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Live In Mission Pilot Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

US Department of the Air Force

CA

$76K/yr

Applicant must possess a USAF Pilot rating, hold a valid aviation service aeronautical order and have a minimum of 750 total military flight time in the organization's mission design series. GS-2181 ...

U.S. Department of Defense (DOD)

CA · On-site

$76K/yr

Applicant must possess a USAF Pilot rating, hold a valid aviation service aeronautical order and have a minimum of 750 total military flight time in the organization's mission design series. GS-2181 ...

Joby Aviation

Flight Research Senior Remote Pilot

Concord, CA · On-site +1

$121K - $206K/yr

Contribute to test planning and participate in mission rehearsals. * Generate detailed post-flight ... Must hold a Part 61 pilot certificate (Private or better) Airplane SE or ME Land, and an instrument ...

PHI Health

VFR Pilot

Red Bluff, CA · On-site

$105K - $130K/yr

Our mission is simple: move communities to health while maintaining the highest standard of safety ... Must live within 1-hour commute from the base Our Core Competencies: * Safe. We are absolute in our ...

PHI Health

VFR Pilot

Red Bluff, CA · On-site

$105K - $130K/yr

Our mission is simple: move communities to health while maintaining the highest standard of safety ... Must live within 1-hour commute from the base Our Core Competencies: * Safe. We are absolute in our ...

PHI Health

VFR Pilot

Red Bluff, CA · On-site

$105K - $130K/yr

Our mission is simple: move communities to health while maintaining the highest standard of safety ... Must live within 1-hour commute from the base Our Core Competencies: * Safe. We are absolute in our ...

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Live In Mission Pilot information

What are the unique challenges faced by Live In Mission Pilots and how do they typically overcome them?

Live In Mission Pilots often work in remote or under-resourced locations, which can present challenges such as limited access to maintenance facilities, unpredictable weather, and cultural or language barriers. To overcome these obstacles, pilots are trained in basic aircraft troubleshooting, develop strong problem-solving skills, and build collaborative relationships with local teams and communities. Flexibility, adaptability, and a strong sense of purpose are essential for thriving in this role, as pilots must be prepared to handle emergencies and adapt to changing mission needs while maintaining safety and professionalism.

What is the difference between Live In Mission Pilot vs Flight Instructor?

AspectLive In Mission PilotFlight Instructor
Required CertificationsCommercial Pilot License, Multi-engine Rating, Mission-specific certificationsPrivate Pilot License, Certified Flight Instructor (CFI)
Work EnvironmentRemote, mission-based flights, often in rural or challenging areasFlight schools, training environments, airports
Employer & Industry UsageNon-profit, religious, or humanitarian organizationsFlight schools, aviation training companies

Live In Mission Pilots and Flight Instructors both require pilot certifications and operate in aviation environments. However, Live In Mission Pilots focus on mission-specific flights for organizations, often in remote areas, while Flight Instructors primarily train new pilots at flight schools. The roles differ mainly in purpose and work setting, but share foundational pilot credentials.

What is a Live In Mission Pilot?

A Live In Mission Pilot is a professional pilot who resides on-site at a mission base, often for humanitarian, medical, or missionary organizations. Their primary role involves flying aircraft to transport people, supplies, and aid to remote or underserved areas. This position typically requires a strong commitment to the mission's values, adaptability to challenging environments, and the ability to live and work in close-knit communities. Live In Mission Pilots often work in developing regions, providing critical support that helps save lives and improve local conditions.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Live In Mission Pilot, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Live In Mission Pilot, you generally need a commercial pilot’s license, strong aviation knowledge, and often experience with mission or humanitarian flying. Familiarity with GPS navigation, satellite communication systems, and specialized aircraft maintenance is typically required. Exceptional problem-solving, cultural sensitivity, and resilience are important soft skills for adapting to challenging environments and diverse communities. These skills and qualities are essential to ensure safe, effective mission delivery and strong relationships with those being served.
What cities in California are hiring for Live In Mission Pilot jobs? Cities in California with the most Live In Mission Pilot job openings:
Live In Mission Pilot jobs near you
Mission Operations Specialist (UAS Pilot)

Mission Operations Specialist (UAS Pilot)

Odys Aviation

Long Beach, CA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 13 days ago

Job description

About Odys
Our mission at Odys is simple - we build safe, sustainable aircraft to cut travel time in half on the world's busiest corridors. Our flagship aircraft Alta enables travelers to skip the big-airport hassle by using city helipads and local airports to connect cities less than 1,000 miles apart (approx 40% of flights). And on average cut CO2 by 76% on tens of billions of flight miles globally.
To get there, we start with our UAV called Laila for commercial logistics, medical transport, humanitarian aid, disaster relief, and defense missions. We're deploying aircraft with launch partners (Fiji Airways, Honeywell, Aramex, US Navy) beginning in 2026 and already have firm orders for aircraft under contract.
We're a team of expert engineers from deep tech and aerospace that focus on fast iterations loops (completed transition flight faster than our peers) combined with mastery of the aircraft certification process. Previously, our team developed custom drones, brought multiple automotive platforms into production, and electrified transportation vehicles that magnetically levitate, that roll, that fly. Together, we've been learning, developing, building, testing, and preparing for this challenge our entire lives.
We are seeking a highly skilled UAV Pilot to join our Flight Test & Operations team as a Mission Operations Specialist. In this role, you will serve as the primary Remote Pilot in Command (RPIC) for our developmental eVTOL Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) platforms, piloting complex, novel aircraft from the Ground Control Station (GCS) during live test events.
Beyond the stick, you will own the operational and regulatory groundwork that makes each flight possible - integrating the GCS, drafting Concepts of Operations (CONOPS), securing flight authorizations, and partnering with engineering to translate test objectives into safe, executable mission profiles. You will leverage your flight test background and deep knowledge of EASA JARUS SORA and FAA Part 107/108 regulations to safely advance our aircraft from early R&D testing through to commercial certification.
Key Responsibilities
  • Serve as the primary pilot at the Ground Control Station (GCS) during live experimental flight tests, safely executing mission profiles on complex, novel eVTOL UAV architectures.
  • Translate engineering objectives into safe, executable flight test plans and pilot them dynamically within a rapid prototyping and testing environment.
  • Lead the development of Concept of Operations (CONOPS) and operational risk assessments. Secure flight authorizations and waivers by applying the EASA JARUS SORA framework alongside FAA Part 107 and FAA Part 108 (BVLOS) regulations.
  • Take ownership of the integration, testing, and troubleshooting of Ground Control Stations (GCS). Ensure seamless command, control, and telemetry flow between the GCS and aircraft via C2 links and high-bandwidth datalinks.
  • Manage the integration, functional testing, and operational deployment of various R&D flight test payloads (e.g., telemetry equipment, optical sensors, ballast systems).
  • Apply established UAS flight test methodologies to optimize test efficiency, safety, and operational procedures for our autonomous eVTOL UAV platforms.
  • Collaborate closely with R&D engineering teams to analyze post-flight telemetry, evaluate handling qualities, validate C2 link robustness, and refine vehicle design based on real-world flight execution.
Required Qualifications
  • Active FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate with a proven logbook demonstrating significant flight hours as an RPIC on complex UAS or developmental eVTOL UAV platforms.
  • Demonstrated hands-on experience piloting complex, multi-rotor, or thrust-vectored vertical lift UAVs in an R&D, experimental, or operational test environment.
  • Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Aviation, or a related technical field.
  • Professional experience in experimental, R&D, or certification flight test programs - whether as a UAV operator/pilot, Flight Test Engineer, or both.
  • Practical experience executing the EASA JARUS SORA process, coupled with deep expertise in the FAA Part 107 and FAA Part 108 frameworks for complex or Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations.
  • Hands-on experience with Ground Control Station (GCS) integration, specifically focusing on:
    • Command and Control (C2) link architecture and performance validation.
    • Datalink integration (telemetry, video, and command streams).
    • Hardware and software payload integration.
Preferred Qualifications
  • Familiarity with additional FAA aircraft certification frameworks (e.g., Part 21, Part 23, Part 27).
  • Experience with flight test data analysis software (e.g., IADS, MATLAB, Python) to support rapid R&D iterations.
  • Human Factors Evaluation Experience - pilot interface design, workload assessment, GCS ergonomics, or HMI evaluation in flight test settings.

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