Flight Operations Manager (UAS)

Position Summary

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STRIX USA is seeking an experienced Flight Operations Manager to own all aspects of UAS flight operations across our Colorado test site, production facility, and field demonstrations. This is a hands-on leadership role — you will be the company’s primary pilot and the person responsible for building our flight operations infrastructure from the ground up. You will work directly with engineering, program management, and government customers to plan and execute test campaigns, system validation flights, and operational demonstrations in support of DoD contracts and product development.The right candidate has deep roots in quadcopter operations, understands the unique demands of military and defense applications, and has successfully managed complex UAS operations in demanding or non-standard environments.
Key ResponsibilitiesServe as the company’s designated Remote Pilot in Command (RPIC) and primary FAA Part 107 certificate holder for all STRIX USA UAS operationsPlan, coordinate, and execute all flight test campaigns in support of DFNDR platform development, system integration, and customer demonstrationsDevelop and maintain all flight operations documentation including operations manuals, risk assessments, pre/post-flight checklists, emergency procedures, and airspace authorization requestsManage FAA LAANC authorizations, COA applications, and waivers for beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS), nighttime, and other complex operations requiring special authorizationEstablish and enforce flight operations safety standards, crew resource management protocols, and maintenance tracking procedures across all STRIX UAS assetsCoordinate with the Colorado test site land partner and local aviation authorities to maintain safe, compliant, and efficient test operationsSupport engineering teams with structured test flight planning, data collection protocols, and post-flight analysisBrief government customers, program managers, and DoD personnel on flight operations plans, safety cases, and demonstration scenariosManage and grow a small flight operations team as the company scales toward full-rate production and expanded field deploymentsSupport business development activities by contributing to technical proposals, capability demonstrations, and customer site visits requiring live flight
Required QualificationsFAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate — current and in good standingMinimum 5 years of UAS flight experience, with demonstrated expertise in quadcopter / multi-rotor platformsProven experience planning and executing complex UAS operations including BVLOS, nighttime flight, operations over people, or operations in controlled airspace requiring FAA waiver or coordinationBackground in military, defense contractor, or government UAS applications — either as a military UAS operator, contractor supporting DoD programs, or equivalentExperience operating in field and austere environments with non-standard launch/recovery zones, varying terrain, and minimal infrastructure supportDemonstrated ability to develop and maintain flight operations documentation to a professional and auditable standardStrong working knowledge of FAA Part 107 regulations, the National Airspace System, LAANC, and COA processesAbility to pass a background investigation consistent with U.S. Government contract requirementsMust be a U.S. Citizen — ITAR-controlled hardware and technical data are involved in this rolePreferred QualificationsPrior service as a military UAS operator (or equivalent) or direct support to DoD UAS programs as a contractorExperience with kinetic or payload-equipped UAS xzbcwsv platforms, including operations involving integrated payloads, specialized launch/recovery equipment, or Range Safety coordinationFAA Part 61 manned pilot certificate (any category/class)Familiarity with DoD airspace coordination, test range operations, and Range Safety Officer (RSO) protocolsExperience supporting customer-facing demonstrations or operational evaluations in a defense program contextPrevious involvement in standing up a UAS operations program — writing the first SOPs, establishing the safety culture, building the infrastructure from scratchFamiliarity with autonomous flight systems, mission planning software, and ground control station (GCS) operations for semi-autonomous or AI-assisted platformsWhat You’ll Find HereDirect impact — you are the flight operations function, not a cog in a large organizationWork that matters — the systems you fly support real warfighter requirementsA company early enough that your decisions shape the culture and the processCompetitive compensation, health/dental/vision, and 401(k) with matchColorado-based operations with our test site and production facility both within driving distance