Director of Drone Operations

Director of Drone Operations

Requirements

• FAA Part 135 operational experience, including leadership in a commercial aviation or UAS environment.
• Part 107 certification and extensive UAS flight experience (1,000+ logged flight hours preferred).
• Proven ability to develop and enforce SOPs for aviation operations.
• Strong understanding of FAA regulations, airspace management, and compliance frameworks.
• Experience leading teams, managing pilots, and scaling flight operations.
• Background in risk assessment, safety management systems (SMS), and emergency response planning.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills, with the ability to work cross-functionally.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all aspects of drone flight operations, ensuring full compliance with FAA Part 135 regulations and company safety protocols.
• Lead a team of pilots and operations personnel with the chief pilot and director of maintenance reporting to you.
• Develop and implement standard operating procedures (SOPs) and emergency response plans.
• Maintain operational readiness and ensure adherence to safety standards.
• Manage flight operations, scheduling, and logistics for commercial drone deliveries.
• Oversee training programs for pilots and operations personnel.
• Monitor and analyze operational data to improve efficiency and performance.
• Collaborate with engineering and technology teams to enhance operational capabilities.
• Work closely with our commercial operations lead, understanding what the commercial goals are and matching them to our current state of flight operations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with commercial drone delivery operations or UAS integration into logistics networks.
• Prior involvement in obtaining and maintaining FAA Part 135 certification for UAS operations.
• Strong technical understanding of autonomous flight systems and aviation software.