Senior UAS Training & Standardization Specialist

Remote; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Kraus Hamdani Aerospace (KHA) seeks an experienced UAS Operations Lead to guide flight operations, standardization, and cross‑functional integration across programs.

You will oversee safety, training content, audits, and mission planning, travel up to 70%, and ensure compliant, mission‑ready operations.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading UAS flight operations and safety programs.
• Experience conducting operational standardization audits and risk assessments.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate engineering flight tests and trials.
• Strong knowledge of current UAS technologies and market landscape.
• Excellent communication and instructional skills for training content.
• Ability to work cross‑functionally with engineering, operations, and QA teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead UAS operations, ensuring currency with regulations and best practices.
• Hold and maintain required certifications and oversee flight operations.
• Conduct site audits and ensure adherence to safety and regulatory standards.
• Support demonstrations, field missions, and customer operations.
• Assist with flight planning, risk assessments, and logs.
• Maintain personal flight records and participate in training exercises.
• Provide data‑driven recommendations to improve performance.

Skills

UAS operations leadership

Standardization & audits

Risk management & safety

Flight area oversight

Engineering & flight test coordination

Mission planning & briefing

Technical publications review

Emerging UAS technologies knowledge

Job description

Kraus Hamdani Aerospace (KHA) is an aerospace company specializing in long-endurance unmanned aerial platforms for a wide variety of industries. KHA supports a number of customers to carry out missions involving aerial reconnaissance, survey, communication relay and communications provisioning. Endurance, enabled by effective design, is key to these applications and KHA aircraft utilize cutting-edge aircraft design together with on-board intelligence to deliver value for these customers.

This position reports directly to the Manager of Training and Standardization .

The ideal person for this role possesses a deep operational expertise in (s)UAS flight operations, standardization, curriculum development and project management.What

This role serves as a senior pilot for operational procedures, flight area oversight, and technical integration.

The ideal candidate would be experienced in cross-functional engagement, engineering collaboration, flight test support, procedural standardization, interpersonal communication, fundamentals of instruction, team leadership principals, and in creating safe, compliant, mission-ready, staff and operations.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• UAS Flight Operations Leadership
• Operational Standardization & Audits
• Risk Management & Safety Programs
• Site Management & Flight Area Oversight
• Engineering & Flight Test Coordination
• Mission Planning & Briefing
• Technical Publications Review
• Knowledge of Emerging UAS Technologies and current market landscape

RESPONSIBILITIES

The following job functions are a basic requirement but are not limited to and may be assigned other duties.

UAS Operations

• Maintain proficiency and currency with all of KHA's emerging UAS technologies, regulatory changes, and operational best practices.
• Hold and maintain all required certifications
• Adhere to FAA regulations and guidelines, ensuring compliance during UAS operations and activities. Including but not limited to FAA Part 107, DOE Orders, restricted airspace protocols, and site procedures.
• Support demonstrations, field missions, customer operations, collaborative experimentation and equipment testing. Examples of UAS operational duties include. Delivering near real-time aerial intelligence, integrating UAS data into customer systems, flight operations drills, and emergencies.
• Assist with flight planning, pre/post-flight checks, risk assessments, and maintaining accurate maintenance and flight logs.
• Perform routine maintenance, diagnostics, and software updates on UAS platforms and ground control systems.
• Maintenance of your own personal flight records, active participation in training exercises, and maintain individual currency requirements.
• Adhere to Integrated Safety Management (including SP 1-3100), attend required meetings, and maintain a clean, organized UAS hangar.
• Travel up to 70%.

Standardization & Evaluation Support

• Serve as a senior pilot authority for operational standards, flight procedures, and safety compliance.
• Conduct periodic audits of flight areas to ensure adherence to company and regulatory requirements.
• Develop, maintain, and standardize operational documentation and mission procedures.
• Manage revision control for risk assessments, mission briefs, and operations guidance.
• Lead or support updates to training content, instructional methods, and delivery standards.
• Provide data-driven recommendations to the Standardization & Training Manager to enhance operational performance

Subject Matter Expert Support

• Work cross-departmentally with key stakeholders to stay current on emerging technologies and configuration updates.
• Act as pilot subject matter expert for engineering, providing operational insight on new technologies and system capabilities.
• Serve as lead liaison for engineering flight test requests, coordinating operational support and risk mitigation.
• Collaborate with technical publications teams to assist in accuracy and operational relevance of pilot-facing documentation.
• Assumes all other responsibilities as assigned

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum 4 years of directly related experience
• Deep understanding and proficiency Defense related UAS products
• Strong attention to detail with strict adherence to operational and safety protocols
• Experience in conducting demonstrations, field operations, Initial qualification training and evaluations, curriculum development, and equipment testing
• Knowledge of UAS technology, airspace regulations, and industry best practices
• Excellent communication and instructional skills, with the ability to effectively convey complex concepts to trainees
• Strong troubleshooting and problem‑solving skills in UAS operations
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a dynamic team environment

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Military Experience
• FAA Part 107 SUAS Remote Pilot
• FAA Part 61 Pilot
• 5+ years of directly related experience
• Secret Clearance (or eligible)