Flight Director

Flight Director

QinetiQ US is seeking an experienced Flight Director to support the DHS Customs & Border Protection Tethered Aerostat Radar System (TARS) program. The TARS program leverages aerostat systems to provide persistent surveillance and detection capabilities, to the U.S. Government customer across eight (8) different operational sites along the US Southern border in multiple locations including Puerto Rico, Florida, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.

The successful candidate will have experience managing aerostat flight operations on platforms similar in size to the TARS aerostats. You will be the single point of contact on your assigned shift, ultimately responsible for all flight operations at your assigned site, and supported by a senior flight director located with the Central operations centers as well as a 4-5 person shift flight crew.

Responsibilities

• Acts as single point-of-contact and control over Aerostat mission support activity during assigned work shift, including direct control of all crew activity relative to Aerostat pre-launch, launch, ascent, transition, station keeping, and recovery.
• Maintains current status of local weather conditions and weather trends as they influence mission support.
• Communicates with the TARS Control Center, Meteorological Forecast Facilities, and other Government agencies as appropriate.
• Makes significant event and data entries in the mission flight log.
• Prepares and maintains the flight system weight logs and weight and balance records for the operational Aerostat.
• Maintains cognizance of system performance.
• Conducts routine Aerostat performance computations as necessary to acquire data results relative to Aerostat system state-of-health trends.
• Determines when helium addition is required and computes the quantity to be added. Keeps and provides reports of on-hand helium assets and helium usage. Evaluates Aerostat lift and purity trends. Reports any unusual trends to management and recommends remedial action.
• Provides supervision for the flight operations and maintenance crew during assigned shift.
• Trains and certifies other personnel in selected Aerostat electronic subsystem procedures.
• May be assigned Quality Control duties as required. May be required to work in special man-lift vehicles.
• Functions as a key member of the flight crew for inflation, deflation, launch, recovery, maintenance, and in-flight activities.
• Directs and performs corrective and preventative maintenance on the Aerostat telemetry and control subsystems, power and control subsystems, tether subsystem, meteorological equipment, ground station electronic subsystems, payload and communications subsystems, and site facility electronics as appropriate.
• Directs and performs all Aerostat electronic subsystem preflight and postflight checks and inspections as required.
• Coordinates resupply and repair logistics activities for the Aerostat electronics subsystems.
• May serve as the Site Manager in his absence.
• Ensures that site security functions are accomplished and that any unusual security conditions are reported.
• Directs actions of security guards as necessary.
• May perform duties associated with site safety, security, training, and maintenance control.
• Performs and directs activities to fulfill Civil Engineering site tasks related to electrical services and equipment.

Required Qualifications

EXPERIENCE: 5 years' aerostat experience; 2 Supervisory.

EDUCATION: High school graduate. 16 hours of formal Weather Observation training by a Weather Professional (or acquire in the first year on the contract).

Prior certification on TARS aerostats a plus.

SECURITY CLEARANCE: National Agency Check (NAC)

LANGUAGE: Must be able to read, write, speak, and comprehend English.

PHYSICAL: Work requires the ability to perform the following physical activities: walking, standing, stooping, bending, twisting, crawling, reaching, lifting 25lbs, sitting, and squatting. Work may require walking, standing, sitting, and working in confined spaces or at high elevations for extended periods of time. Warehouse, exterior and interior work environments, sometimes in inclement weather. Candidates must be willing and able to work various work shifts as assigned.

Pay Transparency

The salary range for this role is $78,000 - $80,000 USD. The salary range provided is a good faith estimate representative of all experience levels. QinetiQ US considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role, function and associated responsibilities, a candidate's work experience, location, education/training, and key skills.

Company EEO Statement

Accessibility/Accommodation:

If because of a medical condition or disability you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please send an e-mail to View email address on click.appcast.io or call View phone number on click.appcast.io Opt. 1 and let us know the nature of your request and contact information.

QinetiQ US is an Equal Opportunity employer. All Qualified Applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, age, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected Veteran status.