UAS Operational Pilot & Instructor
Firestorm
San Diego, CA, USA
USD 95k-105k / year
Posted on May 21, 2025
UAS Operational Pilot & Instructor
San Diego, CA
Flight Testing
In office
Full-time
UAS Operational Pilot & Instructor
Location: San Diego, CA (On-site)
Clearance Required: Secret Eligible
What We’re Building
Firestorm is engineering small UAS systems to operate where legacy drones can’t. We move fast, iterate quickly, and deliver tactical advantage through autonomy, modularity, and edge innovation. If you’ve flown UAS downrange or trained those who have, you’ll thrive here.
About the Role
We’re looking for a skilled operational pilot to support flight missions, training programs, and tactical integration. You’ll be a key member of our field team—executing live ops, instructing military personnel, and providing critical feedback to engineers. If you like dirt under your boots and checklist discipline, keep reading.
A Day in the Life...
Morning – You run pre-flight on a Group 2 UAS supporting a tactical ISR demo. You coordinate airspace, check comms, and launch into a recon profile.
Midday – After the flight, you debrief with the MTT lead and compile notes on payload issues. You push insights to engineering and update the log.
Evening – A partner unit is inbound for training. You prep the syllabus, run a crawl-walk-run overview, and deliver hands-on instruction with a focus on safety and realism.
Your Mission
• Execute sUAS flight missions for R&D, training, and customer support
• Operate Group 1–3 UAS in tactical and test environments
• Plan and deconflict airspace; conduct ORM and flight safety briefings
• Train and certify operators in mission planning, emergency response, and payload usage
• Maintain readiness of aircraft and ground control systems
• Develop training content, AARs, and technical documentation
• Support the Mobile Training Team and assist in overseas deployments
Who You Are
• Prior experience as a UAS operator or instructor (1– 4+ years)
• Comfortable with Group 1–3 systems and austere operations
• FAA Part 107 certified (or willing to obtain)
• Proficient in mission planning and radio comms
• Strong instructional and interpersonal skills
• Able to travel (CONUS/OCONUS); lift 25+ lbs; work in variable weather
• U.S. Citizen; eligible for Secret clearance
Bonus If You Bring
• Military or SOF aviation background
• Familiarity with EO/IR, LiDAR, or multispectral payloads
• Experience with JADC2 and tactical network integration
• Exposure to training pipeline development or certification programs
Salary: $95,000 - $105,000
Firestorm is committed to hiring and retaining a world-class workforce. We are proud to be 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. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions. Our culture at Firestorm fosters collaboration, respect, and trust to empower passionate people to do their best work. We offer a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and opportunities for career growth.
Why Firestorm
At Firestorm, you’ll train the warfighters of tomorrow while shaping the tools they need to win. You won’t just operate drones—you’ll help design them, evolve them, and prove them in the field. If you’re ready to lead from the front, welcome aboard.
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Req ID: R10
