Head of Drone Operations

Doordash•San Francisco, CA

64d•Onsite

About The Position

As the Director of Drone Operations, you will oversee all aspects of drone flight operations, ensuring full compliance with FAA Part 135 regulations and company safety protocols. You will lead a team of pilots and operations personnel with the chief pilot and director of maintenance reporting to you, develop and implement standard operating procedures, and collaborate cross-functionally to scale and enhance our drone delivery capabilities. Due to the nature of this role, it is required to have high touch point with the operation, and in-person collaboration is needed with engineering and product,. This role is based in San Francisco and cannot be done remotely.

Requirements

FAA Part 135 operational experience, including leadership in a commercial aviation or UAS environment.
Part 107 certification and extensive UAS flight experience (1,000+ logged flight hours preferred).
Proven ability to develop and enforce SOPs for aviation operations.
Strong understanding of FAA regulations, airspace management, and compliance frameworks.
Experience leading teams, managing pilots, and scaling flight operations.
Background in risk assessment, safety management systems (SMS), and emergency response planning.
Excellent communication and leadership skills, with the ability to work cross-functionally.

Nice To Haves

Experience with commercial drone delivery operations or UAS integration into logistics networks.
Prior involvement in obtaining and maintaining FAA Part 135 certification for UAS operations.
Strong technical understanding of autonomous flight systems and aviation software.

Responsibilities

Develop, implement, and oversee drone operations in compliance with FAA Part 135 regulations.
Thorough knowledge of the contents of Part 135 documentation and experience with writing and revising General Operations Manual (GOM) and Training Manuals
Ensure compliance with all FAA, DOT, and company policies and regulations.
Represent the company in regulatory discussions and industry events.
Lead the operations team through immense scaling, with the chief pilot and director of maintenance reporting to you
Lead the development of standard operating procedures (SOPs) and emergency response plans
Maintain operational readiness and ensure adherence to safety standards.
Manage flight operations, scheduling, and logistics for commercial drone deliveries.
Oversee training programs for pilots and operations personnel.
Monitor and analyze operational data to improve efficiency and performance.
Excited to be high touch with the operations team, observing operations from the field
Collaborate with engineering and technology teams to enhance operational capabilities
Work closely with our commercial operations lead, understanding what the commercial goals are and matching them to our current state of flight operations
Be at the forefront of autonomous aviation and shape the future of last-mile drone delivery.
Lead a high-impact team in a fast-paced, innovative environment.
Work with industry leaders in delivery, logistics and autonomous aviation
Build a team from the ground up with autonomy and trust
Develop scalable workflows that ensure compliance, safety, and efficiency as operations expand.

Benefits

a 401(k) plan with employer matching
16 weeks of paid parental leave
wellness benefits
commuter benefits match
paid time off and paid sick leave in compliance with applicable laws (e.g. Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act)
medical, dental, and vision benefits
11 paid holidays
disability and basic life insurance
family-forming assistance
a mental health program