# Senior V-BAT Air Vehicle Operator, Deployed Operations Site Lead

**Company**: Shield AI
**Location**: Dallas
**Work arrangement**: onsite
**Experience**: senior
**Job type**: full-time
**Salary**: $98,000 - $155,000 a year
**Category**: Engineering
**Industry**: Technology

**Apply**: https://jobs.lever.co/shieldai/52bfd55b-d539-4af1-b8bf-dbd2ccf12161
**Canonical**: https://yubhub.co/jobs/job_b35f1f86-3ad

## Description

Execute and lead V-BAT flight operations in support of DoD and foreign customers.

This is an operationally focused role requiring strong aviation judgment, disciplined execution, and the ability to lead small teams in austere and high-visibility conditions.

Responsibilities:

* Leading mission planning activities, performing comprehensive risk assessments, delivering pre-mission briefings, executing flight operations, and conducting structured post-flight debriefs.

* Conducting Functional Check Flights (FCFs) and system validation as required, ensuring aircraft configuration control and logbook accuracy, coordinating with maintenance to sustain fleet readiness, and supporting overall operational discipline.

* Mentoring junior operators, serving as the on-site operational representative to customers, and traveling extensively in support of deployments.

Requirements:

* At least 1,500 documented flight hours

* Private Pilot License (PPL)

* Instrument Rating and/or Commercial Pilot Rating

* FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate

* Ability to obtain and maintain an FAA Class II Medical Certificate

* Ability to obtain and hold a Secret DoD security clearance

* Ability to pass background, drug screening, and customer-required medical/dental screenings

* Willingness to travel up to 50–75% in support of deployments

* Ability to lead and operate independently in small teams under austere conditions

* Strong aviation decision-making and risk management skills

* Previous experience serving as a Site Lead responsible for leading and overseeing aviation operations

Preferred Qualifications:

* Experience operating as crew on manned aircraft

* Prior military service, particularly with overseas deployments

* Maritime / shipboard UAS experience

* Instructor experience (manned or unmanned)

## Skills

### Required
- Private Pilot License (PPL)
- Instrument Rating and/or Commercial Pilot Rating
- FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate
- Ability to obtain and maintain an FAA Class II Medical Certificate
- Ability to obtain and hold a Secret DoD security clearance
- Ability to pass background, drug screening, and customer-required medical/dental screenings

### Nice to have
- Experience operating as crew on manned aircraft
- Prior military service, particularly with overseas deployments
- Maritime / shipboard UAS experience
- Instructor experience (manned or unmanned)