Mission Aircrew Roles
Leidos is the largest employer of mission aircrew in Australia outside the Australian Defence Force.
Working in a highly dynamic environment, our passionate, mission focused aircrew are made up of people from diverse industry backgrounds.
Mission aircrew play a critical role in our civil surveillance and search and rescue operations. Our missions are diverse and require a high level of communication and teamwork.
We seek people with a professional attitude who thrive working in a team, are adept at learning complex tasks, have high level communication skills and love a challenge.
Unlike many job opportunities in aviation that require extensive certification and experience, mission aircrew roles can generally be filled by people from any career stream or industry, who are looking for a new opportunity or challenge.
Our mission aircrew roles provide a unique opportunity for people who wish to be involved in a genuine niche operation with a humanitarian focus, operating a modified, sophisticated aircraft in a highly skilled team environment, as part of an aviation organisation with a global presence.
Types of roles available
The types of mission aircrew roles we have available are:
- Electronic Observers (Airborne Surveillance)
- Visual Observers (Search-and-Rescue)
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- Must be an Australian Citizen with an Australian Passport and over the age of 18 years old
- Intermediate level of experience with computer and IT systems
- A proven aptitude for learning complex systems and procedures
- Eligible to obtain an Australian Government Security Clearance (AGSVA Baseline) and Australian Border Force Employment Suitability Clearance
- Able to commit to 16 weeks of training
- Acceptable level of health and fitness in accordance with the pre-employment medical and Civil Aviation Safety Authority medical standards, and the ability to swim
- Not susceptible to motion sickness
- Completed a minimum of 4 years secondary school with passes in Maths, English, Science, or equivalent tertiary education
- Nationally accredited Provide First Aid Qualification
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- Acceptable level of health and fitness in accordance with the pre-employment medical and Civil Aviation Safety Authority medical standards
- Nationally accredited Provide First Aid Qualification
- Able to obtain a clear National Police Check
There are other roles that our Observers can progress to during their career, through an internal promotion process, dependent on vacancies. These roles are:
- Drop Masters (Search-and-Rescue only)
- Electronic Mission Coordinator (Airborne Surveillance)
- Aircraft Mission Coordinators (Search-and-Rescue)
Electronic Observers (Airborne Surveillance)
This is not an ordinary desk job. As an Airborne Surveillance Electronic Observer, you'll be part of our team responsible for carrying out civil maritime surveillance missions for the Australian Border Force (ABF), to protect Australia’s borders.
You will work in a highly modified Dash 8 turboprop aircraft, equipped with state-of-the-art technology.
We are seeking candidates from any career stream or industry looking for a new opportunity to work in a unique and exciting environment as part of a small, highly skilled team.
Comprehensive training is provided over an intense 16-week period where you will be trained to operate cutting-edge systems to carry out maritime surveillance missions, reporting all activity within the Australian maritime domain.
An aptitude for learning complex systems and procedures is essential.
Electronic Observers operate from our bases in Cairns, Darwin and Broome.
Visual Observers (Search-And-Rescue)
As a member of our Search-and-rescue team, Visual Observers assist in the execution of search and rescue (SAR) operations as a member of a five-person crew on our specially modified Challenger 604 SAR aircraft.
As an Observer within the SAR team, your number one priority will be to minimise the loss of life and injury as well as minimising property damage or loss by rendering aid to persons in distress in the maritime, aviation and land environments by day or by night.
You will do this by conducting visual searching of the coast, ocean, inland and/or air for target/survivor(s) using various visual aids including night vision devices. You are the eyes and ears for the SAR operation and people’s lives depend on your ability to maintain focus in a highly challenging and rewarding environment. In addition, you will also work with the Drop Master to perform essential in-flight stores dispatch tasks and prepare the aircraft for both departure and landing.
Our Visual Observers operate from bases in Perth, Cairns and Essendon (Melbourne).
Submit your expressions of interest and be part of our success story
Aircraft Mission Coordinators (Search & Rescue) and Electronic Mission Coordinators (Airborne Surveillance)
Our Mission Coordinators play a critical role in both our search and rescue and Airborne Surveillance operations. They are responsible for communication with AMSA and the ABF on all taskings, as well as the coordination and the execution of all tasks including optimisation of flying profiles to achieve best mission sensor performance and the application of tactics, techniques and procedures to achieve successful mission outcomes. Mission Coordinators also operate mission sensors, systems and radios onboard our aircraft. Additionally, our Mission Coordinators supervise, mentor and develop junior mission aircrew.
Drop Masters
Drop Masters form part of our Search-and Rescue mission aircrew team on our Challenger 604 jets. Drop Masters are responsible for managing dispatch of search-and-rescue stores from the aircraft during rescue missions. These stores can include radios for communication, life rafts, food and water, and other life-saving items. Drop Masters also assist Visual Observers with conducting visual searches.