Chief Pilot

The Defense Sector at Leidos, supporting the Maritime Readiness Division, is seeking a Chief Pilot to support a dynamic high growth organization. The Chief Pilot will work from Aiea, HI and support logistics for DoW across the PACOM AOR.

The Chief Pilot serves as the Logistics Platform Manager’s principal subject matter expert (SME) for aviation in support of ILS-2 Pacific logistics operations. As the senior aviation operations and flight standards leader for the ILS-2 program the Chief Pilot is responsible for the safe, effective, standardized, and compliant execution of program flight operations. The Chief Pilot provides technical and operational leadership to subcontracted airlift services providers and assigned pilots and aircrew.  Serves as the program’s principal SME for flight operations (crewed and uncrewed air vehicles), pilot qualification, certifications, including NVG, aviation safety, training, standardization, and operational risk management.

The Chief Pilot establishes and maintains flight operations policies, procedures, and standards; ensures pilots remain properly trained, qualified, current, and mission-ready; and coordinates closely with program leadership, aviation maintenance, safety, quality, training, scheduling, and customer organizations to ensure flight operations meet contractual, regulatory, and mission requirements.

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead and supervise program pilots and provide overall technical direction for flight operations, flight standards, aircrew qualification, and aviation training.
• Establish, maintain, and enforce standardized operating procedures (SOPs), flight operations manuals, checklists, crew procedures, and other aviation operating standards.
• Ensure flight operations are conducted in accordance with applicable Federal Aviation Regulations, company policies, contractual requirements, aircraft limitations, military or government standards, and approved operating procedures.
• Provide oversight of the program’s aviation Safety Management System (SMS) activities and support implementation of safety policy, Safety Risk Management (SRM), safety assurance, and safety promotion processes consistent with applicable FAA and DoD US Military Commercial Airlift Review Board (CARB) requirements and industry best practices.
• Lead operational risk management for flight activities, including identification of hazards, assessment of aviation risk, development of risk controls, and evaluation of the effectiveness of implemented mitigations.
• Promote a strong aviation safety culture that encourages hazard identification, timely reporting, disciplined adherence to procedures, and continuous improvement.
• Establish and maintain pilot qualification, training, checking, currency, and proficiency standards.
• Develop and oversee initial, transition, recurrent, differences, mission-specific, emergency procedures, Crew Resource Management (CRM), and other required flightcrew training.
• Coordinate simulator, aircraft, ground school, check ride, and other training requirements and ensure appropriate documentation of pilot qualifications and currency.
• Conduct or oversee pilot standardization evaluations, line checks, proficiency evaluations, and other flightcrew assessments as authorized and qualified.
• Ensure flightcrew assignments, scheduling, duty periods, qualifications, currency, and availability support safe and effective mission execution.
• Provide senior-level review of flight planning, weather considerations, aircraft performance, crew qualifications, airspace restrictions, airport suitability, mission requirements, and other factors affecting flight execution.
• Exercise or support operational control functions as required by the program’s approved operating structure and clearly define flightcrew authority, responsibilities, and decision-making requirements.
• Maintain authority to recommend delaying, modifying, or terminating flight operations when conditions create unacceptable aviation risk.
• Coordinate closely with maintenance leadership regarding aircraft status, discrepancies, Minimum Equipment List or equivalent requirements where applicable, airworthiness concerns, deferred maintenance, and aircraft availability.
• Participate in aviation incident, accident, hazard, and near-miss investigations and ensure appropriate corrective actions, lessons learned, and procedural improvements are implemented.
• Monitor aviation safety trends, pilot performance, operational data, discrepancies, reports, and other indicators to identify systemic risks and opportunities for improvement.
• Ensure flight operations documentation, pilot records, manuals, training records, and related aviation records are maintained in accordance with applicable regulatory, contractual, and company requirements.
• Serve as the primary flight operations interface with program management, customers, regulatory authorities, government aviation representatives, maintenance organizations, and other internal and external stakeholders.
• Provide aviation technical input to program planning, proposals, staffing plans, aircraft utilization, mission development, operational concepts, and program risk assessments.
• Evaluate new aircraft systems, mission equipment, procedures, technologies, or operational concepts and develop appropriate flightcrew procedures and training for their safe introduction into operations.
• Maintain knowledge of changes to applicable FAA and CARB regulations, military aviation requirements, government directives, industry standards, and aviation best practices and incorporate changes into program procedures as appropriate.
• Perform Duties as Pilot in Command while required and qualified

Basic Qualifications

Position requires the ability to perform in an arduous duty environment.

• Bachelor’s degree and 12–15 years of prior relevant aviation experience, or Master’s degree with 10–13 years of prior relevant experience. Additional directly relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a degree in accordance with company policy.
• FAA Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate with appropriate airplane category, multi-engine, instrument, and aircraft type ratings required for assigned operations.
• Must possess and maintain the FAA medical certification required to exercise the privileges associated with assigned flight duties; First-Class Medical Certificate required where applicable.
• Extensive experience as Pilot in Command in complex aircraft operations.
• Demonstrated experience leading pilots, aircrew, flight operations, training, standardization, or comparable aviation organizations.
• Demonstrated knowledge of FAA regulations, aircraft operating procedures, flightcrew qualification requirements, and aviation safety principles.
• Experience developing or administering aviation SOPs, flight operations manuals, training programs, flight standards, and/or aircrew qualification programs.
• Demonstrated experience applying formal aviation risk-management and Safety Management System principles.
• Ability to successfully complete company and customer flight proficiency evaluations and other qualification requirements.
• Must be a US Citizen with ability to obtain and maintain a secret clearance, base access, and FAA Medical Certification

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience serving as a Chief Pilot, Assistant Chief Pilot, Director of Operations, military aviation commander, standardization/evaluation pilot, instructor pilot, check airman, or comparable senior aviation leadership position.
• Experience supporting U.S. Government or Department of Defense aviation programs.
• Military aviation experience and familiarity with military flight operations, standardization, evaluation, and operational risk-management processes.
• Instructor Pilot, Check Airman, Flight Examiner, Standardization/Evaluation Pilot, or equivalent experience.
• Experience developing, implementing, or administering an FAA-aligned Safety Management System and CARB requirements.
• Experience with FAA Safety Management Systems requirements under 14 CFR Part 5 and associated FAA guidance.
• Experience with aviation safety investigations, mishap prevention, safety assurance, quality assurance, or corrective-action programs.
• Experience integrating new crewed and uncrewed aircraft, mission systems, sensors, or operating concepts into an established flight operation.
• Demonstrated experience interfacing directly with senior government customers and aviation regulatory or oversight organizations.

#ILS2

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Original Posting:

Pay Range:

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.