Flight Test Operator

Despite leaps in drone technology, last-mile aerial operations remain expensive and complex. For most developing nations, last mile logistics remains one of the most challenging hurdles
- making entire communities inaccessible to world markets and depriving them of essential goods.

Cloudline is a African founded start up that designs and manufactures autonomous, solar powered airships that can carry larger payloads at a fraction of the cost of all drone technology currently available worldwide

To date, Cloudline has raised over $4 million to develop their technology, growing local talent and ramping up production for their first customers in Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia and South Africa. Using a model to train and recruit local talent in each customer country, Cloudline is making aerospace careers a viable option for all young talented youth in Africa while opening the world to vibrant yet underserved African communities.

The Flight Test Operations team at Cloudline is the critical frontline team for engineering & operations development. Those on this team are responsible for torture testing Cloudline’s airship designs, manufacturing and payload systems. As an Airship operator you’ll be keen on maintaining flight certifications, growing your aviation skill sets and rolling up your sleeves to help build many aspects of Cloudline flight operations and product development. Cloudline has high expectations for safety and operational excellence. Are you interested in helping us build and scale up?

**Responsibilities**:

- Execute daily flight operations of Cloudline at either our Engineering Flight Test site or as a key part of a customer launch cohort.
- Ensure the highest fidelity of data collection and drive strict qualification requirements of our airships
- Distill learnings from the hangar, flight-line and on the airship and communicate effectively with various teams via written, oral and visual modes.
- Work with Global Operations, Engineering, regulators and potentially clients to develop training programs for Cloudline systems and execute training & currency services, as needed.

Once hired you will go through a training program with Cloudline trainers to gain a deep understanding of our airship systems, mission planning and become a key part of our company’s development. Our training picks up from RPL & RPAS Type Training to add type training on our airship, training fixed wing and multi-rotor UAS and various payload systems.

Cloudline is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by national, provincial or local laws or our own sensibilities.

**Requirements**:

- 3+ years of relevant professional experience
- Keen interest in unmanned aviation (manned aviation interest/experience a plus)
- Keen to build standards, process and engage in product development along with start up company growth.
- Goal and Objective Oriented. Keen to work hands on/minds on.
- You currently hold & maintain or have the following or their equivalent skills or certifications:

- Aviation Certifications:

- Valid and current SACAA mandated RPL (Remote Pilot’s License) - Multi Rotor, Fixed Wing and BVLOS (or willingness to quickly ramp up)
- Current Class III Aviation Medical certificate (and/or ability to get one)
- Ability to fly in Attitude (ATTI) and manual modes on multirotor and Fixed Wing platforms
- Valid SA Drivers License and own transport/vehicle. (Trailering license and/or Commercial E-series drivers license endorsements are a plus.)
- Experience with various drone payload systems, e.g. multispectral camera, 3D mapping camera etc. Experience with processing drone payload data, e.g. Pix4D experience

Good to haves:

- SACAA Remote Maintenance Technician (RMT) License
- Hobby Remote Control (RC) flying experience in fixed wing and/or multi-rotor craft
- Any experience with balloon, airship or aerostat flight & ground operations
- Former Startup experience (especially one with Hardware, Software and/or regulatory compliance requirements)

Must be willing and able to:

- Travel up to 60% of the time, domestically and internationally
- Be based in Cape Town/Stellenbosch, South Africa, or able to relocate there
- Excited to work daily in the field in a variety weather conditions and environments
- Work at flexible times durning the day, and the occasional weekend (as needed)
- Able to climb a ladder and stairs
- Able to lift up to 25kgs
- Able to sit and stand for extended periods during the work shift
- Able to use and manipulate a variety of operations equipment/gear

**Benefits**
- **Equity**
- We believe that all Cloudliners should have skin in the game to share in the ownership of our goals and successes.
- **Private Health Insurance**
- We offer a health