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Location: Crawley, United Kingdom

Thales people provide armed forces customers with operational advantage at every decisive moment throughout the mission. Defence and armed forces customers rely on us to deliver the full range of defence mission systems solutions at land, sea, and air. Our platforms extend across the battlespace including Above and Sonar, Electronic Combat, and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance systems.

Together we offer fantastic opportunities for committed employees to learn and develop their career with us. At Thales UK, we research, develop, and supply technology and services that impact the lives of millions of people each day to make life better, and keep us safer. We innovate across five major industries; Aerospace, Defence, Ground Transportation, Security and Space. Your health and well-being matters to us and that’s why we offer you the flexibility to do what’s important to you; whether that’s part time hours, job sharing, home working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times. Where possible, we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions.

Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Pilot and Post Holder (Open)

West Wales Airport, Cardigan, Mid Wales

Relocation Support Available

Summary

The Thales Flight Operations Organisation delivers Test and Evaluation (T&E) and Training flight operations of large complex Unmanned Air Systems (UAS) for UK MoD and other customers.

Thales is continuing to expand its UAS capability, providing an exciting opportunity for another UAS Pilot to join the team.

The new pilot will perform a central role within the organisation, conducting and supervising UAS flights. To (following a transitional period) take on a Contractor Flying Approved Organisation Scheme (CFAOS) Post Holder role, responsible for managing aspects of the flight operation to ensure the safe and regulatory compliant delivery of the programme.

Key Responsibilities:

As an active member of the Flight Operations Organisation, the UAS Pilot should be able to undertake the following tasks:

Qualify as a Flight Coordinator, Flight Authoriser, UAV Commander (Aircraft Captain), T&E pilot, Aircrew Instructor (AI) and UAS Pilot/Payload Operator on Type

Conduct Thales and MoD flight trials and training flights as a UAV Commander, UAS Pilot and UAS Payload Operator

Lead flight planning, briefing and debriefing to deliver flight trials and training objectives.

Conduct liaison with ATC, airfield representatives, Air Weapons Ranges, support facilities and external agencies

Conduct duties required to actively support the Air Safety Management System

Provide interpretation and implementation of aviation policy and regulations.

Monitor flight operations compliance and conformance to regulatory requirements and internal flying orders.

Manage flight operations qualifications, currencies and competencies.

Maintain effective flight operations orders, processes and procedures.

Manage and maintain flight-planning facilities.

Foster an engaged Air Safety Culture.

Undertake all work activities in line with Thales processes to consistently deliver business commitments

Focus on the quality of what we deliver to the customer, be proactive and look at continually improving the way we work

KPIs

Approved as a UAS Pilot and Payload Operator

Approved as a UAV Commander and Flight Authoriser

Approved as, or ability to become, an AI and T&E UAS pilot

Demonstrated (under supervision) ability to undertake CFAOS Post Holder role

Skills

Essential

Previous or existing qualification as a UK Military Pilot, Weapon Systems Officer, Navigator, Observer, RPAS pilot/operator, or;

Existing UK Civilian Aviation Authority recognised powered fixed wing, rotary wing, or medium/large RPAS pilot licence

Previous or existing Flight Authoriser/Supervisor

Previous or existing CFS endorsed AI

Desirable

T&E qualification

Flight Safety qualification

Human Factors qualification

Experience:

Essential

>750 flight hours on manned aircraft, or;

>500 hours UAS flight on medium/large UAS

Flying supervision experience as a Flight Authoriser

Flight instruction experience as an AI

Desirable

Experience conducting T&E flight operations

Human Factors instruction/facilitation

Safety Management experience

Applicants must be currently cleared or eligible for UK SC Level Security Clearance

In line with Thales' Baseline Security requirements, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in the UK and employment and/or education history for up to three years. Some vacancies may require full Security Clearance which can require further evidence to be provided. For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) Agency.

At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working.

Thales UK is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment process. We will provide reasonable adjustments and support to ensure neuro-diverse applicants or those with a disability or long-term condition can be their best during the recruitment process. To request an adjustment, if you need this job advert in an alternative format or if you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Resourcing Ops for mid to senior roles, or the Early Careers Team for graduate and apprentice roles.

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