Program Manager, Air Force Strategic Accounts

Role Description

Skydio is seeking a customer-obsessed Program Manager to drive adoption, operationalization, and mission success for Skydio Dock programs across the U.S. Air Force. In this role, you will serve as the primary liaison between Skydio and Air Force stakeholders, enabling the successful deployment, operational integration, and scaled adoption of autonomous drone operations. You will own program execution from planning through operational adoption, ensuring customers realize measurable mission value while managing timelines, technical dependencies, risks, and stakeholder alignment.

Success in this role requires a blend of program leadership, technical acumen, and customer engagement, coupled with a relentless focus on mission outcomes. You will work directly with operators, installation leadership, communications and cybersecurity teams, and program stakeholders while partnering internally with Product, Engineering, Operations, Sales, and Support to deliver exceptional customer outcomes.

This role is ideal for someone who thrives in fast-paced environments, enjoys solving complex operational challenges, and is passionate about bringing cutting-edge technology into real-world mission environments.

How You'll Make an Impact

• Own the successful deployment, operational adoption, and long-term success of Skydio Dock programs across Air Force installations.
• Build trusted relationships across operational units, program offices, installation leadership, and enterprise stakeholders.
• Lead planning, integration, testing, training, and fielding activities to ensure mission-ready operations and successful customer outcomes.
• Drive customer adoption by removing barriers, delivering operational wins, and ensuring customers realize measurable mission and operational value.
• Serve as the voice of the customer, translating operational requirements and field feedback into actionable priorities for Product and Engineering teams.
• Coordinate Product, Engineering, Operations, Sales, and Support teams to execute customer commitments, mitigate risks, and deliver exceptional outcomes.
• Develop scalable implementation frameworks, documentation, and best practices that accelerate adoption across the Air Force enterprise.
• Identify opportunities to expand mission applications, increase utilization, and drive long-term customer success and account growth.

Qualifications

• Experience leading customer-facing programs, technology deployments, or operational capability fielding efforts within the U.S. Air Force, Department of Defense, or defense technology industry.
• Proven track record delivering complex hardware and software solutions from planning through operational adoption.
• Ability to establish credibility and build trusted relationships with operators, technical teams, acquisition stakeholders, and senior leaders.
• Strong technical aptitude with the ability to quickly learn new systems and navigate complex integration challenges.
• Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously while balancing customer expectations, technical constraints, and business priorities.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience working with Air Force program offices, operational units, installation support organizations, communications squadrons, cybersecurity teams, or acquisition stakeholders is highly desirable.
• Experience with unmanned systems, autonomy, enterprise software, secure networks, mission systems, or other defense technologies preferred.

Requirements

• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Security Clearance.
• Willingness to travel up to 40% to support customer deployments, operational engagements, and program execution.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience.
• Obtaining FAA Part 107 certification within the first 60 days of employment is strongly encouraged for all Skydio employees and required for certain positions.

Benefits

• Competitive base salaries.
• Equity in the form of stock options.
• Comprehensive benefits packages.
• Paid vacation time, sick leave, holiday pay, and 401K savings plan.
• Relocation assistance may also be provided for eligible roles.