Operational Test Pilot & Exercise Integration Lead

Hermeus is a venture-backed defense aviation company reclaiming the lost art of rapid iterative prototyping to build the fastest aircraft in the world today. By prioritizing relentless hardware iteration, we deliver high-speed systems at the pace of the modern battlefield. We work with the Department of War to provide the high-speed capabilities our nation and its allies need to maintain a durable, asymmetric advantage.

Responsibilities - Serve as a pilot for Hermeus flight operations, including development and execution of normal, abnormal, and emergency procedures

- Lead mission planning and execution for company flight test and demonstration events: profile design, go/no-go criteria, crew and control room coordination, contingency and abort planning, and post-flight debrief

- Own range and airspace integration for flight activity — coordinate with range control, airspace managers, airfield operations, and test organizations to secure and protect flight windows, and deconflict Hermeus activity with other users

- Act as Hermeus' lead integrator and coordinator for joint and service exercise participation: build relationships with sponsoring units and exercise planning teams, shepherd Hermeus through the exercise planning cycle, and lead on-site execution

- Build and maintain the operational relationships that make flight happen — operational squadrons, test squadrons, range leadership, and government program offices

- Provide the operator's perspective to engineering and program teams: influence vehicle design, mission systems, concept of employment, test plans, and mission profiles so the vehicle matures toward missions the force actually needs

- Develop and maintain flight operations products — mission plans, flight cards, crew procedures, checklists, flight manuals, safety of flight documentation, and hazard analyses — and drive them through internal and external review

- Own program management for Flight Test as a Service engagements: scope definition with the customer, schedule and milestone tracking, cross-functional coordination, deliverable and data product management, and customer communication through closeout

- Lead and chair readiness reviews, test readiness reviews, and safety reviews with internal teams and external partners; ensure deliverables are on time and meet customer expectations

- Mentor and grow the operations and mission planning function as the team and flight rate scale

- Be relentless in challenging the status quo to compress planning cycles, accelerate approval timelines, and increase flight rate

Requirements - Bachelor's degree in engineering, physics, or a related technical field

- FAA Commercial Pilot Certificate or ATP with instrument rating

- Current FAA Class 2 medical certificate, and ability to maintain it for the duration of assigned flight duties

- Current or former military fighter / tactical aviator with 500+ total flight hours, including 300+ hours in fighter or high-performance aircraft

- Demonstrated experience as a mission commander, flight lead, instructor pilot, or evaluator pilot

- 8+ years of combined operational aviation and program or project management experience, with demonstrated leadership of complex, multi-organization efforts

- Hands-on experience planning and executing missions on US military ranges, including range scheduling, airspace coordination, and safety of flight processes

- Experience participating in or planning joint or service-level exercises or large force test events

- Experience working with government customers — DoD program offices, test organizations, or operational units

- Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. security clearance

- Must be a U.S. person as defined under ITAR / EAR for access to export-controlled technical data

Preferred Qualifications: - Graduate of USAF Test Pilot School, US Naval Test Pilot School, or an equivalent test pilot or flight test engineer progra