The UAS Operations Director (UOD) supports the UMD UAS Research and Operations Center (UROC) Director by leading and managing engineering efforts and flight operations for the Center’s Operations department. The UOD leads a team of engineers who design, upgrade, modify, prototype, and test UAS in support of research and educational purposes by faculty and other external researchers, and to support internally generated projects. The UOD employs extensive UAS flying experience in supervising UROC’s flight operations team and participating in field operations supporting research and engineering efforts by flying a wide variety of commercial and custom drones.

The UOD is responsible for managing the workloads of the team to ensure projects are accomplished professionally and safely, and that efforts performed are aligned to the priorities set by the UROC Director. The UOD assists the Director in business development and advises on all matters pertaining to professional development and training of the engineering and operator workforce.

The UOD is responsible for developing and maintaining Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs); Operations and Maintenance processes including manuals and checklists; overseeing logistics of project execution; ensuring best practices are observed for maintaining UROC drones; guiding development/update of proficiency standards for UROC pilots; and performing other tasks as required to facilitate the UROC mission.

 

Responsibilities include:

 

Provide leadership and management to the Operations Team. He/she will prioritize and direct research and other operations performed by the UROC, ensuring effective resource management to enable safe and successful completion of all projects undertaken. Responsibilities include:
 

- Ensure safety and efficiency through closely monitoring and carefully managing engineer and operator workloads.

- Guide the Lead UAS Pilot in building and constantly improving programs to ensure pilots receive initial and recurring training on all aircraft they fly; maintain appropriate levels of proficiency; and are focused on a safety-driven approach to operations appropriate to an aviation organization.

- Guide the Project Engineer in prioritizing and managing resources for the development, prototyping, and modification of UAS to accommodate specialized avionics and payloads to meet research and mission objectives.

- Oversee flight operations, demonstrations, and the execution of projects, presenting a professional face for the university when dealing with internal and external customers.

- Cooperate closely with project managers and the UROC Director to ensure projects are properly scoped and priorities established and maintained among various efforts. Advise the Director on operational capabilities, team bandwidth, and technical, schedule, and safety risks to projects.

- Guide the professional development of the engineering and operator workforce to include setting and monitoring goals; ensuring receipt of job-appropriate professional training; and mentoring. Foster team cohesion, morale, and efficiency by actively engaging with team members, leading by example, and working alongside them.

 

Oversee UROC's Flight Programs:

- Serve as a UAS Remote Pilot in Command (RPIC) or Visual Observer (VO) during field operations in support of UROC projects. Conduct flight briefings and debriefings.

- Perform research using engineering data, technical manuals, and subject matter experts to develop and sustain technical, operating, and training materials and manuals.

- Coordinate UROC personnel to define, plan, organize and execute complex flight programs and flight test events.

- Participate in multi-day deployments within Maryland, out-of-state, and internationally as needed to complete flight operations in support of UROC projects and initiatives.

- Ensure compliance with University policies and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations.

 

Ensure Safety and Compliance:

- Assist in the development and verification of procedures for use with new aircraft features and participates in the development of operational, safety and training procedures and requirements.

- Contribute to and enforce a culture of safety and professionalism among UROC operators and other organizations’ RPICs or VOs performing flight operations under UROC oversight.

- Ensure consistent application of UROC Airworthiness processes to ensure air vehicles’ performance is understood and characterized, and that such information is used to mitigate risks to UROC operations.

 

Support Business Development:

- Support business development for research working with public and private entities, starting with first contact and continuing through in-depth discussions on supporting customer technical requirements in light of UROC capabilities.

- Attend industry conferences and community events.

- Build and maintain relationships with research partners, industry peers, and technology providers.

 

Minimum Qualifications

 

Education:
 

- Bachelor’s degree in a technical or aviation related discipline; or

- 2-yr degree plus two additional years of relevant experience; or

- No degree plus four additional years of relevant experience.

Experience:

- Two years’ experience leading and managing aviation-focused teams in dynamic operational environments.

- Three years’ experience piloting complex unmanned aircraft. Experience may have been gained concurrently with leading/managing operations.

- 200 hours of documented UAS pilot hours operating fixed-wing and multicopter systems.

- Hold a current Remote Pilot certificate under 14 CFR Part 107.

- General computer skills i.e. Excel, Word, Power Point.

- Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills, as well as oral and written communication skills.

- Be a US citizen or legal permanent resident.

- Be available to travel up to 20% of the time.

 

Preferences

- FAA Private Pilot (or higher) certificate.

- Experience operating UAS both via radio control (hand-flying by joystick) and autonomous (pre-programmed) methods.

- Experience working in a flight research or flight test environment.

- Experience mentoring and training a junior workforce in a dynamic environment.

- Experience overseeing aviation-related training and ensuring proficiency of pilots, observers, and/or maintainers.

- Experience developing technical and training manuals/materials in support of aviation or similarly rigorous organizations.

- Experience performing or overseeing maintenance and repair of UAS or similar equipment.

- Experience with operations employing formal aviation safety programs.

- Experience obtaining permission to operate outside normal 14 CFR Part 107 rules via waiver, COA, exemption, or other processes.

 

Certifications

- Hold (or be able to obtain) a Second Class FAA pilot medical certificate