Flight Operations Manager (UAS)

Position Summary

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 Responsibilities

• Serve as the company’s designated Remote Pilot in Command (RPIC) and primary FAA Part 107 certificate holder for all STRIX USA UAS operations
• Plan, coordinate, and execute all flight test campaigns in support of DFNDR platform development, system integration, and customer demonstrations
• Develop and maintain all flight operations documentation including operations manuals, risk assessments, pre/post-flight checklists, emergency procedures, and airspace authorization requests
• Manage FAA LAANC authorizations, COA applications, and waivers for beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS), nighttime, and other complex operations requiring special authorization
• Establish and enforce flight operations safety standards, crew resource management protocols, and maintenance tracking procedures across all STRIX UAS assets
• Coordinate with the Colorado test site land partner and local aviation authorities to maintain safe, compliant, and efficient test operations
• Support engineering teams with structured test flight planning, data collection protocols, and post-flight analysis
• Brief government customers, program managers, and DoD personnel on flight operations plans, safety cases, and demonstration scenarios
• Manage and grow a small flight operations team as the company scales toward full-rate production and expanded field deployments
• Support business development activities by contributing to technical proposals, capability demonstrations, and customer site visits requiring live flight

Required Qualifications

• FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate — current and in good standing
• Minimum 5 years of UAS flight experience , with demonstrated expertise in quadcopter / multi-rotor platforms
• Proven experience planning and executing complex UAS operations including BVLOS, nighttime flight, operations over people, or operations in controlled airspace requiring FAA waiver or coordination
• Background in military, defense contractor, or government UAS applications — either as a military UAS operator, contractor supporting DoD programs, or equivalent
• Experience operating in field and austere environments with non-standard launch/recovery zones, varying terrain, and minimal infrastructure support
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain flight operations documentation to a professional and auditable standard
• Strong working knowledge of FAA Part 107 regulations, the National Airspace System, LAANC, and COA processes
• Ability to pass a background investigation consistent with U.S. Government contract requirements
• Must be a U.S. Citizen — ITAR-controlled hardware and technical data are involved in this role

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior service as a military UAS operator (or equivalent) or direct support to DoD UAS programs as a contractor
• Experience with kinetic or payload-equipped UAS platforms , including operations involving integrated payloads, specialized launch/recovery equipment, or Range Safety coordination
• FAA Part 61 manned pilot certificate (any category/class)
• Familiarity with DoD airspace coordination , test range operations, and Range Safety Officer (RSO) protocols
• Experience supporting customer-facing demonstrations or operational evaluations in a defense program context
• Previous involvement in standing up a UAS operations program — writing the first SOPs, establishing the safety culture, building the infrastructure from scratch
• Familiarity with autonomous flight systems , mission planning software, and ground control station (GCS) operations for semi-autonomous or AI-assisted platforms

What You’ll Find Here

• Direct impact — you are the flight operations function, not a cog in a large organization
• Work that matters — the systems you fly support real warfighter requirements
• A company early enough that your decisions shape the culture and the process
• Competitive compensation, health/dental/vision, and 401(k) with match
• Colorado-based operations with our test site and production facility both within driving distance