UAS Operational Pilot & Instructor-Rome, NY

All Aviation Jobs; City of Rome (NY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Firestorm Labs is seeking a UAS Operational Pilot & Instructor to fire live demos and field exercises, instructing military, civilian, and international users. You will advise on UAS tactics and provide field feedback to engineering, shaping how drone tech is deployed.

You’ll travel for CONUS and OCONUS demonstrations and work with engineering, product and operators to maintain mission-ready standards and safe operations.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma, GED or equivalent education.
• U.S. Citizenship required due to ITAR regulations, with the ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance.
• 4+ years of experience operating Group 2/3 fixed-wing UAS via GCS in military, commercial, or public safety settings.
• 2+ years of remote-control pilot experience.
• FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate required; obtain in first 30 days of employment.
• FPV flying proficiency from basic manual control through advanced acro and precision maneuvering.
• Hands-on experience with FPV systems, including RC, flight controllers, cameras, motors, propellers and peripherals.
• Basic drone maintenance experience.
• Experience flying with precise control and advanced maneuvering.
• Experience with mission planning, radio communications, and flight safety procedures.

Responsibilities

• Execute UAS flight missions in support of R&D, demos, customer engagements, exercises and operational deployments.
• Operate Group 2/3 fixed-wing UAS via GCS in tactical, test, and field environments, including austere locations.
• Fly FPV aircraft across the full skill range, from basic manual control to advanced maneuvering.
• Conduct mission planning, airspace deconfliction, and operational risk management (ORM).
• Deliver hands-on instruction in UAS mission planning, execution, emergency procedures, and modular payload integration.
• Train US and international operators to meet mission readiness standards.
• Teach safe Group 2/3 fixed-wing (GCS) operations and aeronautical decision-making within training frameworks.
• Instruct FPV operators from basic through advanced flight skills.
• Ensure compliance with FAA regulations, safety protocols, and risk mitigation procedures.
• Provide field feedback to engineering on UAS performance and payload integration.
• Support creation of training syllabi, courseware, and mission briefs.

Skills

Group 2/3 fixed-wing UAS operations

GCS operation

FPV flight proficiency

Instruction delivery

Mission planning & ORM

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Tools

FPV hardware

RC systems

Flight controllers

Cameras & motors

Job description

At Firestorm Labs, we're shaping the future of autonomous systems for national security. As a UAS Operational Pilot & Instructor, you'll be a key member of our team- executing live demonstration & field exercises, instructing military, civilian and international users. You'll also apply established UAS tactics, techniques and procedures, and flag improvement opportunities to engineering. You'll fly and instruct across two disciplines: Group 2/3 fixed-wing UAS operated via ground control station (GCS), and FPV aircraft, from basic manual flight through advanced acro and precision maneuvering.

This is a hands-on, dual-role position that blends operational flying with technical training and field-level product feedback. Supporting critical flight missions, delivering high-impact training, and enabling tactical integration across diverse operational environments. You'll work shoulder-to-shoulder with engineering, product and front-line operators, to ensure mission-ready standards, and safe, effective and repeatable UAS operations. Your work will directly shape how advanced drone technology is deployed and scaled.

There will be operational flight demonstrations and exercises at both CONUS and OCONUS locations that will require travel to support.

What You'll Do

• Execute UAS flight missions in support of R&D, demos, customer engagements, exercises and operational deployments
• Operate Group 2/3 fixed-wing UAS via ground control station (GCS) in tactical, test, and field environments - including austere or remote locations
• Fly FPV aircraft across the full skill range, from basic manual control through advanced acro and precision maneuvering
• Conduct mission planning, airspace deconfliction, and operational risk management (ORM)
• Deliver hands-on instruction in areas such as UAS mission planning, execution, emergency procedures, and modular payload integration, using established curricula
• Train US and International operators to meet mission readiness standards
• Teach safe Group 2/3 fixed-wing (GCS) operations and aeronautical decision-making principles within established training frameworks
• Instruct FPV operators from basic through advanced flight skills, within established training frameworks
• Ensure compliance with FAA regulations, internal safety protocols, and risk mitigation procedures
• Serve as a knowledgeable resource on Group 2/3 fixed-wing and FPV operational use cases and test/evaluation activities within your team
• Provide field feedback to engineering on UAS performance and payload integration
• Support the creation of training syllabi, courseware, and mission brief materials for your assigned programs
• Develop training content, after-action reviews (AARs), and technical documentation
• Lead structured post-flight debriefs to capture lessons learned and inform future mission planning
• Report field observations and operator feedback to engineering and product teams

Required Qualifications

• High School Diploma, GED or equivalent education
• U.S. Citizenship required due to ITAR regulations, with the ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance
• 4+ years of experience operating Group 2/3 fixed-wing UAS via ground control station (GCS) in military, commercial, or public safety settings.
• 2+ years of remote-control pilot experience
• FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate required in order to fly, must obtain in first 30 days of employment
• FPV flying proficiency from basic manual control through advanced acro and precision maneuvering experience
• Hands-on experience with FPV systems, including RC, flight controllers, cameras, motors, propellers and peripherals.
• Basic drone maintenance experience
• Experience flying with precise control and advanced maneuvering
• Experience with mission planning, radio communications, and flight safety procedures

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior military service, specifically with Group 2/3 fixed-wing UAS, or tactical drone operations experience
• Experience with FPV drone systems, drone racing and aerial videography techniques
• Strong knowledge of FPV components and systems, including RC RX/TX, flight controllers, video transmitters (VTX), and supporting peripherals
• Ability to effectively teach and communicate FPV flight theory and safe operational practices
• Familiarity with EO/IR, LiDAR, or multispectral payloads
• Knowledge of JADC2 environments and tactical network integration
• Certified instructor or evaluator (civilian or DoD)
• Experience developing training pipelines, SOPs, or certification standards
• Technical experience with UAS hardware/software integration, telemetry, or mission planning tools

Who We Are

At Firestorm, we're on a mission to revolutionize how defense solutions are designed and delivered. Our goal is to empower U