Deployed Flight Operations Specialist

Pyka is looking for a deployed flight operations specialist to support the development and commercial deployments of its advanced autonomous aircraft. You will execute customer facing operations at different locations abroad, and train and support our customers as they operate the aircraft. This is your opportunity to test, evaluate and deploy the aircraft of the future.

After a month of initial training in Dixon, CA, you will spend most of your time (~50%) deployed at customer sites for periods of 3 to 5 weeks. 

A typical deployment cycle in this role is: 

• Recurrent training and preparation at Pyka test facilities in Dixon, CA - 1 week
• Deployment abroad - 3 weeks
• Vacation / time off - 3 weeks

This is a multidisciplinary role that interacts with internal and external organizations, so written and verbal communication skills are critical. You will be instrumental in ensuring the standardization of aircraft ground and flight operations and procedures, instructional techniques, as well as informing the evolution of the product itself.

An engineering degree is not required, although the candidate must be technically knowledgeable, preferably with experience with flight operations with either manned aircraft or UAVs.

About Pyka

Pyka’s goal is to provide society with a new form of safe, clean, and cost-effective transportation enabled by autonomous electric aviation.
To get there, we’re taking a different approach than most. We're applying our technologies to every industry where autonomous electric aircraft can be useful, starting with the highest value and most dangerous jobs. In doing so, we're building game-changing products manufactured at scale, while perfecting the safety, reliability, and capabilities of our autonomy engine and electric propulsion systems. 

We design, develop and manufacture an ecosystem of technologies including proprietary flight control software, avionics, high power density motors, motor controllers, batteries, and custom carbon-fiber composite airframes.

Today, we supply autonomous electric aircraft for cargo transport and crop protection to real-world customers across four separate continents and have secured industry-first regulatory approvals from the FAA. 

Our cargo aircraft enables remote connectivity, enhances express delivery networks, and ensures fast and reliable shipping of critical supplies to areas in need. Our crop protection aircraft offers agricultural services providers and farmers an autonomous tool to make aerial application safer, more precise, and less harmful to surrounding environments. Both vehicles are highly economical to operate, easy to deploy, and significantly reduce C02 emissions in their respective industries. 

What you work on at Pyka makes people’s lives better now and brings the future of electric aviation one step closer each day. 

Responsibilities

• Travel to and participate in international commercial deployments (Central America, South America to start) to support flight testing, customer training and product support
• Guarantee continuous operations at customer sites by identifying, troubleshooting and fixing any arising issues, with the remote help of Pyka’s engineering teams
• Provide detailed technical feedback to operations and engineering teams to improve Pyka’s product for customer deployment
• Fly and test new hardware and software features
• Conduct diverse fleet site maintenance activities, involving the aircraft itself and ground infrastructure
• Serve as Pilot In Command or Ground Control Operator of experimental / developmental unmanned aircraft
• Recommend new features, improvements, design changes, etc. to the design team
• Participate in ground and flight test events
• Manage complex logistics in support of flight operations

Preferred Qualifications

• 1-3 years of experience flying fixed wing UAVs / model aircraft or large multirotors
• Experience with ground control and mission planning software 
• 1–5 years of experience working with and troubleshooting mechanical and electrical systems
• Basic high voltage safety knowledge and comfortable working on 120 VDC, 20 ~ 30 kW systems
• Knowledge of aircraft systems, maintenance, and manuals
• Proficient in Spanish or Portuguese (Required)
• Independent and motivated, able to self-direct and manage time
• Extreme thoroughness and attention to detail
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Willingness to travel in foreign countries and spend several weeks working independently
• Familiarity with linux, command line usage, git
• Part 61 pilot certificate

Company Perks

• $64,000–$71,000 per year base salary + $15,000–$18,000 anticipated additional cash compensation + equity. Compensation will vary depending on location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Salary ranges are subject to change.
• Employer-sponsored health, dental and vision insurance, FSA with employer matching, and 401(k)
• Paid holidays and generous PTO
• Parental leave
• Free lunch and plenty of snacks while at the office
• Opportunity to work on large autonomous aircraft and see them fly

Export Control Requirements

This position requires access to technology, software and other information that is subject to governmental access control restrictions, due to export controls.  Employment in this position is conditioned on the continued availability of government authorization to authorize release of such items, to the extent required, including without limitation an export license, or other documentation required to establish authorization to receive access to such items. 

Company may delay commencement of employment, rescind an offer of employment, terminate employment, and/or may modify job responsibilities, compensation, benefits, and/or access to Company facilities and information systems, as Company deems appropriate, in order to ensure compliance with applicable government access control restrictions.

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We do not work with external recruiters; if you are an external recruiter, please do not reach out.