Lead Developmental Test & UAS Pilot

ABSI Aerospace & Defense; California (MO); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

ABSI Aerospace & Defense is seeking a hands-on Developmental Test Project Officer / UAS Pilot to support UX-24 developmental test activities. This role leads 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,

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.

Responsibilities

• 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.

Job description

ABSI Aerospace & Defense is seeking a hands-on Developmental Test Project Officer / UAS Pilot to support UX-24 developmental test activities. This role leads 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,