Jane Edwards
Northrop Grumman has begun its search for three pilots to operate the Northrop-built X-47B unmanned aerial vehicle.
Northrop said in a job notice the selected candidates will work to determine the UAV’s compliance with operational suitability and specification requirements during flight tests.
Northrop developed X-47B under the U.S. Navy‘s Unmanned Combat Air System Carrier Demonstration initiative.
The drone is designed for use in aerial refueling and launch and recovery missions.
According to the job post, the pilots will also craft event plans for flight tests and related programs, perform briefings and debriefings, carry out demonstration flights before government officials and other clients and address vehicle discrepancies through coordination with maintenance staff.
Selected candidates will be based at Patuxent River in Maryland and will need to secure a secret clearance and Government Flight Representative certification as well as complete the firm’s qualification and operator training program for UAVs.
Interested applicants need to have a bachelor’s degree in any science, technology, engineering and math field, a minimum aviation experience of nine years and a commercial pilot certificate with instrument rating from the Federal Aviation Administration, Northrop added.
