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Sr Principal Pilot Unmanned Air Vehicle

Patuxent River, Maryland, United States
Full Time On-site

Summary

Job Description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE TYPE: Top Secret

TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time

Description

At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.

Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems (NGAS) has an exciting career opportunity for a Sr. Principal Pilot Unmanned Air Vehicle to join our team of qualified, diverse individuals in support of MQ-4C Triton program test and evaluation (T&E) activities as an Air Vehicle Operator (AVO). This is a work onsite position, located at Naval Air Station (NAS) Patuxent River, MD with up to 50% travel to support Production operations in Palmdale, CA.

The Triton – MQ-4C ITT (Integrated Test Team) is seeking a candidate to fill the role of AVO for the Triton unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) during developmental test and operational flights. The selected candidate should thrive in a fast-paced work environment with high expectations, significantly diverse assignments, collaborative/team settings across all levels. The selected candidate should have excellent interpersonal and organizational skills as well as oral and written communication skills. The selected candidate must be willing to work in a flexible work schedule that may include first or second shift, extended shifts, weekends and holidays.

Essential Functions:

  • Remotely pilots Triton UAV to determine compliance with specification and operational suitability during engineering tests and flight test/demonstration support through specifically prescribed tests and maneuvers
  • Defines, plans, organizes and executes complex flight profiles and flight test events in support of program milestones
  • Conducts briefings and debriefings, and coordinates with maintenance personnel to analyze and correct vehicle discrepancies
  • Act as NATOPS Instructor or Examiner as required
  • Must successfully complete company UAV operator training and qualification program and receive GFR certification

Basic Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s Degree with 9 Years experience or; Master’s Degree with 7 years experience

  • Current FAA Commercial Pilot Certificate with Instrument Rating and a minimum of 1,000 flight hours as pilot-in-command of a manned aircraft

  • Must have at least 700 hours PC/PIC time (not in SUAS) or 150 hours in MQ-4 or RQ-4.

  • Current Class II or higher FAA medical certificate

  • Must have an Active DOD Top Secret clearance with an investigation in the last 6 years with the ability to obtain and retain a DOD Top Secret and SCI clearance

Preferred Qualifications:

  • BS degree in Aviation or Aerospace

  • Test Pilot School graduate

  • P-3 or P-8 Military Flight Experience

  • Qualified Global Hawk or Triton UAS Pilot

  • 200 hours of PC/PIC time during engineering flight test, and 10 hours during experimental flight test.

Primary Level Salary Range: $151,100.00 - $226,700.00

The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions.

Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.

The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.

Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.

About Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman is one of the largest aerospace and defense companies in the United States, building advanced systems across space, air, land, sea, and cyber domains. The company is known for some of the most complex defense programs in the world, including stealth aircraft, autonomous systems, missile defense technologies, satellites, and space-based intelligence platforms that support U.S. national security operations.

For job seekers, Northrop Grumman offers careers across a wide range of high-impact fields including aerospace engineering, software development, cybersecurity, systems engineering, manufacturing, program management, and intelligence support. The company is especially attractive to veterans, cleared professionals, and engineers who want to work on mission-critical systems that directly support the Department of Defense and intelligence community. Many roles involve long-term programs with significant technical depth and real-world operational impact.

Unlike smaller defense startups focused on narrow capabilities, Northrop Grumman operates across multiple major mission areas, giving employees exposure to highly advanced programs such as stealth platforms, space systems, autonomous vehicles, and next-generation command-and-control systems. The company is also a major leader in classified space and intelligence systems, where cutting-edge engineering and secure infrastructure play a critical role in national defense.

As global competition in space, cyber, and advanced military systems continues to intensify, Northrop Grumman remains one of the most strategically important employers in the defense industry. For professionals seeking stable, highly technical careers with long-term impact on national security, Northrop Grumman continues to stand out as a leading destination in aerospace and defense.

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