Aerial Firefighting Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Company Overview

Metrea delivers effects-as-a-service to national security partners across five domains and more than a dozen mission areas—including airborne ISR, electronic warfare, secure communications, aerial refueling, special mission aviation, aerial firefighting, and advanced simulation.

Wherever we operate, we build vertically integrated full stacks of capability—designing, building, and operating turnkey solutions that let customers scale capacity while benefiting from continuous cycles of innovation. With operators and engineers under one roof, we close the gap between lab and field—what we call connecting design with effect.

Metrea’s solutions are built for elegance: effective, efficient, and evolving. This approach enables our partners to do more with less and achieve outsized, asymmetric advantage against rapidly evolving threats.

Headquartered in Washington, DC, Metrea has facilities across the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, and beyond.

Group Overview

Special Air Missions Group (SAM) is responsible for developing and delivering Metrea’s Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR), Special Mobility, and Aerial Firefighting (AFF) capabilities. SAM oversees the integration of new mission systems, ensuring operational readiness across specialized aviation operations. It manages fleet maintenance, regulatory compliance, and strategic partnerships to enhance mission effectiveness. By consolidating expertise and infrastructure, SAM ensures Metrea’s airborne capabilities remain adaptable and mission-ready across dynamic operational

Position Summary

We are seeking highly skilled and motivated Line Pilots to join our dynamic team. The ideal candidate will have experience in aerial firefighting, specifically in multi-engine long-term retardant application. DHC-8 tactical and low-level experience is highly desirable. They will be responsible for safe, effective, efficient multi mission airtanker operations in a multi-crew environment. AFF Line Pilots report to the Aerial Firefighting Head of Flight Operations.

This role is also responsible for flight planning, conducting aircraft pre-flight checks, and coordinating with company schedulers, clients, and aircrew to facilitate trip execution and operations.

In addition to flying, AFF Line Pilots support development and continuous refinement of SOPs and TTPs, participate in Metrea’s Aviation Safety and Management System, and represent Metrea’s core values to coworkers and customers.

Role and Responsibilities

• Assist Aerial Firefighting Head of Flight Operations with ensuring all administrative paperwork, and daily tasks are being completed on time and in accordance with applicable industry FAA standards.
• Ensure all facets of trip planning including weather, navigation, facilities, aircraft airworthiness, aircraft performance, security, and customer requests are conducted in accordance with FAA Regulations, Company Operations Manual, Operations Specifications, Standard Operating Procedures, and Company Policies and Procedures.
• During flight, is responsible for the safety of the crewmembers, contents, and the airplane.
• Ensure all preflight, cockpit and post-flight checks are completed in accordance with the AFM, Standard Operating Procedures, and Company Operations Manual.
• Complete and submit all post-flight documentation including flight logs, maintenance discrepancies, receipts for billing, and required FAA reports.
• Participate proactively in safety and quality systems by identifying, reporting, and mitigating hazards and quality issues; providing timely input to management and applying systems processes to address quality and safety issues.
• Ensure aircrew and maintenance personnel comply with safety standards when operating or maintaining company aircraft.
• When assigned as Pilot in Command (PIC), may delegate functions and duties to other crewmembers but retains full responsibility.
• Perform other duties and/or special projects as assigned by higher authority.
• Deliver safe, effective, efficient aerial firefighting operations to customers around the world.
• Achieve and maintain licensing and endorsement applicable for the aviation authority overseeing the operation in the jurisdiction where the candidate is assigned to work.
• Present a professional, courteous, proactive, attentive manner at all times.
• Demonstrate exceptional communication skills and collaborate effectively within a fast-paced, evolving environment.

Skills and Experience

• Essential: Flying experience in an aerial firefighting capacity (>200 hours).
• Preferred: previous experience in AFF with large aircraft, especially turbo prop experience (DHC-8 or similar) delivering retardant is advantageous.
• FAA multi-engine Commercial Pilot or Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) license with Instrument rating or equivalent EASA unrestricted license with valid medical certificate.
• At least 500 hours Pilot In Command (PIC) Airplane with 100 hours night time and 75 hours instrument.
• At least 100 hours PIC within the last twelve months.
• Must be capable of receiving a Canadian Foreign License Validation Certificate.
• Exceptional proficiency in English, both spoken and written, is mandatory.
• Fluency in other languages is desirable.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, evolving environment with limited supervision.
• Must be able to complete Flight training program, demonstrating proficiency with job requirements.
• Maintains customer satisfaction with the services offered by the company.
• Promotes cooperation and commitment within a team to achieve goals and carry out a mission.
• Must possess the ability to maintain strict confidentiality of sensitive information.
• Adapts to changing business needs, conditions, locations, and work responsibilities.
• Promotes organizational mission and goals and shows the way to achieve them.
• Diligently attends to details and pursues quality in accomplishing missions/tasks.
• Maintains composure in highly stressful or adverse situations.

Additional Eligibility Qualifications

Our Firmware

Metrea’s single core value, “rooted in humility,” is supported by four key attributes: entrepreneurial, systematic, discerning, and over-deliver. These attributes, combined, form our Teammate Firmware, our culture. We explore these attributes during the hiring process when we grow our teams and continually support the growth of our culture. We are a hyper-collaborative, dynamically hierarchical organization united by a passion for what we do, how we do it, who we do it with, and who we do it for.

Benefits

Medical insurance options

Dental and vision insurance

Retirement plan eligibility

Parental leave

Work Authorization / Security Clearance

As required

AAP/EEO Statement

Metrea Aerial Affects, (AFF) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time position with daily working hours varying. Hours and work shifts may vary in accordance with business needs. Non-Exempt employees may be required to work over 40 hours per week with approval from the department manager.

Work Location
Remote

Work Environment
Aircraft

Travel

This position requires extensive travel, both domestic and international.