Aerostat Operator I

About the role

The Aerostat Operator I provides Operations and Sustainment (O&S) support for the Persistent Surveillance Systems – Tethered (PSS‑T) program at OCONUS sites. The role involves hands‑on operation, launch, in‑flight monitoring, recovery and maintenance of aerostat‑mounted ISR platforms.

Key responsibilities

• Operate the aerostat system, including launch, flight, recovery, and mooring activities.
• Manage the Mobile Mooring Platform, sensor payloads, communications and navigation equipment.
• Perform user‑level maintenance: preventive maintenance checks, troubleshooting, LRU replacement, and payload swaps.
• Utilize support equipment such as boom lifts, forklifts, ATVs and power generators.
• Execute tasks under direction of senior technicians or site personnel.

Required profile

• High school diploma or equivalent; an associate’s degree in a technical field may substitute for experience.
• Active Secret US Government clearance (US citizenship required) and a valid US passport with at least one year remaining.
• Valid US driver’s license.
• At least one year of aerostat experience or two years in related electrical maintenance roles.
• Two years of hands‑on operation and maintenance of aerostat or equivalent systems.

Required skills

• Preventive Maintenance Checks and Services (PMCS).
• Fault detection, isolation, and correction of hardware systems.
• Hardware configuration, component replacement, and use of diagnostic tools.
• Reading electronic circuit schematics and repairing printed circuit boards.
• Operation of boom lifts, forklifts, all‑terrain vehicles and electrical power generators.
• Aerostat launch, flight, recovery, and mooring procedures.