UAS Pilot - Skunk Works, Palmdale, CA - Level 5

Lockheed Martin; Palmdale (CA); On-site; USD 145,000 - 270,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

Flexible work arrangements (e.g., 4x10

401(k) match

Paid time off

Holidays

Parental Leave

EAP

FSA

Education Assistance

Life Insurance

Short-Term Disability

Long-Term Disability

Job summary

Lockheed Martin in Palmdale, CA is seeking an experienced UAS Pilot - Skunk Works to provide expert flight-operations support for experimental and production-acceptance tests of Remotely Piloted Aircraft. You will plan, execute, and evaluate flight-test missions, deliver training, and advise engineering teams on avionics and system integration.

The role requires a strong technical background, a track record of complex flight-test programs, and a current Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility.

Qualifications

• 8+ years operating large UAS under DoD instruction and regulations with 500+ hours PIC time.
• Experience in flight testing and collaborating with engineering to solve integration issues.
• Current Top Secret Clearance or the ability to obtain program access within LM requirements.

Responsibilities

• Plan, execute, and evaluate flight-test missions for large UAS to ensure specs and suitability.
• Deliver classroom, ground, and flight training for aircrew and support instruction.
• Provide avionics guidance and liaison between engineering, design and marketing teams.
• Analyze test data and recommend improvements to ground-station functionality and HMI.
• Mentor and train aircrew; emphasize safety and mission success.

Skills

UAS Operations

Flight Testing

DoD Regulations

NAS/ICAO Knowledge

Top Secret Clearance

Education

Test Pilot School graduate

Job description

Standard Job Description

You will be the UAS Pilot - Skunk Works for the which is responsible for advanced unmanned aircraft development and testing.

What You Will Be Doing

As the UAS Pilot - Skunk Works you will be responsible for providing expert flight-operations support for experimental, engineering, and production-acceptance flight tests of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA).

Your Responsibilities Will Include

• Planning, executing, and evaluating flight-test missions to ensure compliance with specifications and operational suitability.
• Delivering classroom, ground, and flight training for customer aircrew and support academic instruction.
• Performing technical and mission planning, systems integration, and real‑time troubleshooting during flight operations.
• Providing avionics expertise and guidance to engineering, design, development, and marketing teams.
• Analyzing test data and recommending improvements to Human‑Machine Interface and ground‑station functionality.

What’s In It For You

We are committed to supporting your work‑life balance and overall well‑being, offering flexible scheduling options. Learn more about Lockheed Martin’s comprehensive benefits package here. Do you want to be part of a company culture that empowers employees to think big, lead with a growth mindset, and make the impossible a reality? We provide the resources and give you the flexibility to enable inspiration and focus – if you have the passion and courage to pursue challenging missions, work hard, and enjoy what you do, then we want to build a better tomorrow with you.

Who You Are

You are a decisive, collaborative aviator with a strong technical background and a proven record of executing complex flight-test programs. You thrive in fast‑paced, innovative environments and excel at translating technical data into actionable insights. Your ability to mentor and train aircrew, coupled with a focus on safety and mission success, makes you an ideal fit for this critical role.

Further Information About This Opportunity

This position is in Palmdale, CA Discover Palmdale.

MUST BE A U.S. CITIZEN –This position is located at a facility that requiresspecial access. The selected candidate must possess an active Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility to start.

Basic Qualifications

• 8+ Years Experience operating large UAS under DoD instruction/regulations w/500 hours minimum PIC time.
• Experience in flight testing with the ability to work with engineering to develop solutions to integration issues and to bridge our customers with the LM engineering teams.
• In-depth knowledge of military publications and understanding of NAS/ICAO requirements for large UAS operations.
• In-depth knowledge/understanding of aircraft survivability strategies and tactics.
• Current Top Secret Clearance with the ability to obtain and maintain program access within a reasonable period, as determined by the company to meet its business needs.

Desired Skills

• Advanced UAS Operations: Experience with integration, operation and ground control of various UAS platforms.
• Graduate of a formal Test Pilot School.
• Current or demonstrated experience as an instructor from any DoD Branch.
• Excellent communications skills, including the ability to brief test results to executive leadership.

Pay Information

Full-Time Salary Range: $145100.00 - $269500.00

At Lockheed Martin, we know mission success starts with taking care of our people. Our Total Rewards program is designed to attract top talent, support your well‑being, and help you grow—both professionally and personally.

The salary range for this position is as listed on the requisition. Please note that the salary information listed is a general guideline only. Lockheed Martin considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/ training, key skills as well as market(work location) and business considerations when extending an offer.

Benefits offered:

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Flexible work arrangements and schedules (e.g., 4x10)
• 401(k) match
• Paid time off
• Holidays
• Parental Leave
• EAP
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Education Assistance
• Life Insurance
• Short-Term Disability
• Long-Term Disability

• Annual short-term and/or long-term incentive compensation programs may be offered depending on the position. Payments under these annual programs are not guaranteed and can vary from year to year and are tied to a range of performance metrics.
• For (Washington state applicants only) Non-represented full-time employees: accrue at least 10 hours per month of Paid Time Off (PTO) to be used for incidental absences and other reasons; receive at least 90 hours for holidays. Represented full time employees accrue 6.67 hours of Vacation per month; accrue up to 52 hours of sick leave annually; receive at least 96 hours for holidays. PTO, Vacation, sick leave, and holiday hours are prorated based on start date during the calendar year.