Flight Director

About the role

QinetiQ US is seeking an experienced Flight Director to lead aerostat flight operations for the DHS Customs & Border Protection Tethered Aerostat Radar System (TARS) program. You will be the single point of contact during your shift, overseeing all phases of aerostat missions across multiple sites along the U.S. Southern border.

Key responsibilities

• Control aerostat mission support activities during assigned shifts, including pre‑launch, launch, ascent, transition, station‑keeping, and recovery.
• Monitor local weather conditions and trends, assessing their impact on mission safety and performance.
• Communicate with the TARS Control Center, meteorological forecast facilities, and relevant government agencies.
• Maintain accurate mission flight logs, weight logs, and weight‑and‑balance records.
• Coordinate with a senior flight director at the central operations center and a 4‑5 person shift crew.

Required profile

• Proven experience managing aerostat or similar large‑scale flight operations.
• Ability to make real‑time decisions under pressure and ensure mission safety.
• Strong situational awareness of weather influences on flight operations.
• Excellent communication skills for interfacing with control centers and government partners.

Required skills

• Aerostat flight operations
• Weather monitoring and analysis
• Mission flight logging
• Weight and balance calculations

What we offer

• Work in a world‑class, innovative defense and aerospace environment.
• Flexible workplace policies supporting health, well‑being, and work‑life balance.
• Opportunities to contribute to critical national security missions.