Skydio

Aviation Regulatory Program Manager

Skydio$122K — $155K *
US-AnywhereRemote in United States
Aerospace & Defense
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in aviation, engineering, public policy, or a related field or equivalent experience.
  • Passion for aviation, autonomy, and impactful solutions, with manned and unmanned aviation experience preferred.
  • Experience with regulatory frameworks for unmanned aircraft operations, especially internationally.
  • Ability to communicate complex technical and regulatory concepts clearly to regulators and internal teams.
  • Proven experience collaborating in fast-paced, high-growth environments.
  • Strong sense of ownership and time management skills under competing demands.
  • Obsessive focus on customer success.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills, with capability to explain complex topics like autonomy.

Responsibilities

  • Develop, submit, and defend aviation regulatory approval requests including waivers and exemptions.
  • Serve as a trusted resource for customers and partners on regulatory projects.
  • Track and oversee the implementation of regulatory projects through scalable systems.
  • Translate emerging regulations into clear guidance and actionable plans.
  • Support product demos and technical validation events with flight testing teams.
  • Provide regulatory advice to cross-functional teams for compliance and safety.
  • Act as a point of contact with civil aviation authorities and represent Skydio in regulatory reviews.
  • Contribute to standards development and represent Skydio in industry forums.

Benefits

  • Paid vacation time and sick leave.
  • Holiday pay and 401K savings plan.
  • Access to comprehensive health insurance plans.
  • Equity in the form of stock options.
  • Relocation assistance may be provided for eligible roles.
Full Job Description
About the Role

We are seeking a world-class Aviation Regulatory Program Manager to join our Global Aviation Regulatory team. You will execute regulatory strategy to secure and sustain operational approvals that enable advanced, autonomous drone operations in the U.S. and globally.

This is the opportunity of a lifetime. Skydio is the largest American drone company whose products are used by thousands of organizations across critical infrastructure, public safety, energy utilities and many sectors. We believe our regulatory team is the best in the world, led by pioneers who have secured groundbreaking approvals in the U.S. and other countries.

If you want to break regulatory barriers, enable life-saving missions, and join a rocket-ship company that is transforming drone technology, this is the job for you.

How You'll Make an Impact

This is a high-impact role at the intersection of technology, regulation, and real-world deployment of autonomous systems, where you will:
  • Develop, submit, and defend aviation regulatory operational approval requests, waivers, exemptions, and declarations that enable safe and scalable drone operations.
  • Be a trusted resource and guide for our customers and partners pursuing advanced regulatory projects.
  • Develop and maintain scalable systems to track and oversee the implementation of regulatory projects.
  • Translate emerging regulations into clear internal guidance and actionable plans.
  • Support key product demonstrations and technical validation events in coordination with the flight testing and solutions engineering teams.
  • Provide regulatory advice to the customer support, product management, and engineering teams to ensure the compliant, safe, and scalable use of Skydio's hardware and software products.
  • Serve as a point of contact with civil aviation authorities (FAA and global regulators), representing Skydio in regulatory reviews, audits, and compliance discussions.
  • Contribute to standards development and represent Skydio in industry bodies and consensus forums.


What Makes You a Good Fit
  • Bachelor's degree in aviation, engineering, public policy, or a related field or equivalent experience.
  • Passion for aviation, autonomy, and creating solutions that drive real impact. Having both manned and unmanned aviation experience is a plus.
  • Experience navigating regulatory frameworks for unmanned aircraft operations (U.S. and international is a plus).
  • Demonstrated ability to communicate complex technical and regulatory concepts clearly and persuasively to both regulators and internal teams.
  • History of collaborating cross-functionally in fast-paced, high-growth environments.
  • Strong sense of ownership and the ability to operate in a fast-paced environment with competing demands on your time.
  • Obsessive focus on customer success.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to explain complicated topics--such as autonomy--to regulators and partners.

Ability to travel to client sites and attend technical validation events, as required (including international).

Compensation: At Skydio, our compensation packages for regular, full-time employees include competitive base salaries, equity in the form of stock options, and comprehensive benefits packages. Compensation will vary based on factors, including skill level, proficiencies, transferable knowledge, and experience. Relocation assistance may also be provided for eligible roles. The annual base salary range for this position is $122,000 - $155,000. Fundamentally, we believe that equity is the key to long-term financial growth, and we ensure all regular, full-time employees have the opportunity to significantly benefit from the company's success. Regular, full-time employees are eligible to enroll in the Company's group health insurance plans. Regular, full-time employees are eligible to receive the following benefits: Paid vacation time, sick leave, holiday pay and 401K savings plan. This position and all associated benefits are subject to applicable federal, state, and local laws, as well as the Company's policies and eligibility criteria.

*Compensation for certain positions may vary based on the position's location.

#LI-WM1

About Skydio

Skydio is a leading manufacturer of autonomous drones for consumer and commercial use. The company's drones are equipped with advanced computer vision and artificial intelligence technology, allowing them to navigate complex environments and avoid obstacles. Skydio was founded in 2014 by a team of experts in robotics, computer vision, and artificial intelligence. The company is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California.
Learn more about Skydio
Size
200 employees
Industry
Founded
2014

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at Skydio

More Aerospace & Defense Jobs

Find similar Aviation Regulatory Program Manager jobs: