Full-Time

Air Vehicle Operator 2

Aevex Aerospace

Aevex Aerospace

501-1,000 employees

Delivers multi-domain autonomous ISR solutions

No salary listed

No H1B Sponsorship

Fort Bragg, NC, USA

In Person

Must relocate to CONUS duty location.

US Citizenship Required

Category
Aerospace Engineering (1)

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Requirements
  • Proficient computer skills: Office Suite, specifically spreadsheets, collaboration/communication applications, and manipulation of Adobe forms a must
  • Must be a US citizen with a valid US passport.
  • Ability to meet combatant command theatre entry requirements (e.g., CENTCOM)
  • Ability to meet all Department of Defense Contractor deployment requirements and pass Combat Readiness Course
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • Ability to pre-employment background check
  • Ability to professionally interface with numerous levels of management, customers, and peers
  • Ability to work extended hours and/or shift work
  • Ability to work in a team environment while accomplishing mission requirements
  • Must have a High School Diploma/GED or equivalent
  • Must have FAA Private Pilot’s License (PPL)
  • Instrument rating
  • Must possess a current FAA Class II Medical Certificate
  • At least 100+ flight hours on UAS platforms acting as PIC
  • Minimum 2-4 years of relative experience and knowledge of basic UAS flight systems and operations
  • Manned Aviation Experience - 500-1000 hours preferred
  • UAS Flight Hours (Group 3+ preferred) - 200-500 UAS PIC
  • Experience controlling aircraft Beyond Line of Sight and associated data links
  • Experience with Piccolo PCC or other Auto Pilot systems
  • Work Experience in the aviation field in OCONUS (deployed) / CONUS locations
Responsibilities
  • Acts as Pilot in Command (PIC) of Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS)
  • Provide Mission Coordinator/Commander support to the team when not acting as PIC
  • Primarily support higher-tier, longer-endurance systems, driven by national or theater-level customers
  • Demonstrates the ability to perform mission planning and coordination activities under varying airspace conditions
  • Demonstrate sound, timely decision-making based on aircraft performance, mission requirements, and operational safety
  • Maintain a broad and up-to-date situational awareness of current mission operations; quickly gain understanding of current mission target environments and associated dynamics; and be familiar with operational methods and infrastructure
  • Understands government defense industry policies and procedures related to operating aircraft and supporting customer requirements
  • Meets/exceeds minimum performance standards as outlined in the master training syllabi
  • Relocate to CONUS duty location
  • Performs other related duties as directed

AEVEX Aerospace provides multi-domain autonomous systems, airborne ISR, and flight operations support for U.S. government agencies, allies, and commercial clients. Its offerings include unmanned aerial systems (UAS), unmanned surface vessels (USVs), and precision strike platforms such as Sicario, Atlas, and Dagger, plus aircraft integration, intelligence analysis, and additive manufacturing to speed fielding. The company grows through acquisitions to expand ISR software, navigation/control capabilities, and underwater operations, with a focus on contested and GPS-denied environments. Its goal is to deliver end-to-end autonomous and intelligence systems for defense and civilian use, expanding government contracting and international security presence while increasing revenue and capabilities through strategic deals.

Company Size

501-1,000

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

Solana Beach, California

Founded

2006

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Q2 2026 revenue reached $201.8 million, up 99.5%, with $6.7 million profit.
  • Full-year 2026 guidance rose to $700 million-$720 million, excluding BlackSea.
  • Oregon received AEVEX's $12.3 million wildfire aircraft before the 2026 fire season.

What critics are saying

  • BlackSea integration threatens management attention before the September 2026 closing.
  • June 2026 IPO and stock-heavy BlackSea consideration dilute employees and shareholders.
  • AEVEX depends on U.S. government funding; Deep Strike and follow-on contracts drive results.

What makes Aevex Aerospace unique

  • AEVEX spans air, surface, and subsea autonomy after BlackSea on August 12, 2026.
  • Its Deep Strike program drove $72.2 million of Q2 2026 revenue.
  • It combines mission software, aircraft modification, and additive manufacturing for rapid fielding.

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Benefits

401(k) Retirement Plan

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Employee Assistance Plan

Professional Development Budget

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

16%

1 year growth

16%

2 year growth

15%
Associated Press
Aug 12th, 2026
AEVEX acquires BlackSea Technologies for up to $650M to expand multi-domain autonomous systems

AEVEX Corp. has signed a definitive agreement to acquire BlackSea Technologies, a major provider of unmanned surface and subsea vessels in the US defence market. The deal is valued at up to $650 million on a cash-free, debt-free basis, comprising approximately $250 million in cash, $350 million in AEVEX Class A common stock, and $50 million in performance-based earnout consideration. The acquisition is expected to close in September 2026, subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions. BlackSea is expected to generate $150 million in revenue for fiscal year 2026. The combined entity will create one of the industry's most comprehensive autonomous systems portfolios, spanning air, surface and subsea domains. AEVEX intends to integrate its CompassX autonomy ecosystem with BlackSea's maritime platforms, whilst combining manufacturing capabilities across multiple US facilities.

Associated Press
Aug 10th, 2026
AEVEX appoints Chelsey Thomas as VP of government affairs

AEVEX Corp. has appointed Chelsey Thomas as Vice President of Government Affairs. Thomas will lead the company's government engagement strategy at federal and local levels, strengthen Capitol Hill relationships, and help shape policy outcomes. Thomas brings over 25 years of experience in national security and federal policy. She most recently served as Vice President of Government Relations at Booz Allen Hamilton, where she led advocacy across the Legislative and Executive Branches. Previously, she spent more than a decade as a Professional Staff Member on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, serving as principal adviser to the Committee Chairman on CIA and covert-action oversight. Thomas holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Virginia Tech.

Yahoo Finance
Jul 10th, 2026
AEVEX wins $17.5M US defence contract, appoints Murali Krishnan as chief growth officer

AEVEX Corp announced a $17.5 million follow-on contract on July 6 to provide mission-focused, data-driven services supporting US national security objectives. The award reinforces the company's role in delivering specialised expertise and integrating multi-domain solutions to transform complex data into actionable insights. On June 30, AEVEX appointed Murali Krishnan as chief growth officer. Krishnan brings over two decades of executive experience in defence technology and national security. He will lead the company's global business development, strategic partnerships, and long-term market expansion initiatives. AEVEX Corp specialises in autonomous systems, AI-driven software, and advanced electronic warfare for national security through rapid prototyping and high-volume manufacturing.

Yahoo Finance
Jul 4th, 2026
AVEX scores $50M US Air Force contract, shares surge 16% on defence win

Aevex Corp. announced a $50 million contract from the US Air Force to expand unmanned mission-support capabilities. The award includes $27 million in initial funding and will support production of Aevex's long-range precision strike platform designed for GPS-denied environments. The defence technology company shares jumped nearly 16.44% on the announcement. Aevex reported first-quarter revenue of $216.7 million, up 307% year-over-year, with net profit of $21 million compared to a year-ago loss of $27.3 million. The company guided for full-year 2026 revenue of $600 million to $620 million. Analysts give Aevex a "Strong Buy" rating with an average price target of $35.75, implying 72.8% upside from current levels.

Business Wire
Jun 30th, 2026
AEVEX appoints Murali Krishnan as chief growth officer to drive expansion

AEVEX Corp. has appointed Murali Krishnan as Chief Growth Officer to lead the company's growth strategy, business development and market expansion initiatives. Krishnan brings over 20 years of executive leadership experience in defence technology, space systems and national security solutions. Krishnan joins from Northrop Grumman Space Systems, where he served as Sector Vice President and General Manager for the Payload and Ground Systems Division. He previously held senior leadership roles at L3Harris Technologies, Raytheon and Bain & Company. He also served 11 years as an F-15C pilot in the US Air Force. In his new role, Krishnan will work with AEVEX's executive team to accelerate growth across unmanned systems and advanced mission solutions.