Job Description

Aviation Test Squadron Pilot

Join a company where you can make a real impact and own a piece of the future.

Are you energized by the idea of helping a company grow smarter, serve our customers better, and connect more deeply? Do you thrive in an environment where your ideas matter, your voice is heard, and your work drives real results? If so, we'd love to meet you.

We're a mid-sized, employee-owned company on a mission to create meaningful value for both our employees and our customers. That means we're not just looking for someone to fill a seat we're looking for someone who wants to build, innovate, and evolve with us.

Our company primarily serves the Navy and other Department of Defense clients, offering a dynamic environment where your expertise will make a difference.

About the Role

Avian is seeking an MQ-25A Stingray Air Vehicle Pilot (AVP) to join the Navy's dedicated UAV test squadron, UX-24, in Patuxent River, Maryland. Become part of a dynamic team of military, government, and contractors who are on the forefront of Naval Aviation and are working to introduce the newest Navy unmanned aircraft into the airwing of the future. We are looking for a subject matter expert in Carrier Based Aerial Refueling Operations to take the MQ-25A from first-flight through introduction to the carrier airwing, and beyond.

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

Responsibilities

The selected candidate will support a wide range of test and evaluation requirements to include:

• Supporting 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 and Air Vehicle Pilot (AVP) and Unmanned Aircraft Commander (UAC) aircraft for MQ-25A flight test operations.
• 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.

Qualifications

Qualifications:

• Must be a graduate of a full-length course of instruction from a recognized military test pilot school, e.g. USNTPS, USAFTPS, Empire or EPNER.
• Commercial pilot or a UAV Air Vehicle Operator/Pilot (AVO/P) designation by U.S. Armed Forces.
• Minimum of 1,500 documented flight hours (manned and/or unmanned).
• Large UAS (Group 4-5) AVP experience desired
• Five years relevant experience, to include three years of Test Project Officer experience, desired.
• Fixed-wing and/or carrier-based flight experience highly desired.
• Experience with air-to-air refueling preferred.
• Able to demonstrate effective oral and written communications skills.
• Active Department of Defense 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 $165,000-$240,000. The offered rate will be based on the selected candidate's knowledge, skills, abilities, and/or experience and in consideration of internal parity.

About being a part of Team Avian

As an employee-owner, you'll be a catalyst for progress helping us find new opportunities with current or new customers, company efficiencies, streamline processes, and bring people and ideas together in smarter ways. Whether it's helping us optimize workflows, enhancing the employee experience, or delivering more impactful solutions to our customers, your inputs will have reach and relevance across the organization.

Taking care of each other is a cornerstone of our 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.

You'll Succeed Here If You...

• See opportunities where others see routine
• Are curious, collaborative, and passionate about making things better
• Enjoy connecting dots across teams, tools, and tasks
• Believe in doing the right thing the right way even when no one's watching
• Play an active role in our growth, using your ideas and initiative to shape how we work, serve, and succeed together
• Embrace a "one team" mindset knowing we are stronger together through trust, transparency and teamwork.
• Understand the power of ownership and are excited to be part of an employee-owned culture

Why Join Us?

• Employee Ownership: We're not just building a company we're building a legacy. As an employee-owner, you'll share in our success and have a direct stake in our future.
• Real Growth: We're expanding, evolving, and exploring new ways to serve. Your contributions will shape our direction and help us grow stronger.
• Purpose-Driven Work: Every improvement you help make is one that adds value not just for us, but for the people and missions we support.
• Culture of Collaboration: We're big enough to take on meaningful challenges, but small enough that everyone still knows your name.
• 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.
• Flexible Leave Benefits: We prioritize a balanced, supportive environment that allows you to thrive both personally and professionally and offer flexible and paid time off, 11 paid holidays, paid sick leave, maternity and bonding leave, and military training leave.

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.

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