F35 Lightning || Simulator Operator

About the Role

Join BAE Systems as an F-35 Lightning II Simulator Operator and become part of a highly skilled and collaborative team within the state-of-the-art Integrated Training Centre (ITC). Your role will be crucial in delivering high-quality synthetic and academic training to all UK F-35 Lightning II pilots, ensuring the maintenance of the highest standards of instruction and operational readiness.

Core Duties

• Deliver exceptional training support to F-35B Lightning squadron pilots, consistently upholding the highest standards of instructional excellence.
• Provide expert Instructor Operator Station (IOS) console support for Lightning Operational Conversion Unit and Frontline Squadron simulator sorties, ensuring realistic and effective training outcomes.
• Maintain deep, current expertise in frontline Lightning tactics and doctrine, directly informing training realism and operational relevance.
• Serve as primary or secondary Subject Matter Expert (SME) for allocated technical systems, as directed by the ITC Instructional Lead, including ownership and continual refinement of associated lecture material.
• Deliver high-fidelity, pilot-specific synthetic training on the Full Mission Simulator and Deployable Mission Rehearsal Trainer in accordance with UK syllabi, both at the UK training centre and during deployed operations.
• Provide authoritative technical and training advice on synthetic devices, shaping the evolution of UK-sovereign training syllabi, mission scenarios, and tactics for the Lightning weapon system.

Essential Skills

• Military aviation experience (e.g., Military Pilot, WSO/Navigator, Weapons Controller/Airspace Battle Manager/Fighter Controller).

Integrated Training Centre Lightning Pilot Training Team

As part of this team, you will contribute to the development and refinement of the UK sovereign training system, supporting the design of training scenarios, tactics, and mission profiles. This role offers a unique opportunity to work alongside experienced professionals, share specialist knowledge, and influence the future of F-35 pilot training within a world-class training environment.

The role offers the opportunity to enter at and progress through numerous levels of training delivery and instructional qualifications based on experience levels and previous qualifications. Progression through the varying levels will expand your instructional scope and qualifications, including the award of Qualified Synthetic Flying Instructor (QSFI) for Pilots and advancement onto delivering additional OCU simulator sorties normally delivered by squadron QFIs (Basic and Advanced QCIP Qualifications).

Security Requirements

Please be aware that many roles at BAE Systems are subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors such as your nationality, any nationalities you may have previously held, and your place of birth can restrict the roles you are eligible to perform within the organisation. All applicants must as a minimum achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). Many roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting, where applicants must typically have 5 to 10 years of continuous residency in the UK depending on the vetting level required for the role, to allow for meaningful security vetting checks.