Mission Operations Lead

About Poseidon Aerospace: Poseidon Aerospace builds and operates unmanned planes for commercial logistics and defense missions. Our two full-size fixed-wing platforms - Heron, a seaplane, and Egret, a STOL aircraft - can carry two tons of payload over a thousand nautical miles. We are headquartered in San Francisco with satellite offices in Washington, DC and Maine. About the role: Poseidon both builds and operates its aircraft, which means a won contract becomes a real mission in the field. The Mission Operations Lead is the owner of that transition. After the growth team wins the work, you take it from signature to after-action: the demonstrations and events, the live customer missions, the airworthiness and flight clearances, and the logistics, infrastructure, training, and reporting that surround them. The role is deliberately broad. It pairs the hands-on engineering needed to make hardware work in austere conditions with the program management needed to run a mission flawlessly under pressure. You will work in lockstep with the growth team that wins the missions and the engineering team that builds the aircraft, owning the path from hangar to field and feeding what you learn in the field back into what Poseidon sells and builds. If you can operate the aircraft yourself, that is a plus. What you'll do: Mission execution and field ownership Lead the end-to-end execution of customer demonstrations, exercises, and live missions, and serve as Poseidon's primary on-site representative during field operations. Be the single person accountable for everything that deploys to the field and how it performs, identifying and resolving mission-critical issues in time-sensitive situations. Own contract deliverables in the field, including the development and implementation of measures of performance and effectiveness. Airworthiness, clearances, and regulatory orchestration Secure interim flight clearances, airworthiness releases, and certificates of authorization for Poseidon missions. Own range scheduling and airspace coordination, and ensure compliance with the relevant FAA and military regulations, the National Airspace System, and government restricted airspace and UAS operating rules. Own the full pre-mission compliance lifecycle so that every mission is cleared, safe, and ready on schedule. Planning, logistics, and infrastructure Plan and coordinate all mission elements across multiple and often austere locations: aircraft, payloads, ground support equipment, communications and C2 infrastructure, logistics, and personnel. Develop comprehensive logistics plans for demonstrations, deployments, operations, and sustainment. Write and maintain SOPs, checklists, emergency procedures, and the flight-readiness and safety reviews that make missions repeatable. Integration with growth and engineering Partner with growth from the front end, supporting proposals, scoping, and customer reviews so that missions are won in a way Poseidon can execute. Train and onboard customer operators and end users, and act as the technical and programmatic bridge between the customer, growth, and engineering. Build and run the feedback loops that capture field observations and translate them into engineering and product priorities, and produce clear post-mission reporting. Building how Poseidon operates in the field Establish the playbooks, tooling, and operating cadence for Poseidon mission operations. Mature how Poseidon operates in the field as mission tempo grows, raising the bar on safety, repeatability, and speed. Required qualifications: 8+ years in flight operations, flight test, mission operations, or field deployment of complex aerospace or defense systems, with demonstrated end-to-end ownership of mission or deployment execution. A strong aviation pedigree, including working command of UAS and RPAS operations, airspace coordination, and the FAA and military approval pathways (44807, COA, interim flight clearances, and airworthiness releases). The engineering aptitude to troubleshoot aircraft, avionics, communications, and ground systems in the field, combined with the program-management discipline to run complex missions on schedule. Demonstrated ability to operate as a single point of accountability across cross-functional teams and external customers in high-consequence environments. Willing and able to travel 50% to 80%, frequently on short notice, to CONUS and OCONUS locations. Active or eligible U.S. security clearance. Clearance is required for this role. Based in San Francisco. U.S. Person. Preferred qualifications: Remote pilot in command experience (Part 107 and beyond), or manned or unmanned pilot experience. The ability to operate the aircraft is a strong plus, though not required. Experience standing up a field or mission operations function, including the SOPs, tooling, and playbooks behind it. Experience operating across both defense missions and commercial logistics. Background in military aviation, flight test, or operational deployment. Familiarity with mission planning software, telemetry and flight-data systems, and ground control workflows. What we offer: Competitive salary and meaningful early-stage equity Relocation support if applicable Health insurance and 401(k) matching Unlimited PTO Free lunches, snacks, and a stocked fridge at our offices Covered access to AI tools and subscriptions