Drone Pilot Jobs in Silver Spring, MD (NOW HIRING)

Title: Chief UAS Pilot
Company: Heven AeroTech
Location: Sterling, Virginia  
FLSA: Exempt
Reports To: U.S. President of Operations  

About Our Company:
At Heven AeroTech (Heven), we don't just believe in the power of people—we build our success on it. As a recognized leader in hydrogen-powered drones, we've earned recognition for creating a workplace where innovation thrives, collaboration is second nature, and every employee feels valued. Our culture is anchored in trust and a shared commitment to excellence.

We believe great teams are built on individuals who are humble, hungry, and smart—those who put team success first, take initiative to continuously improve, and demonstrate strong interpersonal awareness. At Heven, your voice matters, your ideas are heard, and your contributions make a tangible impact as you grow through hands-on experience and collaboration across the team.

Role Summary:
The Chief Unmanned System Pilot at Heven AeroTech is responsible for developing and managing the drone program across the United States and among the defense, public safety and commercial sectors. This role involves overseeing all drone operations, training programs, and compliance with regulatory requirements, ensuring safe and effective use of UAVs. The Chief Pilot will also act as the primary pilot and aviation technical advisor, collaborating with various departments to enhance operational efficiency and safety.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Oversee the Heven AeroTech United States Drone program in collaboration with our overseas offices.
• Oversee all drones, drone pilots, programs, and training for the United States.
• Work with supply chain management to source NDAA compliant parts and materials for our portfolio of UAVs in compliance with Cyber Security and logistics requirements.
• Register all drones and collaborate with insurance and the FAA and other regulatory authorities.
• Act as the authorized primary pilot and aviation technical advisor, including all associated support equipment (Ground Control Station, hydrogen generation equipment, etc.)
• Develop, implement, and manage the training program for drone pilots and ground crew.
• Conduct initial and refresher training for pilots and ground crew.
• Administer final qualification checks and oversee continuation training for personnel.
• Monitor and maintain flight crew records and qualifications in compliance with FAA regulations.
• Certify training pilots to train customer pilots on flight operations for Part 107 operations.
• Develop and manage the process for flight plan review 48 hours prior to flight and concise test reports and/or summaries after flight.
• Develop and manage all necessary flight and maintenance logbooks across all flight and Ground Support Equipment platforms and teams.
• Become intimately familiar with all areas of the product portfolio to include Air Vehicles (operations and maintenance), Ground Control Stations and associated software/user interfaces, and all Ground Support Equipment.
• Support the development of sustainment-ready military UAS by providing product feedback to the engineering teams to inform design objectives and improvements

Qualifications & Experience:

Required:

• At least five years practical experience with secure radio frequency (RF) or beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) and satellite communication (SATCOM)
• At least five years' of payload experience with EO/IR cameras, thermal imaging sensors, LiDAR, synthetic aperture radar (SAR), and communication relays.
• A minimum of 1500 hours of total flight time on a multi-rotor system as the PIC with at least 40 take-offs and landings within the previous 90 days.
• Experience with Group II and/or Group III fixed wing UAS.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office.
• Self-motivated and disciplined.
• Experience in developing, writing, or maintaining programs and systems.
• Experience in training delivery and development.
• Ability to organize and maintain registrations, insurance, certifications, and training records.
• FAA licensed with at least a Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate and a Class II medical certificate.

Preferred:

• Experience deploying and leading UAS teams in hostile threat environments.
• Practical experience working with the DoD or law enforcement (federal, state or local) with the deployment of unmanned systems

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to travel 50% of the time, CONUS and OCONUS.
• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds at times.
• Paid vacation, sick days, and holidays.
• Paid personal and maternity/parental leaves.
• Employee and Family Assistance Program

Benefits Overview: 
Heven AeroTech offers a competitive benefits package designed to support the health, financial security, and overall well-being of our employees and their families. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage, retirement plans, paid time off/sick, and additional protections such as critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident coverage, and short- and long-term disability.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement: 
Heven AeroTech is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.