and disability insurance.
• Long‑term and Short‑term disability coverage.
• AD&D Coverage.
• Pet Insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Subsidized gym membership / plans through Wellhub.

Work Authorization / Security Clearance

• Applicants must be a U.S. citizen.
• Ability to maintain Top Secret clearance throughout employment.
• Role requires adherence to export control regulations (ITAR/EAR).

AAP/EEO Statement

The Company 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 exempt position with typical working hours of Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Hours and work shifts may change in accordance with department and business needs. Exempt Employees must have the ability to be on‑call and available, as business needs require.

Work Location

Temecula and Moreno Valley, CA

Work Environment

This job operates in an office setting as well as inflight on the KC‑135R/RG and C‑135FR aircraft.

Travel

30%