Flight Operations Manager

Redwire Defense Tech•Huntsville, AL

10d•$120,000 - $165,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Flight Operations Manager leads day-to-day flight operations and training execution while ensuring safe, compliant, and efficient use of personnel, platforms, and facilities. This role blends operational leadership, technical UAS expertise, and logistics discipline to scale flight operations in support of product delivery, customer training, and demonstrations. Reporting to the Flight Operations Director, the manager supervises and develops a team of UAS trainers and instructional staff, maintains oversight of flight operations assets, partners closely with Flight Standards & Evaluations manager, and drives continuous improvement across procedures, manuals, and training content.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Aviation, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent relevant experience).
5+ years of experience in UAS operations, including 2+ years in a leadership role supporting training and/or operations management.
Demonstrated ability to lead teams with strong communication, coaching, and organizational skills.
Professional-level English reading and writing skills required to produce documentation, training materials, and operational communications.
Must be highly proficient in all Microsoft Office products. Must have skilled ability to create PowerPoint briefings, Excel spreadsheets, Word documents, and manage day to day communications using Outlook and Teams
Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills, including the ability to diagnose and resolve UAS system issues.
In-depth technical understanding of UAS technology, flight operations, and training practices.
Experience supporting military aviation/UAS operations, including forward-deployed or mission-sensitive environments.
Must hold or be eligible to obtain FAA Part 107 certification.
Must maintain currency on all Redwire Defense Tech UAS products within their scope of duties
Ability to travel up to 50%, including occasional short notice travel for customer support, demonstrations, and field operations.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary point of contact for daily flight operations and training execution; provide status, risks, and priorities to the Flight Operations Director.
Lead, coach, and develop a team of UAS trainers and instructional staff to sustain high performance, consistency, and collaboration.
Recruit, hire, and onboard new training personnel; ensure staff are equipped, trained, and supported to deliver quality instruction.
Conduct regular performance reviews, provide actionable feedback, and identify development opportunities aligned to department needs.
Facilitate recurring team meetings to communicate updates, align on goals, and promote continuous improvement.
Assumes all other responsibilities as assigned
Plan and coordinate UAS training sessions, ensuring schedules, resources, facilities, and support equipment are aligned to demand.
Assist in planning and executing internal and customer training events, including coordination of personnel, assets, and readiness requirements.
Assist in planning and executing UAS demonstrations for stakeholders and clients, ensuring safe, professional, and mission-focused execution.
Partner with the Flight Standards & Evaluations Manager to align training objectives, operational needs, and standardization.
Maintain oversight of flight operations assets, including (but not limited to): Inventory control, configuration accountability, and resource allocation.
Operational status tracking and readiness reporting.
Transportation and deployment logistics coordination.
Scheduled maintenance coordination and inspection tracking to support system reliability.
Asset check-out, assignment, and return procedures for training and mission activity.
Security protocols for storage, handling, and access control of UAS equipment.
Conduct post-production test flights to validate system functionality and performance.
Maintain accurate records of flight activity, system logs, and operational data in accordance with governing procedures.
Provide operational support to the Integration Team as needed for system integration, validation, and verification activities.
Contribute to improvements in product manuals, training materials, and operational procedures based on field feedback and observed outcomes.
Ensure compliance with the Redwire Defense Tech Flight Operations Manual and all applicable governing documents, company policies, and aviation regulations.
Promote a safety-first culture by ensuring risk awareness, procedural discipline, and readiness standards across all operations.