MQ-9 Reaper Air Vehicle Pilot

AVIAN is seeking an MQ-9 Reaper Air Vehicle Pilot (AVP) to join the Navy’s UAV test squadron, UX-24, in Patuxent River, Maryland.  Become part of a dynamic team of military, government, and contractors that are ushering in the MQ-9A Extended Range Unmanned Aircraft System and future payloads to support the Marine Expeditionary Force of the future.  We are looking for a subject matter expert in air vehicle launch and recovery operations and airborne sensor employment to introduce the Reaper into the Marine Corps’ expeditionary advanced base operations environment.

Join us in Southern Maryland, close to Washington, DC and Baltimore, surrounded by miles of beautiful shorelines and away from the desert heat!

At AVIAN (pronounced *a-v-yin*) we believe in the extraordinary potential of every individual. As an employee owner at AVIAN, you will find that we have cultivated an employee-first mentality. By prioritizing talent over experience, we ensure that every hire we make is as unique as the position that they will be filling.

Here on our team, we embrace new challenges and focus on continuous learning which fosters growth mindsets in all our employee owners; whether you are joining the workforce for the very first time or if you’re a seasoned professionals who has their eyes set on retirement.

Our commitment to providing our customers and employees with an unmatched experience sets us apart. We believe that every team member has a stake in the success of AVIAN, and we strive to ensure that each member of our team knows that their contributions matter. You can be sure as an employee owner you will celebrate both your individual and our collective triumphs.

Taking care of each other is a cornerstone of the AVIAN philosophy. Being part of the AVIAN team means being part of a team that takes pride in being expansive in our community because our impact doesn’t stop in the workplace. We actively engage in community initiatives, empowering our employees to make a meaningful difference.

We believe that employee investment shouldn’t be a one-way street, so we offer benefits that normalize balancing mental wellness and family time with work responsibilities. From Flexible Time Off to Wellness Reimbursements we want all our team members to achieve the highest levels of life/work balance.

AVIAN - where creative, talented minds flourish, and where proactive, productive, proficient professionals feel valued.

The selected candidate will:

• Support a wide range of test and evaluation requirements to include technical planning meetings, test plan development, test event planning, test procedure and flight card development, flight briefings, post event support, test reporting, and deficiency reporting.
• Act as Pilot-in-Command (PIC) of MQ-9 aircraft for launch and recovery efforts.
• Coordinate and actively participate in UAS ground and flight operations, including mission planning, test flight execution, flight briefing and debriefing, aircrew resource management, risk management, and flight safety reporting.
• Prepare for flight operations:  Plan, organize, and execute flight plans and schedules, including review of air vehicle configuration, maintenance logs, weather reports, and weather forecasts.
• Use Technical Orders, other documents, and aircraft reports to ascertain factors; such as aircraft weight and balance, fueling, route, schedule, and mechanical reliability.
• Maintain ability to travel to CONUS and OCONUS sites.
• Most work will be conducted on-site at NAS Patuxent River, MD, however, some domestic travel will be required in support of flight test activities

• Previous MQ-9 Launch and Recovery pilot qualification preferred.
• Commercial pilot or a UAV Air Vehicle Operator/Pilot (AVO/P) designation by U.S. Armed Forces.
• Minimum of 1,000 documented flight hours (manned/unmanned).
• Minimum of 100 hours in high or medium altitude/long endurance UAV family.
• Able to demonstrate effective oral and written communications skills.
• A graduate of a full-length course of instruction from a recognized military test pilot school, e.g. USNTPS, USAFTPS, Empire or EPNER is desired.
• Active Secret Clearance with the ability to obtain Top Secret.
• Active FAA Second Class medical certificate (at time of hire).
• Due to the sensitivity of customer-related requirements, U.S. Citizenship is required.
• The salary range for this role is $140,000-$150,000 (The offered rate will be based on the selected candidate’s knowledge, skills, abilities, and/or experience and in consideration of internal parity.) 

At AVIAN, we offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your health, financial security, and overall well-being. Our health and wellness benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage, along with telemedicine services and a TRICARE supplement for veterans. Financially, we provide flexible spending accounts (FSA), a 401(k) plan with company contributions, and an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). Additional perks like wellness reimbursements and referral bonuses are also available.

For insurance protection, we offer basic life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) coverage, disability benefits, and AFLAC supplemental insurance. In terms of life, work, and family, we provide flexible time off, paid sick leave, maternity and bonding leave, and military training leave. Tuition reimbursement and professional development opportunities are available to help you grow. We also offer pet insurance, identity protection, and life assistance programs. At AVIAN, we prioritize a balanced, supportive environment that allows you to thrive both personally and professionally.

AVIAN is a service-based organization. As an equal opportunity employer, our policy of business is to seek the most qualified candidate for each talent opportunity without regard to race, creed, color, sex, age, religious belief, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sexual preference, physical or mental handicap, lawful political affiliation or veteran’s status.