Operational Test Pilot & Exercise Integration Lead

Hermeus; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 187,000 - 253,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare

Stock options

401(k) retirement plan

Office lunches

Job summary

Hermeus is seeking an Operational Test Pilot & Exercise Integration Lead in Atlanta to fly our aircraft, plan and lead missions, and coordinate with range authorities and test organizations. You will translate operational intent into executable test plans and manage Flight Test as a Service engagements from scoping to data delivery.

The role requires extensive aviation leadership, experience on US military ranges, and interaction with government customers to mature capabilities for rapid

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, physics, or a related technical field.
• FAA Commercial Pilot Certificate or ATP with instrument rating.
• Current FAA Class 2 medical certificate and ability to maintain it.
• 8+ years in operational aviation and program or project management.
• Experience with military range missions and joint/service exercises.

Responsibilities

• Pilot the Hermeus aircraft and lead flight test missions.
• Plan and execute mission profiles, crew coordination, and post-flight debriefs.
• Coordinate range integration with range control and airspace managers.
• Lead on-site execution for joint/service exercise participation.
• Build and maintain relationships with sponsoring units and exercise teams.
• Influence vehicle design and mission concepts through operator feedback.
• Develop flight operations products: mission plans, checklists, safety docs.
• Manage Flight Test as a Service engagements: scoping, scheduling, data delivery.
• Lead readiness reviews and safety reviews with internal and external partners.
• Mentor operations and mission planning teams as the group scales.

Skills

Mission planning

Program management

Leadership

Aviation operations

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering, physics, or a related technical field

Job description

Hermeus is a venture-backed defense aviation company reclaiming the lost art of rapid iterative prototyping to build the fastest aircraft in the world today. By prioritizing relentless hardware iteration, we deliver high-speed systems at the pace of the modern battlefield. We work with the Department of War to provide the high-speed capabilities our nation and its allies need to maintain a durable, asymmetric advantage.

The Flight Operations team at Hermeus is charged with creating the strategy and leading the successful execution of the US Government relationships and processes that enable company flight activity milestones. This close-knit team serves as the main interface between relevant DoD, FAA, and FCC partners and internal company-wide teams. Our team acquires and maintains flight approvals for Hermeus flight vehicles, coordinates and plans with airfields and ranges, and provides fleet insight to our internal teams and government partners. Our work enables Hermeus to achieve rapid flight vehicle development and to deliver Flight Test as a Service to our customers.

As Operational Test Pilot & Exercise Integration Lead, you are the operator's voice inside the company and Hermeus' face to the warfighter. You will fly our aircraft, plan and lead our missions, integrate our vehicles into live ranges and joint exercises, and serve as the single point of coordination between Hermeus and the operational units, range authorities, and test organizations we fly with. You will translate operational intent into executable test plans — and translate flight test results back into capability the force actually wants. You will also carry program management ownership for Flight Test as aService engagements, from customer scoping through flight execution and data delivery.

This role is for someone who has flown tactical aviation, planned and led complex missions in contested or congested airspace, and is now looking to put that experience directly into a new class ofaircraft. You will be an extreme owner, comfortable moving between the cockpit, the control room, the customer's conference room, and the engineering bay in the same day.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a pilot for Hermeus flight operations, including development and execution of normal, abnormal, and emergency procedures
• Lead mission planning and execution for company flight test and demonstration events: profile design, go/no-go criteria, crew and control room coordination, contingency and abort planning, and post-flight debrief
• Own range and airspace integration for flight activity — coordinate with range control, airspace managers, airfield operations, and test organizations to secure and protect flight windows, and deconflict Hermeus activity with other users
• Act as Hermeus' lead integrator and coordinator for joint and service exercise participation: build relationships with sponsoring units and exercise planning teams, shepherd Hermeus through the exercise planning cycle, and lead on-site execution
• Build andmaintainthe operational relationships that make flight happen — operational squadrons, test squadrons, range leadership, and government program offices
• Provide the operator's perspective to engineering and program teams: influence vehicle design, mission systems, concept of employment, test plans, and mission profiles so the vehicle matures toward missions the force actually needs
• Develop andmaintainflight operations products — mission plans, flight cards, crew procedures, checklists, flight manuals, safety of flight documentation, and hazard analyses — and drive them through internal and external review
• Own program management for Flight Test as aService engagements: scope definition with the customer, schedule and milestone tracking, cross-functional coordination, deliverable and data product management, and customer communication through closeout
• Lead and chair readiness reviews, test readiness reviews, and safety reviews with internal teams and external partners; ensure deliverables are on time and meet customer expectations
• Mentor and grow the operations and mission planning function as the team and flight rate scale
• Be relentless in challenging the status quo to compress planning cycles, accelerate approval timelines, and increase flight rate

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, physics, or a related technical field
• FAA Commercial Pilot Certificate or ATP with instrument rating
• Current FAA Class 2 medical certificate, and ability tomaintainit for the duration of assigned flight duties
• Current or former military fighter / tactical aviator with500+ total flight hours, including300+ hours in fighter or high-performanceaircraft
• Demonstrated experience as a mission commander, flight lead, instructor pilot, or evaluator pilot
• 8+ years of combined operational aviation and program or project management experience, withdemonstratedleadership of complex, multi-organization efforts
• Hands-on experience planning and executing missions on US military ranges, including range scheduling, airspace coordination, and safety of flight processes
• Experienceparticipatingin or planning joint or service-level exercises or large force test events
• Experience working with government customers — DoD program offices, test organizations, or operational units
• Eligible to obtain andmaintainan active U.S. security clearance
• Must be a U.S. person as defined under ITAR / EAR for access to export-controlled technical data

Preferred Qualifications:

• Graduate of USAF Test Pilot School, US Naval Test Pilot School, or an equivalent test pilot or flight test engineer program
• Graduate of USAF Weapons School, TOPGUN, or equivalent tactics or exercise planning pipeline
• Developmental or operational test experience on a new or modified air vehicle
• Experienceoperatinguncrewedaircraft, including crewed/uncrewed teaming
• Experience coordinating with the FAA on airspace, certificates of authorization, orspecial useairspace
• Master's degree in an engineering or technical field
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with direct experience negotiating technical deliverables or scope
• Excellent negotiation, conflict resolution, and leadership skills
• Comfort briefing senior military and government stakeholders
• Passion for rapid aviation development and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, autonomously driven startup atmosphere

$187,000 - $253,000 a year

The salary range listed for this role is intended as a general guideline. Final compensation will be determined based on a variety of factors, including role scope and responsibilities, relevant experience, education and training, key skills, market data, and business needs.

At Hermeus, compensation is only one part of our total rewards package. We offer competitive pay, equity, and a range of benefits designed to support our team.

Benefits:

• Health & Wellness: 100% employer-paid healthcare and pet insurance
• Financial: Competitive pay, stock options, 401(k) retirement plan, and potential year-end bonuses
• Time Off: Paid parental leave, 12 federal holidays, unlimited PTO for exempt employees, and generous accrued PTO for non-exempt employees
• Office Perks: Weekly paid office lunches and fully stocked breakrooms

U.S. EXPORT CONTROL COMPLIANCE STATUS

The person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S. export controls, and therefore, must either be a “U.S. person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.62 or otherwise eligible for deemed export licensing. US persons include U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and asylees and refugees with such status granted, not pending.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

Hermeus is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions at Hermeus are based solely on merit, competence, and qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.
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