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Flight Operation Specialist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Heven AeroTech

UAS Flight Operations Specialist

Winchester, VA · On-site

$50K - $59K/yr

UAS Flight Operations Specialist Company: Heven AeroTech Location: Winchester, Virginia FLSA: Non-Exempt About Our Company: At Heven AeroTech (Heven), we don't just believe in the power of people-we ...

MAG Aerospace

The primary responsibilities of an Operation Specialist (OS) is to perform Mission Planning and/or Operations support to external and internal customers prior and during missions and conduct flight ...

Cessna Aircraft Company

Pilot Flight Operations

Wichita, KS · On-site

$50K - $60K/yr

Job Summary This role supports the Flight Operation Departments at Textron Aviation such as Demonstration, Production Flight Test and Pro-Ownership. Job Responsibilities * Maintains familiarity with ...

Army National Guard Units

$56K - $73K/yr

As a FLIGHT OPERATIONS SPECIALIST (Title 32) with the Texas National Guard, your duties will ... For positions requiring the operation of motor vehicles, candidates must have a valid state driver ...

Entergy

Aviation Operations Specialist

Kenner, LA · On-site

The Aviation Specialist will be the primary point of communication and coordination for UAS ... Concepts of Entergy's Flight Operation Manual * Aviation software programs to include but not ...

Entergy

Aviation Operations Specialist

Kenner, LA

The Aviation Specialist will be the primary point of communication and coordination for UAS ... Concepts of Entergy's Flight Operation Manual  * Aviation software programs to include but not ...

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Flight Operation Specialist information

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How much do flight operation specialist jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for flight operation specialist in the United States is $62,063.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $51,500.00 and $61,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How much does a flight operation specialist make?

A flight operation specialist typically earns between $50,000 and $80,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and employer. The role often requires knowledge of aviation regulations, safety procedures, and the use of flight management systems.

How does a flight operation specialist typically collaborate with pilots and air traffic controllers during daily operations?

Flight Operation Specialists play a crucial role in ensuring smooth communication between pilots, air traffic controllers, and ground personnel. On a daily basis, they coordinate flight plans, relay critical weather updates, and manage any changes in scheduling or routing. This requires strong interpersonal and organizational skills, as they must often respond quickly to evolving situations, ensuring that all relevant parties are informed and operations remain compliant with aviation regulations. Collaboration is typically facilitated through briefings, digital communication systems, and regular coordination meetings.

What is the difference between Flight Operation Specialist vs Flight Dispatcher?

AspectFlight Operation SpecialistFlight Dispatcher
CredentialsFAA certification, relevant aviation trainingFAA certification, dispatch license
Work EnvironmentAirlines, corporate flight departmentsAirlines, charter companies
Job FocusOverseeing flight operations, safety compliancePlanning flights, route and weather analysis
Industry UsageCommonly used in airline operationsCommonly used in airline and charter services

While both roles require FAA certification and involve aviation safety, the Flight Operation Specialist primarily oversees overall flight operations and safety compliance, whereas the Flight Dispatcher focuses on flight planning, route selection, and weather analysis to ensure safe and efficient flights.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a flight operation specialist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Flight Operation Specialist, you need a solid understanding of flight planning, aviation regulations, and weather analysis, typically supported by a relevant aviation degree or certification. Familiarity with flight planning software, air traffic control systems, and navigation tools is essential. Strong attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication skills are crucial for coordinating with pilots and ground crews. These competencies ensure safe, efficient, and compliant flight operations in a dynamic and high-stakes environment.

What is a flight operation specialist?

Flight Operation Specialists are aviation professionals responsible for coordinating and managing various aspects of flight operations. Their duties often include flight planning, monitoring weather conditions, communicating with pilots and air traffic control, and ensuring compliance with aviation regulations. They play a critical role in ensuring flights operate safely and efficiently, often working closely with airline dispatchers, ground crew, and other aviation staff. This position requires strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and knowledge of aviation procedures.
More about Flight Operation Specialist jobs
What job categories do people searching Flight Operation Specialist jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Flight Operation Specialist jobs are:
Flight Operation Specialist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Flight Operation Specialist job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 82% Full Time, 13% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 2% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $62,063 per year, or $29.8 per hour.

UAS Flight Operations Specialist

Heven AeroTech

Winchester, VA

$50K - $59K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 22 days ago

Job description

Title: UAS Flight Operations Specialist
Company: Heven AeroTech
Location: Winchester, Virginia 
FLSA: Non-Exempt
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 leader in hydrogen-powered drone technology, we've created an environment where innovation thrives, collaboration is second nature, and employees are empowered to make a real impact.

Our culture is grounded in trust, accountability, and a shared commitment to excellence. We value team members who are humble, hungry, and smart-those who prioritize team success, take initiative to improve continuously, and bring strong interpersonal awareness to everything they do. At Heven, your ideas matter, your voice is heard, and your growth is supported through hands-on experience and close collaboration.

Role Summary:
The UAS Flight Operations Specialist will apply their hard-earned field experience to build, demonstrate, and test hydrogen powered Hybrid VTOL and Multirotor Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). They will support and/ or perform flight tests, technical demonstrations, and customer training plans as necessary. This position requires automobile travel up to ~2 hours each way to flight test ranges. Some ground tests can be performed locally.

The UAS Flight Operations Specialist will also be responsible for the overall state of health and readiness of the entire flight test system, including the Ground Control Systems, Ground Support Equipment and Air Vehicles. This requires a working understanding of all UAS major components. The UAS Flight Operations Specialist will own the maintenance of logbooks and other system configuration records for the systems in their custody.

The UAS Flight Operations Specialist is expected to bring a pragmatic, real-world perspective to the team and will be relied upon as a member of the customer facing team throughout the development of the system. As a key member of a small team, and to develop in-depth knowledge of Heven Aerotech's portfolio of UAS, the UAS Flight Operations Specialist will also be involved in the assembly of Air Vehicles, Ground Control Systems and Ground Support Equipment. In this capacity, the UAS Flight Operations Specialist will be expected to provide "user perspective" feedback and improvement suggestions as a member of the design team. This may also include the creation and fine-tuning of training instruction documentation in cooperation with other groups. The UAS Flight Operations Specialist will also be a key contributor to subsystem bench testing, iron bird proof testing, diagnostic and debugging activities, and root cause analysis efforts led by engineering.

As a UAS systems expert, the UAS Flight Operations Specialist will play a key role in the development of the entire system - this will require the UAS Flight Operations Specialist to become intimately familiar will all areas of the systems to include operations and maintenance, and associated software/user interfaces. Previous engineering, UAS Operator/Maintenance Instructor, military instructor certifications/qualifications, and Field Service Representative experience and/or relevant education preferred. Candidates with a background in manual flight control are strongly preferred. This refers to genuine hands-on stick control experience - not GPS-assisted or autopilot-stabilized flight modes. Applicants who have served in an Emergency Pilot (EP) role or who have logged significant hours flying fixed-wing RC aircraft are encouraged to highlight this experience in their application. CONUS and occasional OCONUS travel may be required for test flights, training, and field support.

Essential Responsibilities:

  • Perform flight tests of Group 2+ UAS
  • Create and maintain test plans, reports, and summaries in support of a training development and demonstration schedule
  • Collaborate with other internal stakeholders and leads to ensure health and readiness of the UAS
  • Support the development of sustainment-ready military UAS by providing product feedback to the engineering team to inform design objectives and improvements
  • Develop and implement customer use cases of the Air Vehicle

Qualifications & Experience:

Required:

  • Minimum of 4+ years military UAS operations experience
  • Minimum of 4+ years UAS development experience Skills and Competencies:
  • Experience integrating payloads and radios (e.g., Trillium, Persistent Systems, Silvus)
  • Strong troubleshooting and communication skills
  • Ability to present technical data to diverse audiences
  • Proven ability to maintain and optimize complex systems, including preventative maintenance
  • Commitment to maintaining and improving safety for personnel and equipment
  • Collaborative, professional, and effective in conflict resolution

Preferred:

  • Experience with military, fixed wing VTOL or multirotor, and Group 2+ categories in theater are highly desired
  • Experience with SOCOM's "Mod Payload" design standard
  • Experience with STANAG 4586 GCS with software such as Vigilant Spirit
  • Experience with multiple GCS software including QGroundControl, Embention, Micropilot, Mission Planner
  • Experience with manual flight control
  • Ability to develop training curriculum content
  • DOD Secret clearance (or ability to obtain

Physical Requirements:

  • Ability to lift and carry equipment up to 50 lbs regularly
  • Ability to stand, walk, and work outdoors for extended periods in varying weather conditions (heat, cold, wind, dust)
  • Ability to travel by vehicle for up to ~2 hours each way to test locations
  • Ability to set up, operate, and break down flight test equipment in field environments
  • Manual dexterity to assemble, maintain, and troubleshoot mechanical and electronic systems
  • Ability to work in physically dynamic environments, including uneven terrain and remote locations
  • Visual acuity sufficient to safely operate UAS and monitor flight operations
  • Ability to comply with all safety and personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements

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.

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