Director of Flight Operations – Defense & UAV | U.S. Based | Onsite | Military-Experienced Candidates Preferred

We’re hiring on behalf of a fast-growing UAV company developing autonomous heavy-lift drones for defense and adjacent missions. With current contracts involving U.S. military partners and demonstrations for DOD and allied units, this is a mission-critical leadership role at the intersection of unmanned systems, flight operations, and defense aviation.

About the Role

The Director of Flight Operations will lead all aspects of unmanned flight testing, demonstrations, and operational readiness. You’ll own the full operational lifecycle: from managing R&D and military pilot training programs to overseeing FAA/DoD compliance, risk, and safety protocols. The ideal candidate has a strong military aviation background, significant unmanned flight experience, and a track record of leading technical flight teams in sensitive and complex environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee all flight operations, including test flights, demos, and military training engagements.
• Serve as the primary military liaison and lead for demonstrations with defense partners.
• Manage pilot teams, ground crew, and ops personnel across multiple test sites.
• Ensure full compliance with FAA Part 107 and 135, DoD guidelines, and safety protocols.
• Develop and enforce SOPs, GOMs, emergency response plans, and training manuals.
• Own the team’s operational readiness and mission planning—aligning test efforts with engineering and systems teams.
• Support and contribute to product development from an operational and test feedback perspective.
• Build, scale, and mentor the flight team as the company moves toward operational deployment.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizen with a strong military background (former UAS pilot or similar ideal).
• FAA Part 107 required; Part 135 operational leadership experience strongly preferred.
• 12+ years of relevant experience in unmanned systems, test operations, or aviation systems.
• 1000+ hours of UAS flight time preferred.
• Experience leading flight operations and training teams, preferably in military or defense-adjacent environments.
• Strong understanding of certification environments (civil or military).
• Proven ability to lead in high-pressure, high-stakes missions and ensure safety and compliance.
• Excellent communication skills and confidence in interfacing with military, regulators, and leadership teams.

Bonus Points For

• BS or higher in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Electrical Engineering.
• Deep understanding of PX4 or similar flight stacks.
• Experience in avionics systems integration and advanced mission planning tools.