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. These include airborne ISR, electronic warfare, secure communications, aerial refueling, special air missions, aerial firefighting, and advanced simulation. We own the whole stack: designing, building, and operating turnkey capabilities that give our partners decisive, asymmetric advantage against rapidly evolving threats.
Our operating model is built around three interlocking pillars. The Support Groups provide a global shared-service - spanning people, finance, platform, operations, legal, and engagement. This frees up our Core Groups, who develop and own mission capabilities end-to-end, to focus entirely on delivery. The Market Groups apply a regional lens, ensuring that our agile and adaptable capabilities remain aligned to the wicked problems that matter most to our partners across the Americas, EMEA, and Asia-Pacific.
At the heart of our model is a simple but powerful idea: be a true partner with skin in the game. Our partners need effects, not just equipment. By owning the full stack - from the lab to the field - we are able to drive a continuous cycle of innovation that keeps our partners ahead. It's a fast-moving, intellectually demanding environment where talented people are given real responsibility, work on problems that matter, and contribute to an enterprise that is growing quickly and deliberately.
Headquartered in Washington, DC, with facilities across the United States, the United Kingdom, as well as Continental Europe and Asia-Pacific.
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 environments.
Position Summary
In this role, you will execute day-to-day Continuing Airworthiness Management Organization (CAMO) operations across assigned aircraft platforms. You will ensure aircraft remain compliant, mission-ready, and aligned with regulatory and company standards by integrating maintenance planning, configuration control, and operational requirements. You will be successful if you can anticipate issues before they impact operations, make sound technical decisions in dynamic environments, and translate CAMO strategy into disciplined execution. This role serves as a delegated authority for airworthiness decisions and acts as the operational backbone of the CAMO.
What You'll Do

• Execute day-to-day CAMO operations across assigned aircraft platforms (Jet and/or Turbo prop as the organization scales)
• Develop and maintain medium and long-term maintenance plans, including heavy maintenance, inspections, and major component events
• Serve as the primary technical point of contact with OEMs, vendors, and internal stakeholders for airworthiness-related matters
• Ensure compliance with applicable regulatory requirements (FAA, EASA, etc.) and company standards, including AD/SB tracking, inspection program compliance, and configuration control
• Review and validate aircraft status, discrepancies, and maintenance actions to ensure safe and compliant return to service
• Act as delegated CAM and/or Part 135 DOM when required, providing decision authority on airworthiness matters
• Drive standardization and continuous improvement of CAMO processes, tools, and data integrity (AMOS, FL3XX, etc.)
• Contribute to fleet-level analysis including reliability trends, repeat discrepancies, and maintenance forecasting
• Support aircraft transitions, deployments, and new capability integrations from an airworthiness perspective
• Serve as the go-to resource for resolving material and technical constraints, including identifying approved alternatives, coordinating with engineering, and developing solutions when parts or support are not readily available

What You Bring

• FAA Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) certificate required; Inspection Authorization (IA) strongly preferred
• 7+ years of experience in aircraft maintenance, airworthiness, or continuing airworthiness management
• Strong working knowledge of FAA regulations (Parts 43, 91, 135, 145) and familiarity with EASA frameworks
• Experience in maintenance planning, configuration control, and aircraft records management
• Experience interfacing with OEMs and managing technical escalations
• Ability to make sound technical decisions in dynamic operational environments

Additional Eligibility Qualifications

• Ability to prioritize and execute in a fast-paced, multi-platform operational environment
• Strong communication skills with the ability to translate technical issues across teams and leadership levels
• Proven ability to lead through influence in a cross-functional organization
• High attention to detail with a focus on compliance, traceability, and operational impact
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and digital recordkeeping systems
• Willingness to support on-call requirements

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical plan options
• HSA/FSA accounts
• Dental and vision coverage
• 6% employer 401(k) match
• Fully paid parental leave for all new parents
• Generous PTO
• Life and disability insurance
• Long-term and Short-term disability coverage
• AD&D Coverage
• Pet Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Subsided gym membership / plans through Wellhub

Work Authorization / Security Clearance
Must be legally authorized to work in the United States Must be a U.S. citizen Eligible to obtain and maintain a Secret clearance
AAP/EEO Statement
This Company 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 exempt position with typical working hours of Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Hours and work shifts may change in accordance with department and busi ness needs. Exempt Employees must have the ability to be on-call and available, as business needs require.
Work Environment
This job operates in an office setting
Travel
25%
Base Pay Range
The compensation range shown below is a good faith estimate and reflects the expected base pay for this position upon hire. This is just one component of Metrea's overall approach to total rewards and final compensation decisions, including the ultimate salary or hourly rate agreed upon, may vary depending on factors such as job location, job-specific knowledge, skills, experience, and the overall negotiated compensation package. Eligible full-time employees also receive a comprehensive benefits package designed to support their health, wellbeing, and long-term success.
Pay Range
$145,000-$165,000 USD
Our Firmware
At Metrea, our single core value is Rooted in Humility, and our four cornerstone attributes are Entrepreneurial, Systematic, Discerning, and Over-Deliver. These form what we call our Teammate Firmware. Just like technical firmware connects software and hardware, our Firmware is the constant interface between our mission and our people. It defines how we show up, how we work together, and how we solve complex problems.
Our team Firmware creates a web-like, hyper-collaborative, dynamically hierarchical way of working that helps us adapt quickly, communicate openly, and distribute decision-making to where expertise actually lives. It enables groups to self-organize around hard problems, shift fluidly as priorities evolve, and operate with the trust, curiosity, and discipline required in a complex mission space. This foundation allows us to deliver elegant, effective solutions and uphold our purpose: protecting our precious inheritance.