Executive 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 ISR, electronic warfare, secure communications, aerial refuelling, special mission aviation, firefighting, and advanced simulation. 

Metrea builds vertically integrated “full stacks” of capability—designing, producing, and operating turnkey solutions that let customers scale capacity and benefit from continuous innovation. By bringing operators and engineers together, Metrea rapidly connects design with effect, turning insight into action. 

Focused on elegant, efficient, and evolving solutions, Metrea helps partners do more with less, providing asymmetric advantage against fast-changing threats. 

Headquartered in Washington, DC, Metrea operates facilities across the U.S., U.K., Europe, and worldwide. 

Group Overview  

Special Aviation Missions Group (SAM) is responsible for developing and delivering Metrea’s Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR), Special Mobility, and Aerial Firefighting (AFF) capabilities from the US. 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  

The Head of SAM – US (H/SAM US) will lead both on and in the Group: 

1. On the Group – designing and building best-in-class special mission Capability Areas (CAs), including processes, systems, and people.
2. In the Group – delivering exceptional aerospace services to some of Metrea’s highest-value programs.

H/SAM US will serve as a Core Group member of Metrea’s Senior Leadership Team and play a central role in shaping and executing enterprise strategy. This position requires strong leadership, clear communication, and the ability to build trust with teammates at every level. 

With the focus of “safe, assured, and scalable global aviation operations,” H/SAM US will drive the newly redesigned capability areas, creating a cohesive, efficient, and scalable organization to achieve the summits outlined in the Metrea Strategy Map. Above all, the role demands a builder—someone able to lead and collaborate across both the Group and the wider enterprise. 

Role and Responsibilities  

Developing the Group Structure (“On the Group”) 

• Lead the design and development of the SAM Group, implementing scalable, efficient processes.
• Build industry-specific frameworks, financial models, and digital systems (in partnership with Operations) to enable workflow automation and meet government contracting requirements.
• Provide decision support at tactical, operational, and strategic levels.
• Identify growth opportunities in knowledge, skills, and culture; drive professional development and talent acquisition to build a high-performing team.
• Foster a unified “One Team” culture rooted in humility, aligned with Metrea’s Individual Firmware attributes: Entrepreneurial, Systematic, Discerning, and Over Do'er.

Providing Group Direction, Guidance & Support (“In the Group”) 

• Lead development of the Group’s growth strategy through the annual Enterprise Value Case (EVC) cycle, delivering Strategic Milestones (SMs) and OKRs across SAM Capability Areas (CAs) in alignment with Metrea’s Strategy Map.
• Contribute to Metrea’s Campaign Plan (CAMPLAN), Capability Plan (CAPEPLAN), and Marketing Plans (MPLAN) relevant to SAM.
• Oversee performance reviews of SAM US CAs, ensuring progress against OKRs and KPIs; lead interventions when necessary.
• Support reporting (monthly, quarterly, board) with strategic analysis, risk planning, and mitigation strategies.
• Actively assess and shape Group risk exposure and opportunity management, influencing internal programs and potential acquisitions.
• Provide market and customer-focused expertise to de-risk current programs and validate new opportunities.
• This role will be based out of the Tampa office with domestic and international travel.

Skills and Experience 

• Senior leadership experience in aerospace & defence, with proven ability to navigate complexity and ambiguity through sound judgment.
• Extensive special mission aircrew background, ideally with ISR expertise.
• Deep knowledge of aviation regulatory environments (FAA), including hands-on Part 135 operations and prior accountable executive responsibility in the commercial sector.
• Working knowledge of FAA Airworthiness and Maintenance procedures.
• Proven experience engaging with senior stakeholders (customers, suppliers, partners) to represent the company at the highest levels.
• Track record of leading teams, managing budgets, and delivering measurable results.
• Familiarity with U.S. government budget cycles and procurement processes.
• Flexibility to travel frequently, domestically and internationally, often on short notice.
• Strong critical thinking, judgment, and attention to detail; intellectually curious and quick to adapt.
• Skilled at identifying key issues, troubleshooting, and problem-solving to advance long-term strategic goals.
• Highly organized, reliable, discreet, and disciplined, with strong execution skills.
• Effective in matrixed, collaborative environments, with the ability to balance competing priorities.
• Emotionally intelligent, adaptable, and intellectually humble, with the ability to challenge and refine one’s own thinking.

 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.