Head of Drone Operations

DoorDash USA • San Francisco, CA

49d • Onsite

About The Position

DoorDash Labs is an independent team within DoorDash. We explore robotics and automation to transform last-mile logistics in the long term. If you have a passion for applying autonomous aviation technologies in a service used by millions of people, then we want to talk to you!
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.
• Must be comfortable regularly exercising discretion and independent judgment in performing job duties, including evaluating options, making informed decisions, and determining appropriate courses of action within the scope of assigned responsibilities.

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

• comprehensive benefits package to all regular employees, which includes 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).
• DoorDash also offers medical, dental, and vision benefits, 11 paid holidays, disability and basic life insurance, family-forming assistance, and a mental health program, among others.
• For salaried roles: flexible paid time off/vacation, plus 80 hours of paid sick time per year.
• For hourly roles: vacation accrued at about 1 hour for every 25.97 hours worked (e.g. about 6.7 hours/month if working 40 hours/week; about 3.4 hours/month if working 20 hours/week), and paid sick time accrued at 1 hour for every 30 hours worked (e.g. about 5.8 hours/month if working 40 hours/week; about 2.9 hours/month if working 20 hours/week).

What This Job Offers

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