Job Description
Job Title:  UAS CSO/Mission Planner, Palmdale CA - Level 5
Posting Start Date:  8/25/26
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Job Description: 

Standard Job Description

You will be the CSO/Mission Planner for an Advanced Development Program. Our team works with Production Support and Test & Evaluation teams to ensure effective build out of developmental and implementation of official training, documentation and operational capabilities.

You will also be a primary advanced UAS operator and lead instruction for Type I and Type IV training of both company and customer students/operators.

What You Will Be Doing

As a CSO/Mission Planner your responsibilities will include:

• Provide Flight/Sim Operations support as an aircraft Combat Systems Operator (CSO) and mission planner.

• Will perform academic classroom training, planning and aircraft ground and flight/sim training for customer aircrew.

• Perform technical and mission planning, real-time troubleshooting, analysis, and evaluation of systems, and provide recommendations to improve Human Machine Interface of aircraft and ground station functionality.

• Provide avionics expertise and support to engineering, design developmental teams, training, customer support and marketing teams regarding aircrew interfaces.

• This job is based out of our facility in Palmdale, CA. Travel will be required to remote locations for system upgrades and delta training.

Basic Qualifications

• 8+ Years Experience operating large UAS under DoD instruction/regulations w/500 hours minimum primary time.

• Current or demonstrated experience as an instructor from any DoD Branch.

• In-depth knowledge of military publications and understanding of NAS/ICAO requirements for large UAS operations.

• In-depth knowledge/understanding of aircraft survivability strategies and tactics.

• Current Top Secret Clearance with the ability to obtain and maintain program access within a reasonable period, as determined by the company to meet its business needs.

Desired Skills

• Advanced UAS Operations: Experience with integration, operation and ground control of various UAS platforms.

• Undergraduate Combat Systems Officer Training (UCT).

• Excellent communications skills, including the ability to brief test results to executive leadership.

• Experience in flight testing with the ability to work with engineering to develop solutions to integration issues and to bridge our customers with the LM engineering teams.

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Pay Information

Full-Time Salary Range: $145100.00 - $269500.00

At Lockheed Martin, we know mission success starts with taking care of our people. Our Total Rewards program is designed to attract top talent, support your well-being, and help you grow—both professionally and personally.

The salary range for this position is as listed on the requisition. Please note that the salary information listed is a general guideline only. Lockheed Martin considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/ training, key skills as well as market(work location) and business considerations when extending an offer.  

Benefits offered: Medical, Dental, Vision, Flexible work arrangements and schedules (e.g., 4x10), 401(k) match, Paid time off, Holidays, Parental Leave, EAP, Flexible Spending Accounts, Education Assistance, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability.

  • Annual short-term and/or long-term incentive compensation programs may be offered depending on the position. Payments under these annual programs are not guaranteed and can vary from year to year and are tied to a range of performance metrics.
  • For (Washington state applicants only) Non-represented full-time employees: accrue at least 10 hours per month of Paid Time Off (PTO) to be used for incidental absences and other reasons; receive at least 90 hours for holidays. Represented full time employees accrue 6.67 hours of Vacation per month; accrue up to 52 hours of sick leave annually; receive at least 96 hours for holidays. PTO, Vacation, sick leave, and holiday hours are prorated based on start date during the calendar year.