Drone Solutions Manager

Velociti • Riverside, MO

3d • Onsite

About The Position

Velociti is seeking a commercially minded technology leader to own and grow its drone solutions business. The role leads strategy, growth, and profitability across a portfolio that includes enterprise drones, automated docking systems, and the proprietary Velociti Drone Hangar, a deployable, trailer-based drone-in-a-box platform. The manager connects technology, business strategy, and customer needs, shaping product roadmaps, managing OEM partnerships, developing go-to-market strategies, and supporting enterprise sales opportunities.

The position owns revenue, gross profit, pricing, forecasting, and annual business planning for the portfolio. It guides product development from requirements through launch and customer acceptance, manages product specifications and manufacturing and supply planning, and builds partnerships with manufacturers, distributors, contract manufacturers, and channel partners. The manager also works with sales, solution architects, engineering, operations, and leadership to develop customer proposals, service offerings, sales enablement materials, and smooth transitions from sales to delivery.

This is an on-site role at Velociti’s Riverside, Missouri office, with occasional work-from-home flexibility possible with prior supervisor approval and coordination. Travel of approximately 25% may be required for customer engagements, manufacturing partners, and industry events. The work is primarily in a professional office environment and involves computer-based work, meetings, occasional movement through office or project areas, and occasional lifting or carrying of up to 25 pounds. Extended hours or weekends may be needed to support critical deadlines or major project milestones.

Requirements

• At least 5 years of experience in product management, product line management, business development, or a related role involving hardware or integrated technology systems.
• Hands-on experience with commercial drone programs, enterprise aircraft, docking systems, drone-in-a-box platforms, or comparable robotics and connected hardware solutions.
• Demonstrated success owning revenue, gross margin, pricing, and business performance, including planning, forecasting, and budgeting.
• Experience launching products, developing go-to-market strategies, or growing a product or solution portfolio.
• Proven ability to manage OEM, distributor, manufacturing, or strategic channel relationships.
• Ability to interpret bills of materials, engineering drawings, and electrical or network schematics to support product and configuration decisions.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work effectively across technical teams, customers, executives, and sales organizations.
• Ability to learn new technologies, understand evolving markets, and translate complex capabilities into compelling customer solutions.
• Willingness to travel approximately 25% to customer sites, manufacturing partners, and industry events.
• Ability to work on-site at Velociti’s Riverside, Missouri office; occasional work-from-home flexibility may be available with prior supervisor approval and coordination.

Nice To Haves

• FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate and familiarity with BVLOS operations, waivers, and remote drone operations.
• Experience with enterprise drone, docking, and automation platforms from leading manufacturers.
• Industry experience in utilities, equipment rental, construction, public safety, or other field-based operational environments.
• Familiarity with mobile and off-grid technology platforms, including trailers, solar and battery power, cellular connectivity, and satellite communications.
• Experience using Salesforce and AI-powered productivity tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or Microsoft Copilot.

Responsibilities

• Own revenue, gross profit, pricing, forecasting, and annual business planning for the drone solutions portfolio.
• Develop and execute a roadmap to grow the business, strengthen margins, and improve competitive positioning.
• Identify market opportunities, evaluate emerging technologies, build business cases, analyze trends, and develop pricing strategies.
• Lead the Velociti Drone Hangar product roadmap, feature development, and version planning.
• Work with engineering teams and manufacturing partners to improve product capabilities, manage costs, and bring innovations to market.
• Oversee product specifications, bills of materials, cost models, and product documentation.
• Guide product development from initial requirements through launch and customer acceptance, using field feedback to improve solutions.
• Manage manufacturing forecasts, supply planning, inventory needs, and production lead times.
• Develop and manage relationships with drone manufacturers, OEMs, distributors, contract manufacturers, and channel partners.
• Evaluate aircraft, docking systems, software platforms, and complementary technologies for fit with the portfolio.
• Develop reseller programs, partner pricing structures, and enablement resources.
• Monitor industry regulations and compliance requirements, including FAA rules, BVLOS operations, and NDAA-related sourcing considerations.
• Partner with sales teams and solution architects to identify opportunities, develop proposals and quotes, and close complex customer deals.
• Serve as a senior technical resource in customer discussions, translating technology capabilities into business outcomes.
• Develop service offerings for installation, staging, commissioning, and NOC monitoring.
• Create sales enablement materials such as solution briefs, presentations, ROI models, and customer-facing resources.
• Support transitions from sales to delivery with scopes of work, bills of materials, and acceptance criteria, while remaining accountable for customer outcomes.
• Maintain accurate pipeline, forecast, pricing, and product information in Salesforce and the SKU Catalog.
• Monitor business performance and implement repeatable processes that support growth.
• Evaluate adjacent technology opportunities and help launch new product lines.
• Collaborate across sales, engineering, operations, and leadership to deliver measurable results.
• Travel approximately 25% to customer sites, manufacturing partners, and industry events as needed.
• Occasionally lift or carry up to 25 pounds of project materials or equipment; work extended hours or weekends as needed for critical deadlines or major milestones.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: No Education Listed