Operations Director (USA)

Director Of Operations

Work with cutting edge AI technology, making the world a safer and more secure place. DroneShield offers an opportunity to solve some of world's most challenging technical problems in the rapidly growing counter-drone sector.

Our customers operate in some of the most challenging and high-stakes environments in the world, including military organizations, government agencies, airports, critical infrastructure operators, and law enforcement. Protecting airspace in these settings requires technology that performs under pressure and teams that understand what's at stake. At DroneShield, employees work at the leading edge of counter-drone innovation, helping to address real-world security challenges as drone threats continue to evolve globally.

DroneShield's American operations are headquartered in Warrenton, Virginia, home to a growing team of approximately 30 highly skilled professionals. This office plays a critical role in the company's global success, leading U.S.-focused R&D, sales, and customer support, and working closely with American defence and security stakeholders to deliver mission-critical counter-drone solutions tailored to local operational needs.

As one of Australia's largest publicly listed defense companies and a member of the ASX200, DroneShield is experiencing sustained hypergrowth. Global revenue increased from approximately US$38 million in 2024 to over US$125 million in 2025, representing growth of more than 400% year over year, alongside record profitability and cash flow. The global counter-UAS market is estimated at approximately US$100 billion and remains at an early stage, positioning DroneShield as a global market leader and the only publicly listed pure-play counter-drone company worldwide.

DroneShield has grown from just 11 employees in 2017 to more than 450 employees globally today, with continued expansion planned across the United States, Europe, and APAC. The company invests over US$33 million annually in R&D, maintains a global sales pipeline exceeding US$1.65 billion, and continues to scale manufacturing and deployment capacity to meet accelerating demand.

The Washington DC / Northern Virginia office is central to DroneShield's long-term U.S. strategy - bringing innovation closer to the customer, strengthening domestic capability, and supporting national security, public safety, and critical infrastructure protection outcomes across the United States.

About the role

The Director of Operations is the senior leader responsible for overall leadership, performance, and strategic direction of DroneShield's United States operations.

This role provides country-level oversight across delivery, engineering, growth, and operational functions, ensuring the US business operates effectively, compliantly, and in alignment with global strategy. The Director of Operations drives cross-functional alignment, enables scalable growth, and represents the company with key customers, partners, and stakeholders in the US. This role will report to the President of the US operation.

This is a business leadership role, not a functional technical or delivery management position.

Responsibilities, Duties and Expectations

US Business Leadership

• Provide overall leadership for the US based team
• Ensure alignment between US activities and the Global company strategy
• Drive a strong, performance-oriented culture across all US teams
• Serve as the senior in-country representative for the business

Cross-Functional Integration

• Oversee coordination across:
• Operations
• Tech
• Growth & Commercial functions

• Remove barriers between teams to ensure efficient execution
• Ensure priorities are aligned with customer, operational, and strategic objectives

Operational Oversight

• Provide executive oversight of US delivery and operational performance via the Director of Operations
• Ensure customer commitments are executed effectively and professionally
• Monitor operational capacity, readiness, and scalability

Commercial & Growth Alignment

• Work closely with the Chief Growth Officer (US) to support market expansion and strategic pursuits
• Provide operational and executive support for major customer engagements and partnerships
• Support capture and delivery alignment for key programs

Governance, Compliance & Risk

• Ensure US operations adhere to company policies, legal requirements, and compliance frameworks
• Oversee workplace safety, security, and regulatory obligations at a country level
• Support audit readiness and governance requirements

External Representation

• When required, represent DroneShield with US customers, partners, and government stakeholders
• Support strategic relationship development and executive engagement

Financial & Performance Oversight

• Support budgeting, forecasting, and financial performance oversight for US operations
• Ensure operational performance supports financial targets and growth objectives

Qualifications, Experience and Skills

• 7–10 years of progressive leadership experience managing multi-functional teams and business units, with the ability to drive performance, accountability, and cross-functional alignment
• Experience operating in high-growth or scaling organizations, building structure, processes, and operational discipline as teams expand
• Background in defense, aerospace, hardware technology, telecommunications, or other regulated or mission-critical environments is strongly preferred
• Strong understanding of operational planning, delivery execution, and capacity management in complex technical or product-driven organizations
• Experience engaging with senior external stakeholders, including government, enterprise, or strategic partners, in complex or high-value environments
• Familiarity with governance, compliance, and quality frameworks, and the ability to manage risk and regulatory requirements
• Sound commercial and financial acumen, including experience supporting budgeting, forecasting, and major customer or partnership engagements
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to represent the company externally and influence senior internal stakeholders

Note for recruitment agencies: We do not accept unsolicited candidates from external recruiters unless specifically instructed.