Lockheed Pilot
 

Lockheed's Advanced Development Programs (Skunk Works) pilot positions...how good would/could this be? Pay, QOL, job satisfaction? Your thoughts when compared to Legacy, big Cargo, Large Corporate Ops?

Thoughts?

I imagine it would compare well to major airline captain positions, but not quite as many days off. Those have to work in the office sometimes too, not just show up and go fly.

It also probably requires military test pilot school and experience, probably fighter track, and an engineering masters or similar.

my thoughts are these only go to folks who know folks. Prior TS clearance and military test pilot experience will undoubtedly be required.

That sort of job is very, very different from most passenger/freight/mail jobs. You would be part of an organization that is constantly testing systems, and my guess is, prior test pilot / flight test engineer experience will almost be a must.

Testing systems includes things like AI radars and RWR gear, and other purely .mil systems, and understanding, being able to talk, the lingo associated with them. It (the job) is very likely going to go to an ex mil pilot.

Ignore all of that if the job is not test but corporate aviation.

This is a job for former AF & Navy test pilots who want to get out of the service. I am surprised they are even listing publicly. My guess is they only consider pilots with prior military flight test experience, being a former fighter pilot is not good enough to test prototype airborne weapons systems. They already know who can do this job. Where is it listed? Occasionally if they need some temporary help they will run it through a contract house to try and get pilots working for other military hardware firms to apply.

As a condition of their federal contracts, they have to post job openings publicly unless they are only accepting internal transfers for the position. Since Bob in accounting probably doesn't have quals to do this job, they have to hire outside. The pool of legit candidates is small and already well know but they still have to advertise.

Postal 123,

Here are some past APC threads which may help answer your questions:

http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/ca...est-pilot.html

http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/te...rtunities.html

All,

Thanks for your inputs. I've included a link to the job announcement below. My reason for the post is that I applied back in Nov or Dec and just received a call for a tentative interview...meaning talent recruiter verifies some info, then forwards your resume to program management. I was mostly looking to see if anyone might have any first-hand knowledge...perhaps the announcement can shed some light? Its difficult to garner how much pilot vs how much staff they're looking for. Of course I didn't ask too many specifics on my iPhone. From what I gathered, this is more like flying certified or modified acft while engineers test their goods. Some other elements may be flying profiles per the test plan or flying chase.

My background is a mix of light civ and mil tactical. I've also got some mil and civ maintenance experience. No formal TPS, but I have the standard IP/EP and some training/experience in electronic warfare and functional check flight.

I retire soon and was planning for airlines or FAA, and due to timing some regional time before either option took hold...never considered this route so I thought I'd ask...

Tom, thanks for the links! Hopefully this link works...


https://sjobs.brassring.com/1033/ASP...-JBSimplyHired

That sounds like a reasonable inference, and they may also be testing UAVs. When you find out more, please pass along any info that you are free to share with us. Best of luck! :)

Thank you, and I certainly will...if I myself get the opportunity...? I soon realized after posting that folks were thinking F-35s and X-planes, but I think a good take-away is that there's a lot out there...