ISR Systems Technician

Company Overview

Metrea delivers effects-as-a-service to national security partners across five domains and more than a dozen mission areas. These include airborne ISR, electronic warfare, secure communications, aerial refueling, special air missions, aerial firefighting, and advanced simulation. We own the whole stack: designing, building, and operating turnkey capabilities that give our partners decisive, asymmetric advantage against rapidly evolving threats.

Our operating model is built around three interlocking pillars. The Support Groups provide a global shared-service – spanning people, finance, platform, operations, legal, and engagement. This frees up our Core Groups, who develop and own mission capabilities end-to-end, to focus entirely on delivery. The Market Groups apply a regional lens, ensuring that our agile and adaptable capabilities remain aligned to the wicked problems that matter most to our partners across the Americas, EMEA, and Asia-Pacific.

At the heart of our model is a simple but powerful idea: be a true partner with skin in the game. Our partners need effects, not just equipment. By owning the full stack – from the lab to the field – we are able to drive a continuous cycle of innovation that keeps our partners ahead. It's a fast-moving, intellectually demanding environment where talented people are given real responsibility, work on problems that matter, and contribute to an enterprise that is growing quickly and deliberately.

Headquartered in Washington, DC, with facilities across the United States, the United Kingdom, as well as Continental Europe and Asia-Pacific.

Group Overview

Special Air Missions Group (SAM) is responsible for developing and delivering Metrea's Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR), Special Mobility, and Aerial Firefighting (AFF) capabilities. SAM oversees the integration of new mission systems, ensuring operational readiness across specialized aviation operations. It manages fleet maintenance, regulatory compliance, and strategic partnerships to enhance mission effectiveness. By consolidating expertise and infrastructure, SAM ensures Metrea's airborne capabilities remain adaptable and mission-ready across dynamic operational environments.

Position Summary

This position is a technical specialist responsible for the installation, configuration, maintenance, and lifecycle sustainment of airborne ISR mission systems. This role ensures continuous mission system readiness by performing hands-on troubleshooting, field-level repairs, and system validation. Working independently, the technician supports all aspects of mission equipment lifecycle management - including integration, software updates, and configuration control. This position is critical to delivering a reliable, high-performance ISR capability in support of real-world ISR operations.

What You'll Do

Install, configure, and maintain airborne ISR mission systems, including EO/IR sensor systems, tactical radios, mission computers, radar systems, data link systems, video networks, moving map software, and Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) equipment

Perform pre-mission system checks, field-level troubleshooting, and corrective maintenance to ensure mission readiness

Perform Windows and Linux system administration tasks, including scripting, log analysis, patch management, and user account management

Operate and interpret data from test equipment including spectrum analyzers, oscilloscopes, signal generators, network analyzers, and RF power meters to isolate faults and validate system performance

Configure and troubleshoot TCP/IP-based mission networks, including static routing, subnetting, VLAN tagging, and secure transport links

Diagnose and resolve faults across RF, power, and IP-based network interfaces using technical schematics, block diagrams, and support documentation

Conduct system software loads, firmware updates, and configuration management in accordance with program baselines and security requirements

Support integration and validation of new hardware or software packages in coordination with engineering and sustainment teams

Provide detailed technical feedback and field reports to support root cause analysis, continuous improvement, and lifecycle sustainment planning

Develop and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to support mission success, while leveraging clear written and verbal communication to articulate technical capabilities, limitations, support requirements, and areas for innovation

What You Bring

Bachelor's degree or 6+ years of related work experience

Associate's degree plus 4 years of related work experience

Minimum 3 years of experience supporting airborne ISR mission systems in deployed or field environments

Proficient in radar fundamentals and modes of operation (GMTI, MMTI, SAR, Weather, etc.)

Skilled in using RF test equipment such as spectrum analyzers, oscilloscopes, signal generators, power meters, and network analyzers

Strong understanding of RF signal paths, IP-based system interfaces, and TCP/IP routing concepts.

Familiar with reading technical schematics, wiring diagrams, and implementing configuration changes

In addition to the above, any of the following would be beneficial:

Master's degree or 12+ years of related work experience

Bachelor's degree plus 8 years related work experience

DoD 8140 IAT Level 2 (e.g. CompTIA Security+, Cisco Certified Networking Associate (CCNA))

6+ years of experience supporting airborne ISR mission systems in deployed or field environments

Additional Eligibility Qualifications

Must be able to accomplish any and all duties with little or no assistance

Must have good command of the English language; oral and written

Benefits

Private Medical Insurance

Subsided gym membership / plans through Wellhub

Electric Car scheme

Cycle to work scheme

Salary sacrificed pension scheme

Free lunch on office days

Enhanced Parental Leave

30 days annual PTO plus b/h

Bonus Scheme

Personal development opportunities

Work Authorization / Security Clearance

The employee will have the legal right to work in the (relevant country) and will be able to produce right to work documentation.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time position with typical working hours of Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Hours and work shifts may change in accordance with department and business needs.

Work Environment

This job operates in a hangar and flightline environment.

Travel

Up to 50% worldwide

Our Firmware

At Metrea, our single core value is Rooted in Humility, and our four cornerstone attributes are 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.