Chief Demo and Training Pilot

Role Summary

Lead Thunderstrike Aviation’s flight demonstrations and operator training activities for large-scale advanced UAV platforms. The Chief Demo & Training Pilot is the senior operational pilot responsible for executing demonstrations, developing training programs, and establishing the operational framework for demo and training flight operations.

As Thunderstrike is scaling rapidly, this role will own and build the operational foundation for demonstration and training activities—including flight manuals, operational procedures, and training frameworks—while leading a small team of demo pilots.

The position is highly hands-on and combines operational flying, instructional leadership, and the development of flight documentation and procedures required to support safe and repeatable demo operations.

Key Responsibilities

Demonstration Flight Operations

• Lead and execute customer demonstration flights for military, government, and commercial stakeholders.
• Design and execute mission scenarios that clearly demonstrate system capabilities and operational value.
• Serve as the primary operational authority during customer demonstrations and evaluations.
• Support technical sales activities, trials, and evaluations by translating system performance into operational outcomes.

Training Programs

• Design and deliver operator training programs for customers and partners.
• Serve as lead instructor pilot for internal and external operators.
• Develop training materials and frameworks for operator qualification and certification.

Demo Pilot Team Leadership

• Lead and mentor a team of two or more Demo Pilots supporting demonstrations and training delivery.
• Participate in recruitment and selection of demo pilots as the team grows.
• Establish team standards, operational responsibilities, and training practices.

Flight Manuals & Operational Framework

• Own and develop the company’s flight manuals and operational documentation for UAV demonstration and training operations.
• Develop and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for demo missions and training activities.
• Establish safe and repeatable demo flight procedures and operational workflows.
• Contribute to the development of the company’s Operations Manual and flight governance structure.

Regulatory & Operational Integration

• Ensure operations comply with European UAV regulatory frameworks and flight permissions.
• Support the development of operational concepts for airspace integration and demonstration flights.
• Coordinate with internal teams to ensure demonstrations are conducted within regulatory and safety constraints.

Engineering & Product Collaboration

• Work closely with engineering teams to test and validate new system capabilities during demonstrations.
• Provide operational feedback on flight performance, reliability, and usability.
• Support integration and evaluation activities when new system capabilities are introduced.

Required Experience

• Extensive experience operating UAS / UAV systems or advanced aircraft.
• Experience with larger UAV platforms or complex aviation systems preferred.
• Background as instructor pilot, operational pilot, or test pilot.
• Experience conducting demonstrations, trials, or flight evaluations.
• Strong understanding of flight operations, aviation safety, and mission planning.
• Ability to communicate complex technical capabilities clearly to customers and stakeholders.

Preferred Background

• Military aviation or defence UAV operations strongly preferred.
• Experience with Ground Control Stations (GCS) and mission systems.
• Experience developing flight manuals, operational procedures, or training curricula.
• Familiarity with European UAV regulatory frameworks and operational approvals.

Why join Thunderstrike Aviation?

• Lead and build the demo flight capability in a fast-growing state-of-art UAV company.
• Fly and showcase next-generation unmanned aircraft systems to global customers.
• Own the development of flight manuals, procedures, and training frameworks from the ground up.
• Combine operational flying, instruction, and leadership while building a demo pilot team.
• Work at the intersection of engineering, operations, and commercial teams shaping how systems are demonstrated and deployed.

Apply here: Chief Demo and Training Pilot | Thunderstrike Aviation | LinkedIn