UAS Fleet Manager

Canvas; Town of Florida (NY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Canvas seeks an experienced unmanned aircraft systems professional to lead flight operations, maintenance, and data collection across indoor fabrication and outdoor test ranges. You will coordinate with ATC and range safety to ensure safe, compliant missions.

You will oversee 3D printing, rapid prototyping, and payload integration, while documenting maintenance, training, and airworthiness. This role requires hands-on leadership in dynamic environments.

Qualifications

• 6+ years operating tactical/commercial sUAS in government test & evaluation or operational settings.
• Formal background in flight test range safety, risk management frameworks, and military flight standardization.

Responsibilities

• Split between indoor fabrication/maintenance workshops and outdoor flight test range environments.
• Lift and transport gear cases and ground control stations up to 50 lbs, with prolonged standing.
• Execute planned flight maneuvers for quadrotor and fixed-wing sUAS to collect test data; PIC/Co-Pilot/Safety Pilot duties.
• Plan and conduct safe launch and recovery procedures across runways, unimproved fields, and austere sites.
• Monitor and maintain real-time comms with ATC facilities, range safety officers, and airspace authorities.
• Coordinate with test directors, payload specialists, and data analysts to meet mission objectives.
• Maintain maintenance schedules, logs, and airworthiness compliance for all aircraft and subsystems.
• Direct 3D printing operations and bench fabrication for rapid prototyping and payload integration.
• Inspect, service, and document maintenance for ground equipment and field shelters.
• Oversee spares management, battery maintenance, and vendor repairs to ensure fleet readiness.
• Facilitate and document training/evaluations per Training & Evaluation Plans (TEPs).
• Track operator currency, medical clearances, and flight records for compliance.
• Perform pre-flight inspections and hazard assessments and troubleshoot avionics.

Skills

sUAS flight ops

ATC coordination

Flight test safety

3D CAD software

3D printer operation

GCS setup

Additive manufacturing

Avionics troubleshooting

Tools

3D CAD software

Slicing software

3D printer operation

Job description

Experience with Group 1/2/3 sUAS (fixed wing/VTOL);

6+ years’ operating tactical/commercial sUAS in government test and evaluation (T&E) or operational settings. 6+ years supporting DoW test ranges or R&D flight teams.

Practical experience with mechanical assembly, soldering, 3D CAD/slicing software, 3D printer operation, and trailer/vehicle inspections. Advanced additive manufacturing, composite airframe repair, avionics troubleshooting, and automated GCS setup.

Proven experience coordinating flight operations with ATC, reading NOTAMs/TFRs, and navigating Certificate of Authorization (COA) constraints. Formal background in flight test range safety, risk management frameworks, and military flight standardization.

Key Responsibilities/Duties

• Split between indoor fabrication/maintenance workshops and outdoor flight test range environments under varying weather conditions.
• Ability to lift and transport gear cases and ground control stations weighing up to 50 lbs, with prolonged periods of standing during flight evolutions.
• Execute planned flight maneuvers for quadrotor and fixed-wing sUAS to collect precision test data; perform Pilot-in-Command (PIC), Co-Pilot, and Safety Pilot duties.
• Plan and conduct safe launch and recovery procedures across established runways, unimproved field locations, and austere operating sites.
• Monitor and maintain two-way communications with Air Traffic Control (ATC) facilities, range safety officers, and local airspace control authorities.
• Maintain real-time coordination with test directors, payload specialists, and data analysts to ensure mission objectives and flight profiles are fully met.
• Author, implement, and manage preventive/corrective maintenance schedules, tracking logs (inventory management), and airworthiness compliance records for all aircraft and sub-systems.
• Direct 3D printing operations and bench-level mechanical fabrication for rapid prototyping, structural modifications, and custom sensor/payload integration.
• Inspect, service, and document maintenance for ground operational equipment, including mission transport vehicles, support trailers, generators, and field shelters.
• Oversee spares management, battery maintenance cycles, consumable tracking, and vendor warranty/depot repairs to ensure maximum fleet readiness.
• Facilitate, administer, and document initial, recurrent, and mission-qualification training and evaluations in accordance with approved Training & Evaluation Plans (TEPs).
• Track, manage, and verify operator currency, medical clearances, and flight records to guarantee compliance with applicable military and federal directives.
• Perform pre-flight inspections, ground hazard assessments, and immediate mechanical/avionics troubleshooting prior to system power-up and launch.