Drone Pilot - Clearance Required

LMI is seeking a Drone Pilot / Autonomy Test Operator to support a Department of War mission partner on site at Fort Bragg, NC. The role involves executing advanced FPV and Group 1-2 UAS flight operations, supporting autonomy testing, and providing real-world feedback to engineers and developers. The candidate will operate across manual, assisted, and autonomous control modes, plan and execute flight test events, and contribute to rapid capability development. This position directly contributes to accelerating the fielding of autonomous and semi-autonomous unmanned systems across the Department of War.

Responsibilities

• Conduct advanced FPV and Group 1–2 UAS flight operations in dynamic and contested environments
• Execute test scenarios, mission profiles, and evaluation events in support of autonomy development
• Operate across manual, assisted, and autonomous control modes
• Maintain safe multi-vehicle operations in complex airspace and RF environments
• Plan and execute flight test events (pre-flight, execution, post-flight analysis)
• Capture operational data and contribute to formal test reporting
• Support rapid prototyping and iterative development cycles
• Configure, troubleshoot, and repair FPV and UAS systems
• Integrate payloads, communications systems, and mission-specific components
• Optimize system performance for operational use
• Work directly with engineers, developers, and government stakeholders
• Translate operator feedback into actionable technical insights
• Support capability development and system refinement efforts

Requirements

• Active Secret Clearance required
• 5+ years of operational UAS/FPV experience in military, government, or defense industry environments
• Advanced FPV flight proficiency (Acro Mode, precision maneuvering)
• Experience conducting operations in dynamic or contested environments
• Strong understanding of aeronautical decision-making (ADM) and UAS risk management
• Experience with UAS system integration, testing, or evaluation
• Ability to operate in high-tempo, ambiguous environments
• Ability to operate outdoors in austere environments for extended periods
• Ability to lift and carry equipment up to 50lbs
• Willingness to travel (0-25%)

Nice to have

• SOF or tactical military experience with UAS integration
• Instructor or evaluator experience in UAS operations
• Experience with FPV system builds, soldering, and fabrication
• Familiarity with Betaflight, PX4, ArduPilot, and RF systems (Crossfire, ELRS)
• Experience operating in GPS-denied or EW-contested environments
• Knowledge of DoD Test & Evaluation processes
• TS/SCI clearance