Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Operator Lvl III

Bingen, WAFull-time$36–$59/hrPosted Aug 3, 2026

Airbus is committed to providing reasonable accommodations as an Equal Opportunity Employer to applicants with disabilities. If you require assistance or an accommodation to complete your application, please contact us at USCareers@airbus.com

Job Description:

Are you an experienced aviation professional who thrives at the intersection of flight operations, engineering, and real-world customer deployment?

We are seeking a Flexrotor UAS Operator III to serve as the critical bridge between our engineering/production teams and our global field operations. In this high-impact, hands-on role, you won’t just be behind a desk—you’ll be supervising customer demonstrations on land and maritime platforms, leading industrial flight tests, and ensuring our cutting-edge Flexrotor unmanned aerial systems (UAS) perform flawlessly in mission-critical environments worldwide.

Meet the Team:
The Airbus Helicopters Flexrotor Program offers one of the most sophisticated small tactical unmanned aerial systems (STUAS) with vertical take-off and landing (VTOL). It can be used day or night by US and allied forces for a diverse range of intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) on land and at sea.

Your Working Environment:
Nestled in the heart of the spectacular Columbia River Gorge in Bingen, WA, our workplace offers innovation and the ability to contribute to game-changing solutions while enjoying the flexibility to spread your wings. Whether it's solving complex challenges, or celebrating victories, you’ll be part of a cohesive crew that thrives on innovation and the beauty that the Northwest has to offer!

How We Care for You:

Financial Rewards: Competitive base salary, incentive compensation which may include profit sharing schemes, retirement savings plan and the ability to participate in an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”)
Work/Life Balance: Paid time off including personal time, holidays and a generous paid parental leave program.
Health & Welfare: Comprehensive insurance coverage including medical (traditional and high-deductible health plans), prescription, dental, vision, life, disability, Employee Assistance Plan (“EAP”) and other supplemental benefit coverages.
Individual Development: Upskilling and development opportunities through our global Leadership University, including unlimited access to 10,000+ e-learning courses focusing on ways to develop your employability, certifications, career path as well as the opportunity to participate in accelerated development programmes and both national and international mobility.
As a leader in our field, Airbus Helicopters, Inc. provides relocation assistance for qualified positions and a comprehensive compensation and benefits package.

Your Challenges:

System Demonstration and site preparation/coordination: 50%

Supervise demonstration from site preparation up to flight operations as well as all administrative and logistics aspects
Prepare delivered aircraft and be responsible for customer acceptance of aircraft, Ground Support Equipment (GSE), and payloads.
Supervise inventory and inspection of all parts of the system to ensure compliance with company standards.
Identify discrepancies and implement solutions to ensure all products meet compliance standards post-delivery.
Coordinate with key stakeholders to address issues found during integration and ensure timely resolution.
Maintain detailed records of integration procedures, results, and corrective actions taken.
Collaborate with HO Flight Operations & Demo to continuously improve integration processes and product quality.
Train and mentor employees in aircraft flight operations and maintenance, demonstration and integration procedures.
Report testing results and issues to HO Flight Operations & Demo.
Conduct pre-installation site surveys to assess requirements and potential challenges.
Coordinate installation activities with third-party contractors to ensure timely and accurate execution.
Liaise with customer representatives to capture requirements, resolve issues, and facilitate technical interactions.
Install and configure systems and sites for operations, whether on land or maritime platforms.
Perform administrative functions to support demonstrations, including maintaining records, scheduling, and coordinating logistics.
Coordinate travel arrangements for demonstration and integration personnel, including arranging accommodation and transportation for on-site installations and operations support
Coordinate with customers to complete all documentation and processes required for flight operations, including ATC Letters of Authorization (LOA), Aircraft Emergency Procedures, and other necessary activities.
Maintain detailed records of site setup procedures, results, and corrective actions taken.
Provide detailed reports to customers regarding site settings, configurations, and site setup results.

Field technical support, system testing and configuration: 25%

Perform on-site system installation, configuration, and testing of equipment for maritime and land deployment.
Ensure compliance with all required non-production Service Bulletins and regulatory standards.
Conduct functional tests on Flexrotor UAS systems using approved procedures.
Document site settings and configurations accurately for future reference and auditing.
Provide thorough turnover to the Deployed Field Service Representative (FSR) Team on installed system configurations.
Train team operators in on-site installation and system configuration field support and troubleshooting techniques
Report installation progress and issues to HO Flight Operations & Demo.
Respond to urgent field repair needs, conduct site assessments, and perform other tasks as required as part of Quick Reaction Teams.
Offer technical support for deployed operations, troubleshooting problems in the field promptly and efficiently.
Act as Subject Matter Expert (SME) for Operations support, providing guidance and solutions for operational issues.

Industrial flight test (Post production flight test + engineering dev flights): 20%

Supervise all operations internally to support ground running and flight-testing activities for post-production A/C and development flight test
Monitor the right application of testing procedures and associated records and ensure continuous improvement of testing procedures and process related to internal flight operations
Ensure all documents and flight operations processes comply with company and government audit standards.

Additional Responsibilities 5%

Participate in periodic training sessions or workshops to stay updated on industry developments and best practices.
Support ad-hoc requests or tasks from management to meet departmental objectives and goals.
Support to training organizations (Those operators with their experience should contribute to improve the training and also help when training is lacking of resources.
Push innovation by proposing and developing improvement and or new features in a fast-track prototyping environment.

Your Boarding Pass:

Be a High School Graduate or equivalent
Minimum of eight (8) years of aviation experience in system integrations and demonstrations, supporting mission critical operations
Mission planning and site leadership
Demo and Flight Operations (UAS)
Ability to travel ~60% of the time, both domestic and international
Must be a US Person under ITAR definition (for example, a U.S. Citizen, green card holder or person covered under our existing ITAR license)

Preferred Education/Skills:

Technical/Associate’s/Bachelor’s degree, or the equivalent with related experience in an aviation environment
FAA Part 107

Physical Requirements:

Onsite or remote: 40% onsite
Vision: able to see and read computer screens and other electronic equipment with screens, able to read documents, reports and engineering drawings. daily
Hearing: able to participate in conversations in person and via teleconference or phone and to hear sounds on the production floor including safety warnings or alarms. daily
Speaking: able to speak in conversations and meetings, deliver information and participate in communications. daily
Equipment Operation (personal computer, telephone, copies, fax machine, and related office equipment and using electronic identification card to enter building floors and internal doors): able to operate most office and personal electronic equipment and some tools including production tools such as hydraulic lifts. daily
Carrying: able to carry documents, tools, drawings, electronic equipment up to 30lbs/14kgs. Several times a week
Lifting: able to lift documents, tools, drawings, electronic equipment up to 30lbs/14kgs. Several times a week
Pushing / Pulling: able to push and pull small office furniture and some equipment and tools. Several times a week
Sitting: able to sit for long periods of time in meetings, working on the computer. daily
Squatting / Kneeling: able to squat or kneel to retrieve or replace items stored on low shelving. daily
Standing: able to stand for discussions in offices or on the production floor. daily
Travel: able to travel independently and at short notice. Several times a year
Walking (including routine walking such as to a shared printer to retrieve documents): able to walk through office and production areas including uneven surfaces. daily
Personal Protective Equipment required: Required PPE includes, but is not limited to, Safety Shoes, Safety Glasses, Hearing Protection, Respirators/Masks, and/or Protective Gloves as required by site and/or customer site
Administrative position only PPE required: Steel-toed shoes are required for all shop floor visits, appropriate hearing/eye protection may also be required when visiting the shop floor.

Hourly range based on the required profile: $36.00 - $59.00/hour. Actual minimum and maximum may vary based on geographic differential. Individual pay is based on skills, experience, and other relevant factors. This position offers the following benefits: Medical insurance, Dental insurance, Vision insurance, Prescription insurance, Employee Assistance Program, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, Basic & Voluntary Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment insurance, Short and Long-term Disability insurance, 401(k), Paid time off including paid holidays, Tuition Assistance, Bonus(es) subject to performance criteria. These are our current benefit offerings for the current plan year and are subject to change without notice.

Take your career to a new level and apply online now!

A full job description will be provided to candidates who progress to the interview stage or any candidate upon request.

This job requires an awareness of any potential compliance risks and a commitment to act with integrity, as the foundation for the Company’s success, reputation and sustainable growth.

Company:

Aerovel Corporation

Employment Type:

US - Direct Hire

Experience Level:

Professional

Remote Type:

Flexible

Job Family:

Customer Flight/Mission & Ops Support <JF-CS-OS>

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Airbus provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetics, pregnancy, marital status, veteran status or other legally protected status. In addition to federal law requirements, Airbus complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, demotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, benefits and training. Airbus expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetics, pregnancy, marital status, veteran status or other legally protected status. As a matter of policy, Airbus does not sponsor visas for US positions unless specified. Only applicants with current work authorization will be considered. Airbus does not offer tenured or guaranteed employment. Employment with Airbus is at will, meaning either the company or the employee can terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause, with or without notice. Airbus reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as the need arises. This position description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.

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