Sr. Staff Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Pilot

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE TYPE: Top Secret

TRAVEL: Yes, 25% of the Time

Description

At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.

Join Northrop Grumman on our continued mission to push the boundaries of possible across land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace. Enjoy a culture where your voice is valued and start contributing to our team of passionate professionals providing real-life solutions to our world’s biggest challenges. We take pride in creating purposeful work and allowing our employees to grow and achieve their goals every day by Defining Possible. With our competitive pay and comprehensive benefits, we have the right opportunities to fit your life and launch your career today.

The System Test IPT is seeking a Program Chief Test Pilot (Sr. Staff Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Pilot) for our Flight Test Department. This role will provide oversight and guidance to ensure safe and professional flight operations in support of flight tests, demonstrations and product development of associated systems.  As the Chief Pilot you will collaborate with the Government Flight Representative (GFR), Test Pilot Engineering/Operations Manager, IPT leadership, Sector Chief Test Pilot, and other pilots to maintain cognizance over all flight activities and ensure compliance with sector policies/procedures and customer guidance.  

This position requires outstanding written and oral communications skills.  The selected individual will be required to serve as a principal subject matter focal point between maintenance, test operations - contractor and customer. The selected candidate must be able to work without appreciable direction to develop solutions to complex problems; must be able to work both within a team environment and independently; must be self-motivated, thorough, and detail oriented.

Responsibilities

Selected candidate must provide test pilot expertise to assigned programs; technology/research efforts to ensure man-machine interface issues and requirements are identified for new or modified System Under Test (SUT) designs. Plan, develop and execute test flights on SUT to verify airworthiness and performance capability; validate and verify compliance with specifications. Partners with Flight Ops Manager and Aviation Safety Officer; ensure test team conducts safe and effective ground and flight test operations.

The Chief Pilot will engage with the Chief Engineer, program IPTs and Responsible Engineers () to ensure air vehicle and ground station designs/modifications are safe, effective, and suitable. Provides flight test leadership in critical program phases and reviews ensuring safe conduct of all NGAS flight test missions. Ensures best practices and lessons learned are shared with program pilots. Provides Experimental / Engineering test pilot expertise and safety guidance to flight test engineers for design definition, simulator flights, test planning, flight test techniques, test conduct, and test reporting.

Leads all program pilot inputs into development of preliminary flight manuals and aircrew checklists. In conjunction with Flight Ops Manager and IPT/Sector leadership, develop and maintain program specific procedures and requirements for flight test crew qualification and training to support applicable regulations and contract requirements. Maintain system under test proficiencies and currencies as an Instructor/Evaluator; also, must obtain and maintain proficiencies and currencies on other aircraft as required. Complies with Corporate, Sector, and Program policy and procedures; maintains appropriate certificates and remains knowledgeable of the program system under test and current FAA rules and applicable service/customer regulations.

Basic Qualifications:

• Must have a Bachelor’s of Science degree discipline  AND 14 years of related professional/military experience, OR a Master’s degree AND 12 years of related professional/military experience. OR a Ph.D. AND 10 years of related professional/military experience.
• 1,500 PIC flight hours minimum
• Valid FAA commercial pilot and Instrument certificate or higher
• Current, proficient, and qualified on Program System Under Test (SUT)
• Current FAA Class II Medical
• Experience in flight testing, with ability to work with engineering to develop solutions to integration issues, and to bridge between the customer users and Northrop Grumman designers 
• Must be willing to obtain and maintain the appropriate medical clearance(s), as defined by the customer’s contracting requirements, for the duration of your employment.  
• Must have an active DoD Top Secret Clearance or higher (with a background investigation completed within the last 6 years or currently enrolled into Continuous Evaluation)
• Must have ability to obtain and maintain Program Access (PAR) within a reasonable period, as determined by the company to meet its business needs
• Must be willing to obtain and maintain all training qualifications, as needed per the customer’s contracting requirements, for the duration of your employment.
• Role demands overtime, odd shifts, and weekend work to occasionally be required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated mentoring and coaching skills
• Current, proficient, and qualified on U.S. DoD MDS
• Valid FAA commercial pilot Single-Engine + Multi-Engine and Instrument certificate or higher
• Current, FAA Certified Flight Instructor or Military Equivalency
• Current DoD Top Secret, TS SAP, and/or TS SCI clearance
• Familiarity with DCMA 8210.1 processes
• Military or Civilian equivalent Test Pilot School (TPS) Graduate

Salary Range: $227,700.00 - $341,500.00

The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions.

Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.

The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.

Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.