The Virginia Tech Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership (MAAP) seeking a UAS Safety Researcher to help the entity advance UAS integration into the airspace and adoption by industry. MAAP leads both an FAA-designated UAS Test Site and a productive team in the federal UAS Beyond Program. Through those programs and others, MAAP leads innovative research and testing, and has built a track record in operations that move the industry forward. MAAP works closely with industry and government stakeholders to enable new applications for drones such as package delivery, damage assessment, and infrastructure inspection. MAAP has pioneered a process for the development of risk-based safety cases that is rapidly becoming an industry standard.
The primary role of the UAS Safety Researcher is to provide safety case support to the Technical Project Managers and teams assembled to conduct safety case development for projects supported by the Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership (MAAP), a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) UAS Test Site. The UAS Safety Researcher is responsible for working with industry and governmental partners, as well as internal technical professionals, in the identification, documentation, and control of hazards as well as validation of mitigations that will lead to specific operational capabilities for FAA waivers. The UAS Safety Researcher will also oversee the safety of UAS flight operations in support of safety case mitigation validation efforts. The incumbent will develop, maintain, and improve upon the safety management processes and documentation that supports safety case development. The UAS Safety Researcher will report to the MAAP Flight Operations Manager.
The successful candidate will be a self-starter and have strong interpersonal, communications, and organizational skills. The UAS Safety Researcher is also expected to be a team player that is willing to take on and solve challenging problems while working with a diverse team.
Additional responsibilities include the following:
• Sustaining knowledge of changes associated with FAA, ICAO, and EASA Safety and Risk Management concepts and regulations.
• Oversee the development and maintenance of Risk Assessment processes.
• Provide safety case and documentation support for 14 CFR waivers and exemptions.
• Support development and management of FAA Certifications of Authorizations (COAs) for research efforts.
• Provide aviation and safety subject matter expertise to a broad range of customers and backgrounds.
• May occasionally serve as a UAS pilot or safety officer in support of research efforts.
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