Director of UAS Services

First Coast Security Services, Inc.

$110K — $130K *
Aerospace & Defense
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5+ years of experience in UAS/drone operations with program ownership history
  • Active FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate
  • Proven track record in revenue growth and business ownership
  • Experience in direct sales and business development
  • Hands-on operational experience in planning and executing drone missions
  • Experience in authoring SOPs and operational documentation
  • Working proficiency in scripting or programming, e.g., Python
  • Strong communication skills for engaging technical and non-technical stakeholders
  • Willingness to travel up to 50% with a valid driver's license

Responsibilities

  • Own the UAS vertical, managing revenue, budgeting, and business planning
  • Lead daily flight operations, including scheduling, mission planning, and safety oversight
  • Drive business development from prospecting to closing, acting as technical advisor during client interactions
  • Manage multiple projects and programs, ensuring timely deliverables and client satisfaction
  • Ensure compliance with all UAS regulations and licensing requirements
  • Develop and enforce SOPs for flight operations and safety standards
  • Establish and expand counter-UAS capabilities focused on detection
  • Develop software and automation tools for mission planning and data processing
  • Recruit and lead a growing team of pilots and technical staff
  • Build partnerships with vendors and regulatory contacts

Benefits

  • 401K/403b Plan
  • Dental Insurance
  • Paid Vacation
  • Vision Insurance
  • Medical Insurance
  • Life Insurance
Full Job Description
Job Details

The Role:

We're looking for a Director of UAS Services to own and grow our unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) vertical end to end. This is a full ownership role: you'll run operations, drive revenue, manage projects and programs, own regulatory and licensing compliance, author the SOPs that govern how we fly, and stand up our emerging counter-UAS (detection) capability.

This is not a chief-pilot seat. You'll set the strategy and own the number, then execute against it hands-on. You'll build and lead the pilot and program teams, sell the service to commercial and government clients, keep us clean with the FAA, and shape a new line of business as it scales. If you've run a drone program as a business and want the mandate to build one from the ground up, this is the seat.

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Own the UAS vertical end to end, including revenue targets, budgeting, and business planning across both commercial and government client segments
  • Lead day-to-day flight operations, including crew scheduling, mission planning, safety oversight, equipment readiness, and field execution
  • Drive sales and business development, from prospecting and scoping through proposal, pricing, and close, and serve as the senior technical voice in client conversations
  • Manage projects and programs across multiple concurrent client engagements, owning scope, timeline, deliverables, and client satisfaction
  • Own all UAS regulatory and licensing compliance, including FAA Part 107 certification, waiver and airspace authorization submissions, and maintenance of currency and documentation across the pilot team
  • Author, maintain, and enforce standard operating procedures (SOPs) governing flight operations, safety, maintenance, data handling, and client delivery
  • Stand up and grow FCS's emerging counter-UAS capability, focused on drone detection and airspace awareness (detection only; no active mitigation)
  • Develop and maintain the software, scripting, and automation that support mission planning, data processing, and reporting workflows
  • Recruit, train, and lead pilots, technicians, and program staff as the vertical scales
  • Build relationships with equipment vendors, technology partners, and regulatory contacts


REQUIREMENTS

  • 5+ years of progressive experience in UAS/drone operations, with demonstrated ownership of a program, service line, or business unit
  • Active FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate with demonstrated experience obtaining Part 107 waivers and airspace authorizations
  • Proven revenue or business-ownership experience, with a track record of growing a book of business or service line
  • Direct sales or business development experience, including client-facing scoping, proposals, and closing
  • Hands-on operational experience planning and executing drone missions in real-world conditions
  • Experience authoring SOPs, safety programs, or operational documentation
  • Working proficiency in scripting or programming (e.g., Python) for automation, data processing, or mission workflows
  • Strong communication skills, with the ability to move between highly technical teams and non-technical executives and clients
  • Willingness to travel up to 50% and a valid driver's license


Additional Information / Benefits

  • 401K/403b Plan
  • Dental Insurance
  • Paid Vacation
  • Vision Insurance
  • Medical Insurance
  • Life Insurance

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