Company Overview
Metrea delivers effects-as-a-service to national security partners across five domains and more than a dozen mission areas—including airborne ISR, electronic warfare, secure communications, aerial refueling, special mission aviation, aerial firefighting, and advanced simulation.
Wherever we operate, we build vertically integrated full stacks of capability—designing, building, and operating turnkey solutions that let customers scale capacity while benefiting from continuous cycles of innovation. With operators and engineers under one roof, we close the gap between lab and field—what we call connecting design with effect.
Metrea’s solutions are built for elegance: effective, efficient, and evolving. This approach enables our partners to do more with less and achieve outsized, asymmetric advantage against rapidly evolving threats.
Headquartered in Washington, DC, Metrea has facilities across the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, and beyond.
This role sits within the Air Mobility area of Metrea.
Air Mobility Group (AIRMOB) is responsible for developing and delivering Metrea’s aerial refueling (AAR) capabilities, ensuring the readiness and operational effectiveness of the tanker fleet. AIRMOB oversees fleet management, maintenance, and airworthiness, working to sustain and enhance refueling operations. It manages the integration of new processes and technologies, ensuring that tanker aircraft remain mission-ready through effective logistics, maintenance oversight, and regulatory compliance. By coordinating across various teams, AIRMOB ensures the fleet meets both current and future operational needs, supporting a range of specialized air mobility missions.
Position Summary
The Flight Operations Lead Navigator is a pivotal role responsible for ensuring operational excellence, safety, and regulatory compliance of our flight operations. Additionally, in this role you will be responsible for developing and delivering comprehensive navigator training programs for KC-135 operations. This position requires an individual with exceptional leadership skills and in-depth knowledge of FAA regulations who will uphold the standards of Metrea's flight operations and safety procedures. This role mentors NSOs to maintain the highest standards of safety and proficiency.
What You’ll Do
- Acts as a liaison between crew members and other managers.
- May plan and modify routes for company aircraft in operations.
- Maintain an adequate roster of properly qualified, current, and available NROs to meet company requirements.
- Ensure compliance with FAA, ICAO, and company standards.
- Conduct instruction in the aircraft.
- Conduct evaluations and audits to maintain training effectiveness.
- Ensure that each NSO assigned to flight duty meets the applicable requirements and that the certification for these requirements is maintained in the crew member’s record.
- Monitor NSO currency and legality and remove any NSO from the schedule before the expiration of any applicable qualification requirement.
- Will serve as NSO in KC-135 operations, adhering to all applicable provisions and regulations.
- Adhere to company Flight Operation Procedures (FOPs), Ground Operation Procedures (GOPs), FAA regulations, and Safety Notices.
- Maintain all currencies, qualifications, and advanced systems knowledge related to the MSM KC-135 tanker fleet.
- Duties as assigned by Head of Flight Operations
.
What You’ll bring
- Must be highly knowledgeable in applicable Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Company Manuals, and all related policies and procedures.
- Extensive KC-135 flight experience and instructor/evaluator background.
- Strong organizational and leadership skills.
- Excellent communication and presentation abilities.
- Set a high standard for providing our customers with world-class air refueling.
- Knowledgeable on the use of Foreflight.
- Familiarity with LMS and training software.
Additional Eligibility Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Aviation Management or related field or equivalent experience.
- Previous military Instructor and Evaluator certification for KC-135 desired.
- Valid Driver’s License and Passport.
- Ability to maintain a Secret clearance.
Our Firmware
At Metrea, our single core value, Rooted in Humility, and our four cornerstone attributes—Entrepreneurial, Systematic, Discerning, and Over-Deliver. These form what we call our Teammate Firmware. Just like technical firmware connects software and hardware, our Firmware is the constant interface between our mission and our people. It defines how we show up, how we work together, and how we solve complex problems.
Our team Firmware creates a web-like, hyper-collaborative, dynamically hierarchical way of working that helps us adapt quickly, communicate openly, and distribute decision-making to where expertise actually lives. It enables groups to self-organize around hard problems, shift fluidly as priorities evolve, and operate with the trust, curiosity, and discipline required in a complex mission space. This foundation allows us to deliver elegant, effective solutions and uphold our purpose: protecting our precious inheritance.
Benefits
Comprehensive medical plan options
HSA/FSA accounts
Dental and vision coverage
6% employer 401(k) match
Fully paid parental leave for all new parents
Generous PTO
Life and disability insurance
Long-term and Short-term disability coverage
AD&D Coverage
Pet Insurance
Employee Assistance Program
Subsidized gym membership / plans through Wellhub
Work Authorization / Security Clearance
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
This position requires eligibility to obtain a Secret clearance. Candidates will be subject to a background investigation in accordance with federal requirements.
Role may require adherence to export control regulations (ITAR/EAR)
Employment is contingent on meeting all clearance and adjudication requirements.
AAP/EEO Statement
This Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.
Position Type and Expected Hours of Work
This is a full-time exempt position with typical working hours of Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Hours and work shifts may change in accordance with department and business needs. Exempt Employees must have the ability to be on-call and available, as business needs require.
Work Location
Temecula and Moreno Valley, CA
Work Environment
This job operates in an office setting and aboard C-135FR aircraft.
Travel
30%
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Aviation Management or related field or equivalent experience
- Extensive KC-135 flight experience and instructor/evaluator background
- Must be highly knowledgeable in FAA regulations
- Strong organizational and leadership skills
- Excellent communication and presentation abilities
- Valid Driver's License and Passport
- Ability to maintain a Secret clearance
What We Do
Metrea, formerly Meta Aerospace, offers a deep stack of defense capabilities and services for our customers and partners, allowing them to anticipate, secure, and defend their interests in a rapidly changing problem space. We architect cutting-edge solutions across a wide variety of missions from ISR services, to multi-mission electromagnetic technologies, to simulations applications.
