Program Specialist I (Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Pilot – Drones), Grade 18

Montgomery County Government • Part-time • Gaithersburg, MD, US • $64.10k - $101.12k / year • 2w ago

About the Position

Please note: The salary range above represents this position’s earning potential. The anticipated hiring range for this position will be $64,104 to $94,007.00, based on the candidate’s qualifications and experience.

WHO WE ARE

The Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) is made up of approximately 1,200 sworn officers and approximately 800 support personnel. The Police Department was established in 1922 and today is responsible for providing service to a County with a population of over one million people.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

The Department of Police is looking for trained and experienced UAS pilots to support Montgomery County Police Drone operations, particularly within our award-winning Drone as First Responder program (DFR). We are looking for licensed pilots with at least 20 logged flight hours, including at least 15 verified flight hours flown under Part 107. Preferably, we are looking for pilots who have proficiency operating drones in real-time information gathering with familiarity in Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations.

What You'll Be Doing

Montgomery County UAS pilots operate UAS (Drones) to support law enforcement activities including supporting patrol calls for service (especially via our DFR Program), search and rescue, and traffic accident investigation. Using FAA-certified skills and law enforcement training, these pilots deploy drones to provide real-time aerial imagery that enhances situational awareness and officer safety. They assist with responding to emergency calls for service, mapping crime scenes, documenting evidence, and helping tactical teams assess risks from a remote vantage point. The pilot's responsibilities include maintaining proficiency in flight operations, adhering to department policy, and using drone technology to improve both response times and investigative accuracy. You will also be assisting our Real Time Intelligence Center (RTIC) personnel, by providing real time intelligence to Department employees.

Ensure the safe delivery, operation, and light maintenance of the Montgomery County Police Unmanned Aircraft Systems
Serve as either a remote pilot in charge on a rooftop, or as a pilot/communicator in the DFR flight deck.
Provide flight management and clear communication via police radio
Provide real time intelligence to Department personnel using a variety of law enforcement technology to support patrol operations.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience: One (1) year of professional experience in UAS pilot (drones) with a minimum of 20 logged flight hours and a logbook with 15 or more Part 107 flight hours.

Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s Degree.

Equivalency: An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.

License: Possession and maintenance at all times of a valid Class “C” (or equivalent) driver’s license from the applicant’s start of residence when required for job-related duties and has current FAA 107 Drone Pilots License.

Preferred Criteria, Interview Preferences

Proficiency in operating drones for rapid deployment and real-time information gathering.
Familiarity with Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations and FAA waivers.
Law enforcement experience communicating via police radio system.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The Office of Human Resources (OHR) reviews the minimum qualifications of all applicants, irrespective of whether the candidate has previously been found to have met the minimum requirements for the job or been temporarily promoted to the same position. This evaluation is based solely on the information contained in the application/resume submitted for this specific position.

Montgomery County Government(MCG) is an equal opportunity employer, committed to workforce diversity. Accordingly, as it relates to employment opportunities, the County will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, in accordance with the law. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should email OHR at Hiring@montgomerycountymd.gov. Individual determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made in accordance with all applicable laws.

MCG also provides hiring preference to certain categories of veterans and veterans/persons with a disability. For more information and to claim employment preference, refer to the Careers webpage on Hiring Preference.

All applicants will respond to a series of questions related to their education, relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities required to minimally perform the job. The applicant's responses in conjunction with their resume and all other information provided in the employment application process will be evaluated to determine the minimum qualifications and preferred criteria or interview preference status. Based on the results, the highest qualified applicants will be placed on an Eligible List and may be considered for an interview. Employees meeting minimum qualifications who are the same grade will be placed on the Eligible List as a "Lateral Transfer" candidate and may be considered for an interview.

This will establish an Eligible List that may be used to fill both current and future vacancies.

If selected for consideration for this position, you may be required to provide evidence that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities indicated on your resume.

Montgomery County Ethics Law: Except as provided by law or regulation, the County's "Public Employees" (which does not include employees of the Sheriff's office) are subject to the County's ethics law including the requirements to obtain advanced approval of any outside employment and the prohibitions on certain outside employment. The outside employment requirements of the ethics law can be found at 19A-12 of the County Code. Additional information about outside employment can be obtained from the Ethics Commission website.