Airborne Onboard Processor/Mission Systems Technician

POSITION DESCRIPTION – Falcon I DHC-8 Airborne Onboard Processor / Mission Systems Technician

Job Title: Falcon I DHC-8 Airborne Onboard Processor / Mission Systems Technician

Reports to: Director of Flight Operations/Lead Sensor Operator

Classification: Exempt

Time Commitment: Rotational

Location: Bogota, Colombia

Position Summary

The Airborne Onboard Processor / Mission Systems sensor operator serves as a primary flight crew member aboard a special-mission ISR aircraft, operating and monitoring the onboard LiDAR sensor and mission-processing systems throughout each collection sortie. Working alongside the flight and mission crews, the Technician manages in-flight collection, data processing, quality control, and product generation, ensuring mission data is properly captured, annotated, quality-checked, and prepared for transfer to authorized ground exploitation teams, operations centers, and intelligence stakeholders.

The sensor operator also troubleshoots and services the LiDAR sensor and associated onboard mission equipment to sustain high aircraft availability, and interfaces with customer representatives on system testing and operations. This is an OCONUS, rotational position requiring the ability to operate both independently and as an integrated member of the aircrew.

Essential Functions

• Initialize, operate, and monitor onboard processing systems, mission workstations, data storage systems, mapping displays, network components, and integrated ISR mission equipment during flight operations.
• Support the mission crew during pre-mission planning, aircraft launch, in-flight collection, data management, LiDAR data review, post-mission download, and mission debriefing.
• Monitor the onboard mission data flow to ensure that sensor data, positional information, time references, mission tracks, LiDAR point cloud data, imagery, metadata, and related mission files are properly captured and preserved.
• Conduct in-flight quality checks of collected mission data and notify the Mission Commander, Lead Sensor Operator, or flight crew of data gaps, system faults, degraded collection, data-quality issues, or processing problems.
• Conduct LiDAR data review, annotation, and product generation support as required to assist mission reporting, post-mission exploitation, and stakeholder information needs.
• Prepare and deliver verbal communications, including crew briefs, in-flight mission updates, collection and data-quality observations, and post-mission debriefings.
• Prepare written communications, including mission data logs, data processing notes, system status reports, fault reports, equipment performance notes, and post-mission processing summaries.
• Must be self-motivated and a strong technical leader capable of monitoring mission system performance, communicating technical issues clearly, supporting product generation requirements, and supporting tactical collection objectives.
• Shall serve as a technical expert for onboard processing systems and foster effective working relationships with aircrew, sensor operators, maintenance personnel, mission planners, ground exploitation teams, imagery analysts, and supported operations centers.
• Demonstrates superior writing and presentation skills to develop mission status updates, processing summaries, product generation summaries, data transfer logs, and technical troubleshooting reports for stakeholders and aviation programs.
• Maintains and complies with security procedures in the performance of duties.
• May provide direction, training, and assistance to other project staff as a senior technical crewmember.
• Act as a point of contact for mission equipment, onboard processing systems, aircraft maintenance personnel, and ground mission support personnel.
• Keep accurate lists of system faults, software anomalies, data processing issues, collection and data-quality concerns, workstation problems, storage device errors, network issues, or mission equipment discrepancies related to the ISR payload.
• Facilitate testing, troubleshooting, and cooperation among aircrew, maintenance technicians, sensor operators, communications personnel, imagery analysts, and ground analysts.
• Identify and resolve communication issues among flight crew, mission crew, maintenance teams, ground exploitation teams, and supported stakeholders.
• Collaborate with necessary constituents and the flight crew to support safe, effective, and timely mission execution.
• Conduct post-mission reviews, data accountability checks, data file organization, mission file organization, and reporting.
• Support mission system configuration control, equipment readiness checks, software updates, data management procedures, data production procedures, and flight line troubleshooting as required.

Skills Required

• Minimum 10 years of relevant experience in aviation, ISR sensor operations, mission systems operations, onboard processing, tactical communications, or intelligence support.
• Experience with Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs).
• Knowledge of IMINT, GEOINT, LiDAR point-cloud data, mission metadata, onboard processing, and tactical data management.
• Experience supporting airborne collection, mission flight lines, sensor data capture, onboard processing, data validation, and post-mission data transfer.
• Proficiency with flight management software, mission planning systems, mapping tools, onboard processing systems, networked workstations, removable media procedures, and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Experience coordinating mission data capture and transfer between aircrew, mission staff, ground analysts, and supported stakeholders.
• Knowledge of Airspace Control Orders and Air Tasking Orders.
• Intelligence Community background to include imagery analysis, geospatial analysis, collection management, processing, exploitation, dissemination, or mission reporting.
• Experience with communication security (COMSEC) handling procedures.
• Ability to troubleshoot mission systems, computer workstations, cabling, network connections, storage devices, mission software, and data transfer procedures in an aircraft environment.

Skills Preferred

• Mission planning software experience.
• Understanding of real-time data ingestion, airborne mission processing, ISR data handling, and post-mission exploitation workflows.
• Experience supporting intelligence fusion centers, operations centers, or deployed ISR task forces.
• Knowledge of regional geopolitical atmospheres.
• Qualified Aircrew Member status.
• Experience with DHC-8, K-350, or other missionized twin-engine ISR aircraft.
• Experience working with pilots, mission commanders, sensor operators, mechanics, communications technicians, and intelligence analysts in a deployed aviation environment.

Education/Certification/Experience

• High school diploma or GED.

Preferred Education/Certification/Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or higher.
• Experience supporting airborne ISR missions as a qualified crewmember.
• Experience operating onboard mission systems, mission processing workstations, tactical communications systems, or ISR data management systems.
• Imagery analysis and imagery production experience in an operational ISR, intelligence, military, law enforcement, or deployed mission environment.
• Familiarity with regional aviation operations centers, intelligence fusion centers, ground exploitation cells, or imagery exploitation teams.

Minimum Qualifications

• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Must possess an active Top Secret clearance with Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) access.
• Must be able to maintain government eligibility requirements.
• Meet regional entry requirements for deployment.
• Must have a valid U.S. passport with no less than six months remaining.
• Must be willing and able to deploy OCONUS.
• Must be willing and able to work irregular hours in a military environment.
• Minimum of three years of experience in geopolitical or deployment roles.
• Minimum of ten years of total experience in aviation, ISR, mission systems, intelligence operations, onboard processing, or related technical fields.
• Minimum of seven years of experience with ISR Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs).
• Minimum of seven years of experience with IMINT, GEOINT, airborne mission systems, ISR data management, onboard processing, or processing, exploitation, and dissemination support.

Travel

• Travel and rotational deployment throughout the United States and locations outside of the United States, including austere locations, is required.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work in a variety of physical conditions, including austere conditions.
• Ability to wear respirators or other required safety equipment.
• Ability to work in confined spaces.
• Ability to lift 50 lbs.

AIRTEC Benefits Overview-FTE

• Competitive Pay.
• Medical Insurance with HSA Savings Account (Individual/Families).
• Dental Insurance (Individual 100% Paid/Families).
• Vision Insurance (Individual 100% Paid/Families).
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Company-Paid Life and AD&D Insurance, Short- and Long-Term Disability Insurance.
• Voluntary Life Insurance.
• Elective Group Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, and Accident Insurance.
• 401(k) 5% Safe Harbor and Profit-Sharing Program with Employee Participation.
• Flexible Spending Accounts (Medical and Dependent Care).
• Paid Time Off (Safe/Sick Leave).
• College Tuition Reimbursement and Professional Development Training.
• Education Recognition Bonus Program.

AIRtec, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

PI285689375