Mission Operations Specialist (UAS Pilot)

Odys Aviation; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Odys Aviation is seeking a highly skilled UAV Pilot as a Mission Operations Specialist in Long Beach, California. You will be responsible for piloting eVTOL UAV platforms during test events, ensuring compliance with FAA and EASA regulations. Ideal candidates will have a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant technical field and a strong background in R&D flight testing. The role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking innovations in unmanned flight.

Qualifications

• Active FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate and significant flight hours as RPIC on UAV platforms.
• Hands-on experience piloting multi-rotor or vertical lift UAVs in an R&D or test environment.
• Professional experience in certification flight test programs as a UAV operator/pilot or Flight Test Engineer.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary pilot during experimental flight tests, executing mission profiles on UAVs.
• Translate engineering objectives into safe flight test plans and execute them dynamically.
• Secure flight authorizations by applying EASA JARUS SORA and FAA regulations.

Skills

Remote Pilot Certificate

UAV piloting experience

Flight test methodologies

EASA JARUS SORA knowledge

FAA Part 107/108 regulations

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Aviation, or related field

Tools

Flight test data analysis software (e.g., IADS, MATLAB, Python)

Ground Control Station (GCS)

Job description

We are seeking a highly skilled UAV Pilot to join our Flight Test & Operations team as a Mission Operations Specialist.

In this role, you will serve as the primary Remote Pilot in Command (RPIC) for our developmental eVTOL Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) platforms, piloting complex, novel aircraft from the Ground Control Station (GCS) during live test events.

Beyond the stick, you will own the operational and regulatory groundwork that makes each flight possible — integrating the GCS, drafting Concepts of Operations (CONOPS), securing flight authorizations, and partnering with engineering to translate test objectives into safe, executable mission profiles. You will leverage your flight test background and deep knowledge of EASA JARUS SORA and FAA Part 107/108 regulations to safely advance our aircraft from early R&D testing through to commercial certification.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary pilot at the Ground Control Station (GCS) during live experimental flight tests, safely executing mission profiles on complex, novel eVTOL UAV architectures.
• Translate engineering objectives into safe, executable flight test plans and pilot them dynamically within a rapid prototyping and testing environment.
• Lead the development of Concept of Operations (CONOPS) and operational risk assessments. Secure flight authorizations and waivers by applying the EASA JARUS SORA framework alongside FAA Part 107 and FAA Part 108 (BVLOS) regulations.
• Take ownership of the integration, testing, and troubleshooting of Ground Control Stations (GCS). Ensure seamless command, control, and telemetry flow between the GCS and aircraft via C2 links and high-bandwidth datalinks.
• Manage the integration, functional testing, and operational deployment of various R&D flight test payloads (e.g., telemetry equipment, optical sensors, ballast systems).
• Apply established UAS flight test methodologies to optimize test efficiency, safety, and operational procedures for our autonomous eVTOL UAV platforms.
• Collaborate closely with R&D engineering teams to analyze post-flight telemetry, evaluate handling qualities, validate C2 link robustness, and refine vehicle design based on real-world flight execution.

Required Qualifications

• Active FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate with a proven logbook demonstrating significant flight hours as an RPIC on complex UAS or developmental eVTOL UAV platforms.
• Demonstrated hands‑on experience piloting complex, multi‑rotor, or thrust‑vectored vertical lift UAVs in an R&D, experimental, or operational test environment.
• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Aviation, or a related technical field.
• Professional experience in experimental, R&D, or certification flight test programs — whether as a UAV operator/pilot, Flight Test Engineer, or both.
• Practical experience executing the EASA JARUS SORA process, coupled with deep expertise in the FAA Part 107 and FAA Part 108 frameworks for complex or Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations.
• Hands‑on experience with Ground Control Station (GCS) integration, specifically focusing on:
• Command and Control (C2) link architecture and performance validation.
• Datalink integration (telemetry, video, and command streams).
• Hardware and software payload integration.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with additional FAA aircraft certification frameworks (e.g., Part 21, Part 23, Part 27).
• Experience with flight test data analysis software (e.g., IADS, MATLAB, Python) to support rapid R&D iterations.
• Human Factors Evaluation Experience — pilot interface design, workload assessment, GCS ergonomics, or HMI evaluation in flight test settings.