Flight Operations Specialist

Chaos1 is an Australian defence company with a mission to forge a faster path to warfighter capability. Purpose-driven and mission-first, Chaos1 deploys the people, processes and technologies needed to tackle defence's toughest problems. In a world where time is short and the threats are real, Chaos1 is the catalyst that operates forward to rapidly field warfighter capability in months.

ABOUT THE TEAM

The Flight Operations team at Chaos1 flies the uncrewed aircraft behind our counter-uncrewed and autonomous capability work: the threat systems that play the adversary and the platforms under test, on Defence ranges and at allied activities. It operates under Chaos1's Remotely Piloted Aircraft Operator's Certificate (ReOC) and Chief Remote Pilot, and under Defence aviation safety regulation on Defence ranges. The team flies aircraft, payloads and profiles that have not been flown before, and keeps it safe.

ABOUT THE JOB

Chaos1 is seeking mission-first Flight Operations Specialists to join the Flight Operations team within our Mission Operations business line. You will fly uncrewed aircraft as remote pilot on Defence ranges and at allied activities, prepare and maintain the aircraft you fly, and work inside a crew with engineers and analysts. You can expect to fly threat systems, platforms under test and new payloads, often for the first time, in operationally relevant environments.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Fly as remote pilot on test, evaluation and experimentation serials, including as remote pilot in command once your experience and ratings allow
• Prepare aircraft, ground control stations and datalinks for each serial, and complete pre-flight and post-flight inspections and records
• Plan flights against the serial's measures with the test and evaluation team, and brief and debrief each sortie
• Maintain currency, logbooks and configuration records to Chaos1's standards
• Keep aircraft serviceable in the field. You will diagnose faults, carry out repairs within your maintenance authorisation and record them in the aircraft's log
• Operate under the flight authorisation, the risk assessment and the direction of the Chief Remote Pilot
• Report occurrences and near misses, and feed the lessons into the procedures
• Contribute to the red fleet's build, configuration and readiness

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• CASA Remote Pilot Licence (RePL) in the multirotor class category and over 2 years flying uncrewed aircraft professionally. An ADF uncrewed aircraft qualification is accepted, with the RePL to be obtained before you fly under Chaos1's ReOC.
• Demonstrated flying in trials, operational or complex settings, with a logbook showing over 100 hours as remote pilot across more than one aircraft type
• Hands-on with aircraft assembly, repair and pre-flight and post-flight inspection
• Working knowledge of ground control stations, mission planning software and datalinks
• Clear communication on the radio, in the brief and in the log
• Able to work outdoors in field conditions for extended periods
• Willingness to deploy to Defence sites and ranges for extended periods, including irregular hours in campaign windows
• Australian citizenship and ability to obtain a NV1 security clearance
• Ability to be onsite at Chaos1's XFACTORY, Sydney. This is an onsite and field role.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Aeroplane (fixed-wing) or powered-lift (VTOL) category ratings, and the medium RPA weight class (25 to 150 kg)
• Aeronautical Radio Operator Certificate (AROC)
• First-person-view or high-performance flying experience
• Experience with PX4 or ArduPilot flight controllers and mission planning tools
• Experience operating in Defence airspace or on Defence ranges
• Familiarity with RF and tactical datalinks
• Military, aviation or trade background in electronics, avionics or mechatronics
• Experience building or repairing small uncrewed aircraft
• Time on UAS, counter-UAS or autonomy trials
• A current NV1 security clearance or above

SALARY

A salary benchmarked against the Australian defence market, plus above-mandated superannuation and annual salary reviews. Where you sit depends on your experience and the breadth of your skills across the areas listed.

BENEFITS

• Superannuation above the mandated rate.
• 25 days of annual leave every year, a full week more than the standard four weeks.
• Clearance sponsorship. We sponsor your clearance and pay the vetting costs.
• Mobilised from the start. Your equipment, access and role brief are ready before you arrive, and you’ll be part of live work within your first fortnight.

PROTECTING YOURSELF FROM RECRUITMENT SCAMS

• Chaos1 never asks candidates for money, bank details or identity documents before an offer, and never asks you to buy equipment or pay for training
• We contact candidates only from @chaos1.au addresses and through our applicant tracking system; check anything else with careers@chaos1.au before you act on it
• Report an approach made fraudulently in Chaos1's name to careers@chaos1.au and to Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au

DATA PRIVACY

Chaos1 handles your application under Australian privacy law and our applicant privacy notice. Offers are conditional on pre-employment screening, which may be run by a third-party provider and covers identity, right to work, qualifications and licences, references and a national police check. Clearance sponsorship runs through the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency and requires Australian citizenship. The role involves access to technology controlled under Australian export-control law and, on some programs, US ITAR and EAR, with access limited to authorised persons.