Aircraft Mission Planner (Level 2/3)

At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.

Provide aircraft and spacecraft mission planning to include integration, support services and flight or ground operations services to accomplish test, training and/or operational objectives. Assess mission issues, risks, and develops resolutions to meet customer objectives. Acts as the central point of contact to ensure adherence to procedures and meet mission success. Develop routing and contingency logic, as required. Produces related mission planning products for customers to review mission tasking and applicable intelligence. Develop all training, exercise support and contingency operations in accordance with applicable standards. Coordinates airspace requirements with applicable agencies depending on flight profiles. May be responsible for ensuring all cost, schedule and technical requirements of assigned mission and projects are coordinated, prepared and accurate.

Responsibilities include:

• Conducting highly responsive remotely piloted aircraft mission planning support services as a part of a dedicated operational support team that enables the execution of dynamic intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) mission requirements across all Combatant Command’s (COCOM) theaters of operations
• Developing, coordinating, and maintaining tailored mission planning packages
• Developing and maintaining a collaborative relationship with the squadron COCOM Flight Commanders, Assistant Directors of Operations, and Directors of Operations at all the operating locations worldwide to ensure that continuous support is provided through the route development, mission planning, execution, and data analysis phases of each mission
• This position operates in a highly dynamic 24/7 mission environment, so anticipate rapidly changing work schedules and mission priorities
• Maintaining flexible work hours to accommodate all mission scenarios, short-notice changes and taskings, and to provide uninterrupted operational support
• Maintaining attention to detail and possessing the ability to organize and prioritize myriad, sometimes mundane, tasks under a stressful and deadline driven environment

Basic Qualifications for a level 2 Mission Planner

• Bachelor of Science and 2 plus years of experience in military aviation operations. OR In lieu of formal education, 6 plus years of aviation experience may be considered
• Mission planning, weather, aircraft operations, aircraft performance, airfield suitability, and Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) analysis
• Must be a US Citizen with Interim TS Level Clearance to start
• Must be able to obtain a CAC card and obtain access to a military installation

Basic Qualifications for a level 3 Principal Mission Planner

• Bachelor of Science and 5 plus years of experience in military aviation operations. OR In lieu of formal education, 9 plus years of aviation experience may be considered
• Mission planning, weather, aircraft operations, aircraft performance, airfield suitability, and Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) analysis
• Must be a US Citizen with Interim TS Level Clearance to start
• Must be able to obtain a CAC card and obtain access to a military installation

Preferred Qualifications:

• Top Secret clearance; eligible for SCI
• Graduate of a flight training program (previous military flight training preferred) and a former USAF/USN/USA rated aviator
• 5 years of military aviation experience as a rated pilot, navigator, or weapons systems operator
• At least 3 years of planning/executing military ISR missions from a deployed location
• Familiar and/or proficient with Air Force Mission Support System (AFMSS) mission planning software, Portable Flight Planning Software (PFPS), to include Combat Flight Planning Software (CFPS) and FalconView, and/or Joint Mission Planning System (JMPS)
• Bachelors of Science in Aerospace or Aeronautical Engineering
• Previous experience as a High Altitude Long Endurance mission planner (RQ-4, U-2, Triton)
• Previous experience as a UAV/RPA mission planner (RQ-4, MQ-1, MQ-9, RQ-7, Triton)
• Previous experience flying or planning missions for ISR aircraft (RQ-4, U-2, RC-135S/U/V/W, P/EP-3, MC-12W, RC-12, JSTARS

Salary Range: $60,600 USD - $118,300 USD

Employees may be eligible for a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.

The health and safety of our employees and their families is a top priority. The company encourages employees to remain up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccinations. U.S. Northrop Grumman employees may be required, in the future, to be vaccinated or have an approved disability/medical or religious accommodation, pursuant to future court decisions and/or government action on the currently stayed federal contractor vaccine mandate under Executive Order 14042 https://www.saferfederalworkforce.gov/contractors/.

Northrop Grumman is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO/AA and Pay Transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for most positions.