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Contract Pilot Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Info Gain Consulting

Technology Portfolio Lead

Mclean, VA · On-site

$103K - $136K/yr

Develop and maintain pilot charters defining objectives, scope, success criteria, dependencies, and ... Work arrangements remain subject to Government direction and final contract requirements. Security ...

Air Line Pilots Association, Int'l.

Buyer

Mclean, VA · On-site

External Description Buyer The Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA) , the largest ... They maintain accurate records of purchases, contracts, and supplier information, utilizing the ...

Air Line Pilots Association, Int'l.

Buyer

Mclean, VA · On-site

External Description Buyer The Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA) , the largest ... They maintain accurate records of purchases, contracts, and supplier information, utilizing the ...

Air Line Pilots Association, Int'l.

Buyer

Mclean, VA

Buyer The Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA) , the largest airline pilot union in ... They maintain accurate records of purchases, contracts, and supplier information, utilizing the ...

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Showing results 21-40

All JobsContract Pilot JobsContract Pilot Jobs in Washington

Contract Pilot information

See Washington salary details

$56.1K

$148.3K

$227.7K

How much do contract pilot jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 23, 2026, the average yearly pay for contract pilot in Washington is $148,275.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $113,300.00 and $175,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a contract pilot?

Contract pilots are professional pilots who are hired on a temporary or per-assignment basis, rather than as full-time employees of an airline or company. They typically operate private jets, corporate aircraft, or charter flights for individuals or organizations that need flight services for a limited period. Contract pilots are responsible for pre-flight planning, operating the aircraft safely, ensuring compliance with aviation regulations, and sometimes handling administrative tasks related to each flight. This flexible arrangement allows both pilots and employers to meet their scheduling and operational needs without long-term commitments.

What does a contract pilot do?

A contract pilot is an aviation professional who operates helicopters, charter planes, or another aircraft on a per-job basis. As a contract pilot, you work directly with corporate or individual clients to fly an aircraft between locations and transport passengers or cargo. Your contract may be for a single trip or multiple trips. However, you operate as an independent contractor, so you are responsible for maintaining your credentials and insurance. Working as a contract pilot provides you with greater flexibility than being a pilot for an airline or the military.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a contract pilot, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Contract Pilot, you need extensive flight experience, an active commercial or airline transport pilot license (CPL/ATPL), and current medical certification. Familiarity with specific aircraft types, proficiency in using advanced avionics systems, and completion of required type ratings are typically necessary. Strong decision-making, adaptability, and effective communication skills help you manage diverse flying environments and coordinate with clients and crews. These competencies ensure safety, regulatory compliance, and reliable service in varied and dynamic aviation assignments.

What are some common challenges faced by contract pilots when adapting to different aircraft and client expectations?

Contract pilots often fly a variety of aircraft types for different clients, which can require quick adaptation to new cockpit layouts, avionics systems, and company-specific procedures. Additionally, each client may have unique operational standards and expectations regarding communication, scheduling, and reporting. Staying organized, maintaining up-to-date certifications, and being proactive in learning new processes are key strategies for overcoming these challenges. Strong interpersonal skills also help contract pilots integrate smoothly with new crews and flight departments.

What is the difference between Contract Pilot vs Commercial Pilot?

AspectContract PilotCommercial Pilot
CertificationsCommercial Pilot Certificate, possibly additional type ratingsCommercial Pilot Certificate, multi-engine ratings often required
Work EnvironmentHired on a temporary basis for specific contracts, often freelanceEmployed by airlines, charter companies, or corporate operators
Employer & Industry UsageContract basis across various operators, including private and cargoFull-time or part-time employment within commercial aviation

Contract pilots typically hold a commercial pilot certificate and work on a temporary or project basis, often flying for multiple operators. Commercial pilots are usually employed full-time by airlines or companies, with a focus on scheduled or charter flights. The main difference lies in employment type and job stability, with contract pilots offering flexibility and diverse opportunities, while commercial pilots often have more consistent employment within the commercial aviation industry.

More about Contract Pilot jobs

What are the most commonly searched types of Pilot jobs in Washington?

The most popular types of Pilot jobs in Washington are:

What are popular job titles related to Contract Pilot jobs in Washington?

For Contract Pilot jobs in Washington, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Contract Pilot jobs in Washington look for?

The top searched job categories for Contract Pilot jobs in Washington are:

What cities in Washington are hiring for Contract Pilot jobs?

Cities in Washington with the most Contract Pilot job openings:

Contract Pilot jobs near you
Infographic showing various Contract Pilot job openings in Washington as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% As Needed, 85% Full Time, 6% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 12% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $148,275 per year, or $71.3 per hour.

Technology Portfolio Lead

Info Gain Consulting

Mclean, VA • On-site

$103K - $136K/yr

Full-time

Posted 27 days ago

Job description

Position overview
Info Gain Consulting (IGC) is seeking a Technology Portfolio Lead / Senior Systems Engineer to direct a technology-pilot portfolio for a federal law-enforcement and intelligence mission. You will provide portfolio governance, senior systems engineering, integration planning, and transition decision support across pilots spanning capabilities such as vehicle identification and tracking, digital-media exploitation, radio-frequency detection and geolocation, maritime-domain awareness, counter-surveillance, and AI-enabled analytic workflows.
You will supervise the Test and Evaluation Engineer while preserving the separation between objective test evidence and portfolio decision packaging. Candidates need genuine systems-engineering depth and portfolio leadership experience but are not expected to be experts in every pilot technology. The position supports Government governance and transition decisions; the Government makes all operational, acquisition, deployment, sustainment, and funding decisions.
Key responsibilities
  • Lead day-to-day governance and systems-engineering support for the technology-pilot portfolio.
  • Develop and maintain pilot charters defining objectives, scope, success criteria, dependencies, and Government decision gates.
  • Develop and maintain integrated pilot plans aligning schedules, Government-identified resources, vendors, infrastructure, data, and cross-pilot dependencies.
  • Coordinate interdependencies across pilots and surface conflicts, shared constraints, and sequencing risks early.
  • Maintain portfolio dashboards, decision logs, risk records, and review materials.
  • Provide senior systems-engineering input to requirements, architecture reviews, integration planning, interfaces, and data flows.
  • Supervise the Test and Evaluation Engineer and preserve the separation between objective evidence and decision packaging.
  • Assemble transition and gate-review decision packages presenting options, evidence, limitations, and deployment conditions.
  • Translate pilot evidence into portfolio-level recommendations for transition, sustainment, further testing, or discontinuation.

Required qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in systems engineering, electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, information systems, operations research, or a related technical field; four additional years of directly relevant experience may substitute for the degree.
  • At least 10 years in systems engineering, technology portfolio management, integration, emerging-technology evaluation, or complex technical program support.
  • At least 3 years leading a technology portfolio, systems-engineering workstream, pilot program, or multidisciplinary technical team.
  • Demonstrated experience with system design reviews, architecture evaluations, interfaces, data flows, technical requirements, and sustainment considerations.
  • Demonstrated experience converting technical evidence into decision-support packages, transition criteria, or fielding recommendations.
  • Experience supervising technical analysts or test-and-evaluation personnel and coordinating with vendors and Government stakeholders.
  • Strong technical writing, briefing, facilitation, and risk-communication skills.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft 365 and systems-engineering documentation, diagramming, and schedule tools.

Preferred qualifications
  • Experience supporting DHS, CBP, another federal operational component, or a comparable public-safety, defense, intelligence, or border-security mission.
  • Experience with one or more relevant domains, such as vehicle sensing, multi-object tracking, digital-media exploitation, RF sensing or geolocation, maritime awareness, counter-surveillance, or AI-enabled workflows.
  • Experience applying federal enterprise architecture, technical reference models, or systems-engineering lifecycle processes.
  • INCOSE ASEP, CSEP, ESEP, or comparable systems-engineering credential.
  • Experience transitioning a prototype or pilot into operational deployment and sustainment.

Work arrangement
This position reports to the Program Manager. On-site performance depends on completion of applicable Government suitability, credentialing, workstation, facility, and access requirements. Work arrangements remain subject to Government direction and final contract requirements.
Security and access requirements
This position requires successful completion of applicable background investigation, suitability, fingerprinting, credentialing, training, nondisclosure, and access requirements. The employee must be able to obtain and maintain any required Personal Identity Verification (PIV) credential and associated facility, system, and information access; comply with secure-facility restrictions; and properly safeguard Controlled Unclassified Information, personally identifiable information, sensitive personally identifiable information, and other protected information. Candidates must satisfy any citizenship, immigration-status, suitability, and access requirements applicable to the assigned facility, system, or information.
Role boundaries
The Technology Portfolio Lead supports Government governance and transition decisions but does not make operational, acquisition, source-selection, deployment, sustainment, or termination decisions, direct vendors independently, authorize resources, approve access, or alter objective test evidence. Specialized domain subject-matter experts are added only when separately authorized.
Contingency statement
This position is contingent upon contract award, funding, final staffing approval, successful completion of applicable suitability and credentialing requirements, and confirmation of the anticipated start date.
Equal employment opportunity
Info Gain Consulting, LLC is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs. IGC provides equal employment opportunity without unlawful discrimination and provides reasonable accommodations as required by applicable law.

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