Drones Operations Manager

About the Team

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!

About the Role

As the Drone Operations Manager for UK & Ireland, you are a player-coach who will stand up our drone delivery operation in the region from nothing. You will personally fly on a regular basis, as a working pilot, while you build the team, find and fit out the operating sites, and help take us through UK CAA and/or Irish Aviation Authority (IAA)/EASA authorisation. You will contribute to the manuals you fly under.

As we build out the team in 2027, the future Chief Pilot (or equivalent nominated post-holder) and Head of Maintenance will report to you. You will work day to day with engineering and product, in person, at the launch site. This role is on-site and cannot be done remotely.

What You'll Do Day to Day

Fly and Operate (a regular part of the job, not occasional):

• Fly as a pilot in command on a regular rota: aircraft acceptance and commissioning flights, proving flights for the regulator, and live delivery operations.
• Run pre-flight and post-flight checks, site and airspace checks, weather go/no-go decisions, battery and payload handling, and flight logging in line with the Operations Manual.
• Act as visual observer, payload operator or flight supervisor as needed, and be on the ground at launch and landing sites during operations.
• Keep your own pilot competency, currency, recurrent training and flight records up to date, to the standard you set for the team.
• Lead incident, accident and occurrence response in the field and file regulator reports (CAA mandatory occurrence reporting / IAA-EASA equivalent) and run the follow-up investigation.

Build the Team:

• Recruit, hire and onboard the first pilots, ops technicians, visual observers, maintenance staff and the nominated safety/compliance post-holders.
• Write the training syllabus and run initial and recurrent training, including practical flight checks, competency assessments, emergency drills and currency tracking.
• Build the duty roster, flight-time and fatigue limits, and on-call coverage.

Find and Build the Sites:

• Scout and secure launch/landing sites, hubs and maintenance space near merchant partners. Walk the sites, survey obstacles, flight paths, ground risk and operational suitability, and negotiate access, leases and landowner permissions.
• Oversee on-site fit-out: workshop space, battery charging and storage (including fire protection and lithium battery storage rules), power and connectivity, security, landing pads, signage, first aid and fire equipment.
• Support planning consent and local authority approvals. Own risk assessments, health and safety procedures, and set up all site requirements with support from corporate teams as needed.
• Own the launch plan, budget, vendors and timeline for each site. 
• Lead local community and stakeholder engagement for each site (neighbours, local authorities), including noise and privacy concerns.
• Work with the aircraft provider and engineering on site layout, charging, battery swap and loading equipment.

Regulatory Authorisation and Compliance:

• Run the Safety Management System (SMS): hazard reporting, risk assessments, safety reviews, audits and corrective actions.
• Stay compliant with UK GDPR/EU GDPR (ICO or Data Protection Commission), insurance (Regulation 785/2004 and UK equivalent), noise, and local environmental requirements.
• Be the day-to-day contact for the CAA, IAA and air navigation service providers, including audits, inspections and flight demonstrations.

Scale the Operation:

• Track flight, delivery and reliability metrics and use them to improve procedures, rotas and site layouts.
• Work with the commercial operations lead to match merchant demand to flight capacity.
• Work with the US drone operations team to adapt proven processes to the UK/Ireland regulatory environment.

Why You'll Love This Role

• Keep flying: you will be hands-on with aircraft every week while you lead.
• Be at the forefront of autonomous aviation and shape last-mile drone delivery in the EMEA.
• Build a team, a site and an operation from the ground up with autonomy and trust.
• Work directly with engineers who build the aircraft and software you operate.

What We're Looking For

• Current remote pilot qualifications and significant hands-on UAS flight experience (including BVLOS or complex operations), with a CAA or EASA-recognised pilot competency (e.g. A2 CofC, GVC/OSC-level, or national equivalent).
• Experience holding or managing UK CAA Operational Authorisations and/or EASA Specific category authorisations (or LUC).
• Proven ability to write and enforce SOPs, checklists and Operations Manuals.
• Working knowledge of UK CAA / IAA / EASA regulations, SORA, airspace and compliance frameworks.
• Experience leading and training pilots, and starting up or scaling flight operations.
• Practical experience setting up an operating site: finding space, working with landlords, contractors and local authorities, and handling battery storage and site safety.
• Background in risk assessment, SMS, and emergency response.
• Willingness to work in the field in all weather, including early mornings, evenings and weekends, as operations require.

Bonus Qualifications

• Commercial drone delivery or logistics experience.
• Prior involvement in obtaining BVLOS authorisations in the UK or EU.
• Technical understanding of autonomous flight systems, aircraft maintenance and aviation software.
• Existing relationships with the UK CAA, IAA, NATS or AirNav Ireland.