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Senior Flight Instructor Jobs in Mansfield, TX (NOW HIRING)

PSA Airlines

Pilot Cadet Program

Dallas, TX · On-site

... Senior Cadet * Section 3 - Cadet Instructor Check-in and Logbook review - Cadet Instructor Qualifications * Must have at least a private pilot certificate * Must be a current flight student OR CFI ...

U.S. Navy

Military Security Officer

Richland Hills, TX

$16.75 - $21.25/hr

... flight lines, harbor security boats, and in patrol vehicles, kennels, armories, and security ... Instructor, Crew-Served Weapons Instructor, Protective Service Specialist, and Criminal ...

U.S. Navy

Military Security Officer

Cockrell Hill, TX

$17.25 - $22/hr

... flight lines, harbor security boats, and in patrol vehicles, kennels, armories, and security ... Instructor, Crew-Served Weapons Instructor, Protective Service Specialist, and Criminal ...

U.S. Navy

Military Security Officer

Crowley, TX

$16.25 - $20.75/hr

... flight lines, harbor security boats, and in patrol vehicles, kennels, armories, and security ... Instructor, Crew-Served Weapons Instructor, Protective Service Specialist, and Criminal ...

U.S. Navy

Military Security Officer

Palmer, TX

$16.50 - $21/hr

... flight lines, harbor security boats, and in patrol vehicles, kennels, armories, and security ... Instructor, Crew-Served Weapons Instructor, Protective Service Specialist, and Criminal ...

U.S. Navy

Military Security Officer

Ovilla, TX

$17.25 - $22/hr

... flight lines, harbor security boats, and in patrol vehicles, kennels, armories, and security ... Instructor, Crew-Served Weapons Instructor, Protective Service Specialist, and Criminal ...

U.S. Navy

Military Security Officer

Fort Worth, TX

$15.25 - $19.50/hr

... flight lines, harbor security boats, and in patrol vehicles, kennels, armories, and security ... Instructor, Crew-Served Weapons Instructor, Protective Service Specialist, and Criminal ...

U.S. Navy

Military Security Officer

Watauga, TX

$16.75 - $21.25/hr

... flight lines, harbor security boats, and in patrol vehicles, kennels, armories, and security ... Instructor, Crew-Served Weapons Instructor, Protective Service Specialist, and Criminal ...

U.S. Navy

Military Security Officer

Desoto, TX

$17.25 - $21.75/hr

... flight lines, harbor security boats, and in patrol vehicles, kennels, armories, and security ... Instructor, Crew-Served Weapons Instructor, Protective Service Specialist, and Criminal ...

U.S. Navy

Military Security Officer

Keene, TX

$16.50 - $21/hr

... flight lines, harbor security boats, and in patrol vehicles, kennels, armories, and security ... Instructor, Crew-Served Weapons Instructor, Protective Service Specialist, and Criminal ...

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Senior Flight Instructor information

What is a senior flight instructor?

Senior Flight Instructors are highly experienced aviation professionals responsible for training and mentoring student pilots as well as less experienced flight instructors. They provide advanced flight instruction, ensure safety standards are met, evaluate student progress, and may develop training programs or conduct check rides. Senior Flight Instructors often have thousands of flight hours and hold advanced certifications, allowing them to instruct on complex aircraft and specialized flight operations. Their expertise plays a crucial role in maintaining high standards of pilot competency and aviation safety.

What are some common challenges senior flight instructors face when mentoring less experienced instructors or students?

Senior Flight Instructors often encounter challenges such as adapting their teaching style to suit diverse learning needs and maintaining high safety standards while managing multiple trainees. They are also responsible for providing clear, constructive feedback to less experienced instructors, which can require patience and strong communication skills. Additionally, balancing administrative duties with in-flight instruction and staying updated with the latest aviation regulations are key aspects of the role. Successful Senior Flight Instructors foster a supportive learning environment and model professionalism to help their colleagues and students grow.

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

To thrive as a Senior Flight Instructor, you need advanced piloting skills, deep knowledge of aviation regulations, and an instructor certification such as a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) rating, often with thousands of flight hours. Familiarity with flight simulators, aviation training software, and aircraft-specific systems is essential. Strong communication, leadership, and mentoring abilities help effectively train and evaluate student pilots. These skills and qualities ensure safe, high-quality instruction and support the development of competent, confident aviators.

What is the difference between Senior Flight Instructor vs Flight Instructor?

AspectSenior Flight InstructorFlight Instructor
CertificationsCommercial Pilot Certificate, Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), and additional endorsementsPrivate Pilot Certificate, Certified Flight Instructor (CFI)
Work EnvironmentAdvanced flight training, mentoring junior instructors, complex aircraftBasic flight training, student instruction, general flight lessons
ResponsibilitiesSupervising training, curriculum development, evaluating instructorsTeaching student pilots, conducting flight lessons, ensuring safety

The main difference between a Senior Flight Instructor and a Flight Instructor lies in experience, responsibilities, and certifications. Senior Flight Instructors typically have more advanced credentials, oversee training programs, and mentor less experienced instructors, whereas Flight Instructors focus on delivering flight training to students. Both roles are essential in flight training environments, but the senior position involves additional leadership and expertise.

Are senior flight instructors in high demand?

Senior flight instructors are generally in steady demand due to ongoing needs for pilot training and certification. Their experience and advanced certifications make them valuable in flight schools and aviation programs, especially as the industry seeks qualified instructors to meet pilot staffing requirements.

How much money can you make as a senior flight instructor?

Senior flight instructors typically earn between $50,000 and $80,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and the flight school. They often supplement income through flight hours, certifications, and additional responsibilities such as training or administrative roles.
Senior Flight Instructor jobs near you

Senior Director, Flight Operations (V-BAT) (R5797)

Shield AI

Dallas, TX

Full-time

Posted 2 days ago

New

Job description

Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield AI's technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube. 

Shield AI is seeking an experienced and visionary Senior Director of Flight Operations to lead the execution and employment of V-BAT globally. This role provides leadership for Flight Test, Deployed Operations, Mission Control, and Training, ensuring aircraft, personnel, and operational resources are employed safely, efficiently, and in alignment with enterprise priorities.

As the senior operational leader for aircraft employment, you will oversee the planning, execution, and governance of all flight activities supporting product testing, customer operations, training, demonstrations, and operational growth. You will balance competing demands across developmental testing, deployed operations, customer commitments, and strategic initiatives while maintaining the highest standards of safety, readiness, and operational excellence.

The Senior Director will establish operational strategy, standardize execution across globally distributed teams, and develop scalable operational capabilities that support Shield AI's continued growth. This role partners closely with Engineering, Aviation Sustainment, Program Management, Business Development, and executive leadership to ensure operational execution aligns with technology development, customer success, and enterprise objectives.

What You'll Do:

Enterprise Flight Operations Leadership 

  • Lead and scale the Flight Operations organization consisting of Directors, Senior Managers, Managers, Supervisors, and technical professionals across Flight Test, Deployed Operations, Mission Control, and Training.  

  • Establish enterprise governance, decision frameworks, and operating standards for all V-BAT operations across the Aircraft Division.  

  • Develop organizational strategies that enable safe, scalable, and efficient V-BAT flight operations worldwide. 

  • Foster a culture of operational excellence, disciplined execution, accountability, and continuous improvement.  

Flight Operations & Mission Execution 

  • Oversee the execution of developmental V-BAT flight testing, contractor-owned/contractor-operated missions, customer demonstrations, deployed operations, and internal and customer training events. 

  • Ensure operational activities are conducted safely, efficiently, and in accordance with regulatory, contractual, and company requirements.  

  • Establish operational readiness standards for aircraft, personnel, support equipment, and operational sites.  

  • Provide oversight of operational risk management, flight scheduling, and mission execution across all operational organizations.  

Mission Control & Fleet Employment 

  • Provide executive oversight of Mission Control, ensuring enterprise aircraft allocation, configuration posture, and mission prioritization support strategic business objectives.  

  • Balance competing operational demands across flight test, customer operations, training, demonstrations, and internal flight operations activities.  

  • Ensure V-BAT employment decisions appropriately consider customer commitments, revenue recognition, technology roadmap priorities, operational readiness, and long-term fleet health.  

  • Review and adjudicate high-impact operational conflicts requiring executive prioritization.  

Training & Operational Readiness 

  • Lead internal and customer training organizations responsible for developing qualified operators, maintainers, and instructors.  

  • Ensure training programs, curricula, simulators, and qualification standards evolve with product capabilities and operational requirements.  

  • Supervise operational qualification, currency, standardization, and evaluation programs across all Flight Operations personnel.  

  • Oversee Standardization & Evaluation leadership to ensure procedures, technical publications, and training products remain synchronized with operational execution.  

Strategic Leadership & Cross-Functional Integration 

  • Partner with Engineering to mature next-generation aircraft capabilities, operational concepts, and flight test strategies.  

  • Validate software and hardware updates for customer readiness. 

  • Collaborate with Aviation Sustainment to align fleet availability, maintenance capacity, logistics readiness, and customer support with operational demand.  

  • Support Business Development through customer demonstrations, operational evaluations, strategic capture efforts, and international engagements.  

  • Represent Flight Operations during executive planning, customer engagements, operational reviews, and strategic decision-making forums.  

Operational Performance & Continuous Improvement 

  • Establish operational performance metrics including mission success, fleet utilization, aircraft availability, training throughput, schedule adherence, and operational safety.  

  • Ensure operational lessons learned are captured, analyzed, and incorporated into procedures, training, engineering improvements, and organizational processes.  

  • Develop scalable operational capabilities that support future V-BAT programs, international expansion, and enterprise growth.  

  • Champion a culture of learning, innovation, and disciplined execution across all Flight Operations organizations.  

Required Qualifications:

  • Bachelor's degree in Aviation Management, Aerospace Engineering, Business, Operations Management, Military Science, or a related field.  

  • 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in military aviation, commercial aerospace, defense, or advanced aviation operations.  

  • Demonstrated experience leading large multidisciplinary aviation organizations consisting of multiple operational functions and senior leaders.  

  • Strong understanding of aircraft operations, operational risk management, mission planning, aviation safety, and operational governance.  

  • Demonstrated ability to balance competing enterprise priorities involving customer commitments, engineering schedules, operational readiness, and business objectives.  

  • Experience developing operational strategy, organizational governance, and scalable operational processes.  

  • Exceptional leadership, organizational development, communication, and executive decision-making skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA), Aviation Management, Engineering Management, or related discipline.  

  • Former military aviation leader (Operations Group Commander, Squadron Commander, or equivalent senior aviation leadership position).  

  • Proven success managing complex flight operations involving developmental testing, deployed operations, operational training, or globally distributed aviation organizations. 

  • Experience leading developmental flight test, operational test, or advanced autonomous aircraft programs.  

  • Familiarity with FAA, DoD, DCMA, and international aviation regulatory frameworks.  

  • Experience leading globally distributed aviation operations supporting government and international customers.  

  • FAA Commercial Pilot, ATP, Military Aviator, or equivalent aviation qualifications. 

  • Experience integrating enterprise fleet management, operational planning, and resource prioritization across multiple product lines.  

  • Experience supporting rapid organizational growth and scaling operational organizations in aerospace or defense industries. 

$195,000 - $295,000 a year
#LG
#LI-KK1

Full-time regular employee offer package:
Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity
 
Temporary employee offer package:
Pay within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment)
 
Salary compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, licenses and certifications, and specific work location. All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check. Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits. Please speak to your talent acquisition representative for more information.
 
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Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know. 
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
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