# Senior Director, Flight Operations

**Company:** [Shield AI](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/shield-ai)
**Location:** Dallas, TX
**Role:** Executive Leadership
**Salary:** $195k – $295k/yr
**Experience:** 15+ years
**Skills:** Flight Operations, Aviation Safety, Flight Testing, Mission Planning, Risk Management, Fleet Management, Mission Control, Operational Governance, Training Programs, Faa Regulations, Dod, Dcma, Resource Prioritization
**Posted:** 2026-08-27

> Leads global V-BAT flight operations across testing, deployed missions, mission control, training, and customer demonstrations. Requires 15+ years of progressive aviation leadership, experience managing multidisciplinary organizations, and strong expertise in safety, mission execution, governance, and operational scaling.

## Job Description

## Responsibilities
- Lead and scale the Flight Operations organization across Flight Test, Deployed Operations, Mission Control, and Training.
- Establish governance, decision frameworks, operating standards, and scalable strategies for global V-BAT operations.
- Oversee developmental flight testing, contractor-operated missions, customer demonstrations, deployed operations, and training events.
- Ensure safe, efficient execution in accordance with regulatory, contractual, and company requirements.
- Set readiness standards for aircraft, personnel, equipment, and operational sites; oversee risk management, scheduling, and mission execution.
- Provide executive oversight of aircraft allocation, configuration, mission prioritization, and high-impact operational conflicts.
- Lead operator, maintainer, and instructor training, including qualification, currency, standardization, evaluation, curricula, simulators, and technical publications.
- Partner with Engineering, Aviation Sustainment, Program Management, Business Development, and executive leadership on aircraft capabilities, fleet availability, customer readiness, demonstrations, and strategic planning.
- Establish metrics for mission success, fleet utilization, aircraft availability, training throughput, schedule adherence, and safety.
- Capture lessons learned and incorporate them into procedures, training, engineering improvements, and organizational processes.

## Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Aviation Management, Aerospace Engineering, Business, Operations Management, Military Science, or a related field.
- 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in military aviation, commercial aerospace, defense, or advanced aviation operations.
- Experience leading large, multidisciplinary aviation organizations with multiple operational functions and senior leaders.
- Strong understanding of aircraft operations, operational risk management, mission planning, aviation safety, and operational governance.
- Ability to balance customer commitments, engineering schedules, operational readiness, and business objectives.
- Experience developing operational strategy, organizational governance, and scalable processes.
- Exceptional leadership, organizational development, communication, and executive decision-making skills.

## Preferred Qualifications
- Master's degree in Business Administration, Aviation Management, Engineering Management, or a related discipline.
- Senior military aviation leadership experience, such as Operations Group Commander or Squadron Commander.
- Experience managing complex flight operations involving developmental testing, deployed operations, operational training, or globally distributed aviation organizations.
- Experience leading developmental or operational flight test programs or advanced autonomous aircraft programs.
- Familiarity with FAA, DoD, DCMA, and international aviation regulatory frameworks.
- Experience supporting government and international customers.
- FAA Commercial Pilot, Airline Transport Pilot, Military Aviator, or equivalent aviation qualifications.
- Experience integrating enterprise fleet management, operational planning, and resource prioritization across multiple product lines.
- Experience scaling operational organizations during rapid aerospace or defense growth.

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