UAS PilotFlight Test & Mission Operator

CHAOS Industries is redefining modern defense with a multi-product portfolio that gives the ultimate advantagedomain dominance. The companys products are powered by Coherent Distributed Networks (CDN) empowering warfighters commercial air operators and border protection teams to act faster adapt rapidly and stay ahead of evolving threats.

CHAOS Industries was founded in 2022 and has raised a total of $1 billion in funding from leading investors including 8VC Accel and Valor Equity Partners. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles with offices in Washington D.C. San Francisco San Diego and London. For more information please visit.

Role Overview:

The UAS Pilot/Flight Test & Mission Operator is based in El Segundo California and supports the full lifecycle of unmanned aircraft operations at CHAOS from development verification validation and production acceptance testing through fielded customer missions demonstrations and operational deployments. This role suits someone who thrives in dynamic hands-on environments is equally comfortable in a structured test-range setting and an unpredictable field deployment and can move fluidly between rigorous test-card execution and customer-facing mission support. The role requires the ability to fly Group 1 Group 2 and Group 3 UAS platforms across a range of airframe types and propulsion systems including fixed-wing VTOL multirotor turbine and electric ducted fan (EDF) aircraft among others.

Depending on qualification and assignment the operator may serve as Remote Pilot in Command Pilot at the Controls Ground Control Station Operator Visual Observer Test Conductor Payload/Sensor Operator Range Safety Observer Mission Coordinator or Test Technician. Youll be embedded with customers and engineering teams alike integrating CHAOS systems into existing infrastructure and ensuring reliability under real-world conditions.

Beyond flying and mission support this role carries direct ownership of the aircraft itself building maintaining and repairing UAS airframes and subsystems including composite structural repair so platforms stay mission-ready in the field and at the range.

Responsibilities:

• Review flight-test plans test cards mission objectives engineering requirements aircraft limitations risk assessments airspace/site conditions and success abort and go/no-go criteria.
• Participate in test-readiness reviews safety reviews preflight briefings post-mission debriefs and lessons-learned activities.
• Coordinate with flight-test engineers software and mechanical engineers avionics personnel maintainers range personnel program managers and customer stakeholders.
• Prepare and inspect aircraft payloads batteries propulsion components ground control stations communications equipment and support systems; verify configuration against approved test or mission documentation.
• Perform preflight functional checks of flight controls navigation propulsion power command-and-control links payloads sensors contingency modes and data-acquisition systems.
• Operate across Group 1 Group 2 and Group 3 UAS platforms as assigned including fixed-wing VTOL multirotor turbine EDF and other propulsion systems adapting procedures checklists and risk controls to the size weight speed and complexity of each class of aircraft.
• Execute test cards or mission plans within approved operating limitations making clear callouts for aircraft state test-point or mission status hazards anomalies and abort conditions.
• Maintain situational awareness of aircraft position airspeed altitude heading telemetry battery condition airspace personnel obstacles and environmental conditions throughout flight.
• Initiate hold abort contingency or emergency actions whenever unexpected behavior configuration discrepancies or uncontrolled hazards occur.
• Operate electro-optical infrared mapping or other mission and inspection payloads when qualified and verify collected data meets test or mission requirements.
• Record test-point completion mission results operator observations aircraft behavior timing and deviations from expected performance; preserve and annotate telemetry video flight logs and instrumentation data.
• Prepare discrepancy reports anomaly reports test summaries flight logs maintenance notifications and production-acceptance or mission-deliverable records.
• Support troubleshooting fault isolation regression testing and hardware/software-in-the-loop testing and provide operator feedback on handling qualities human-machine interfaces and procedures.
• Protect customer information and maintain data integrity during collection transfer storage and delivery.
• Maintain accountability for aircraft tools batteries spares vehicles and field-support equipment.
• Build assemble and configure UAS airframes and subsystems from component and kit-level parts including structural propulsion avionics and payload integration.
• Perform scheduled and unscheduled maintenance troubleshooting and repair of UAS airframes propulsion systems control surfaces wiring harnesses and payload mounts.
• Inspect repair and fabricate composite structures (carbon fiber fiberglass and sandwich-core panels) using lay-up bonding patch-repair and finishing techniques appropriate to airframe requirements.
• Diagnose structural and material damage (delamination cracking impact damage) and determine appropriate repair rework or scrap disposition in accordance with engineering guidance.
• Document build configurations repair actions materials used and cure/inspection records to maintain airframe traceability and configuration control.
• Willing to travel (typically 50%) to customer and test sites for deployments troubleshooting and mission support both CONUS and OCONUS.

Minimum Requirements:

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Current FAA Remote Pilot Certificate with a Small UAS Rating or ability to obtain one before conducting independent operations.
• At least two years of UAS operations flight testing aviation maintenance avionics military aviation robotics testing or comparable technical experience.
• Demonstrated ability to configure inspect and safely operate remotely piloted aircraft across fixed-wing multirotor rotary-wing or hybrid platforms including transmitter/receiver setup flight-mode programming command-and-control links and failsafe configuration.
• Ability to fly Group 1 Group 2 and Group 3 UAS platforms with demonstrated proficiency across fixed-wing VTOL multirotor turbine EDF and other propulsion systems and transitioning between aircraft of different sizes weights and performance envelopes.
• Ability to interpret test plans test cards mission plans engineering drawings technical manuals checklists and aircraft limitations.
• Working knowledge of aircraft systems flight controls propulsion electrical systems navigation communications telemetry airspace and aviation weather.
• Strong technical writing observation and verbal communication skills with the ability to remain calm and make clear safety callouts under abnormal or emergency conditions.
• Demonstrated experience building maintaining and repairing UAS or model-aircraft airframes and subsystems including propulsion wiring and structural components.
• Working knowledge of composite materials (carbon fiber fiberglass foam-core) and basic repair techniques such as bonding patching and lay-up appropriate to small unmanned aircraft.
• Ability to safely use hand tools power tools and basic fabrication or repair equipment in a shop or field-maintenance environment.
• Valid drivers license and ability to travel to remote test and customer locations including outdoor work in varying terrain and weather.
• Ability to satisfy customer program export-control background and drug-testing requirements applicable to assigned work.
• Must currently hold or be able to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance.

Preferred Requirements:

• Associate or bachelors degree in aerospace aviation engineering technology unmanned systems electronics geography/surveying or a related field.
• Three or more years of flight-test UAS experimental-aircraft developmental-testing or fielded-mission experience across multiple aircraft configurations.
• Experience with PX4 ArduPilot Mission Planner QGroundControl ATAK or comparable flight and ground-control software.
• Experience with electro-optical infrared LiDAR multispectral mapping or other stabilized mission payloads.
• Knowledge of test-readiness reviews test-card discipline envelope expansion requirements verification and configuration management.
• Familiarity with controlled-airspace night operations-over-people waiver-supported or beyond-visual-line-of-sight operations.
• Familiarity with Jira Confluence Git MATLAB Python LabVIEW or other engineering and issue-tracking tools.
• Military UAS operator air vehicle operator instructor/standardization operator test pilot or flight-test engineering background.
• Experience operating under a Safety Management System AS9100 or formal configuration/quality-management process.
• Formal training or hands-on experience in composite fabrication and repair (carbon fiber fiberglass sandwich-core structures) such as composite-repair coursework aerospace manufacturing or model-aircraft/RC fabrication background.
• Experience building or scratch-fabricating fixed-wing multirotor or hybrid UAS airframes including 3D printing CNC or composite lay-up techniques.
• Experience with structural repair documentation non-destructive inspection methods or airframe damage assessment.

Required Competencies:

• Procedural discipline test-card and checklist execution configuration awareness technical observation and anomaly recognition.
• Aeronautical decision-making crew resource management risk management and situational awareness.
• Cross-functional communication technical troubleshooting and professional customer-facing presence.
• Accurate technical documentation attention to detail composure under pressure and willingness to exercise stop-work authority.
• Hands-on mechanical aptitude for airframe build maintenance and composite structural repair.

Physical & Work Requirements:

• Work at flight-test ranges airports laboratories manufacturing facilities and remote/outdoor field sites in variable weather and terrain.
• Stand walk kneel or remain at a control station for extended periods; lift or carry up to 50 pounds with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Manipulate tools connectors batteries aircraft components computers and ground-support equipment; wear required personal protective equipment.
• Work early mornings evenings nights weekends or extended test/mission windows and travel for multi-day campaigns.

Why CHAOS

• Health Benefits: Medical dental and vision benefits 100% paid for by the company
• Additional benefits: 401k ( 50% company match up to 6% of pay) FSA HSA life insurance and more
• Our Perks: Free daily lunch No meeting Fridays unlimited PTO casual dress code
• Compensation Components: Competitive base salaries generous pre-IPO stock option grants relocation assistance and (coming soon!) annual bonuses
• Team Growth: 350 employees and counting across 5 global offices

The stated compensation range reflects only the targeted base compensation range and excludes additional earnings such as bonus equity and benefits. If your compensation requirements fall outside of the range we still encourage you to apply. The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a range of compensation factors inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience education and/or training critical skills and/or business considerations.

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