Field Operations Manager - Full time position

HyLight; Paris; On-site; EUR 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

BSPCE equity options

Company lunches covered

Transit subscriptions reimbursed

Company bicycle

Two team offsites a year

Excellent work environment

Job summary

HyLight is seeking a Field Operations Manager to lead the deployment of HyLighters across France. You will oversee preparation, setup, and execution of on-site operations, ensuring safety, data quality, and system reliability.

Travel across France with multi-day deployments, coordinating with technical teams and documenting operations. Fluency in French and English is required for field collaboration and reporting.

Qualifications

• Experience in UAV operations and field deployments.
• Understanding of airspace regulations.
• Proven field ops and team leadership experience.
• Ability to conduct missions autonomously.
• Willingness to travel across France and stay overnight.
• Manned aviation license or equivalent is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Field Operations & Mission Execution: deploy HyLighters during inspections across France.
• Prepare, set up, and execute on-site operations with safety and compliance.
• Act as on-site primary contact for stakeholders and ensure data quality.

Skills

UAV operations

Aviation background & airspace regs

Field operations & team management

Autonomous mission execution

Frequent travel across France

PPL/LAPL/ULM or equivalent (bonus)

Job description

About Hylight

HyLight’s mission is to help society become more resilient to climate change by improving the observation and inspection of infrastructure.

HyLight’s mission is to help society become more resilient to climate change by improving the observation and inspection of infrastructure.

We build HyLighters, airships that collect data across vast distances with zero emissions.

Our activities include:

• Detecting methane leaks from gas infrastructures (4% of global GHG emissions)
• Inspecting power lines to prevent outages and wildfires

By 2030, we aim to become the global leader in aerial monitoring.

In just 3 years, we have pushed the realm of possibilities: as we have:

• Developed 8 iterations of the HyLighter
• Logged over 200 flight hours
• Secured our first inspection contracts with Europe’s largest infrastructure operators
• Joined the world’s top startup accelerator, Y Combinator
• Raised €6 millions

HyLight is aiming for a diverse and included team, if your profile doesn't fit all the description but you can bring a diverse point of view, push it forward, it will be highly appreciated.

We’re well-funded and backed by top investors, providing the resources you wish you had when building your own business. We don’t care about traditional roles or titles, just that you’re smart, proactive, and bring the same founder-level ownership and drive to help us build something massive.

Job Summary:

As a Field Operations Manager at HyLight, you will be at the heart of our field operations.

Your mission will focus on one major objective: the execution of flight operations across France. You will be responsible for deploying HyLighters during inspection missions, regularly involving overnight multi-day deployments in the field.

You will oversee the preparation, deployment, and successful execution of operations on-site, ensuring all missions are conducted safely and in compliance with applicable operational requirements. You will also serve as the primary point of contact in the field and help guarantee both the quality of the data collected and the reliability of the systems being operated.

You will work closely with the technical teams to ensure system reliability, data quality, and operational excellence, while contributing to operational documentation and the continuous improvement of our Ops procedures.

If you are passionate about drones, enjoy working in the field, and want to contribute to innovative and meaningful missions supporting the climate transition, this role is for you.

The Mission:

• Field Operations & Mission Execution
• Deploy HyLighters during inspection missions across France.
• Prepare, set up, and execute operations on-site.
• Ensure the safety, compliance, and efficiency of operations in real time.
• Manage operational contingencies and communicate effectively with technical teams.
• Act as the primary point of contact on-site for all mission-related stakeholders.
• Contribute to operational reporting and mission traceability.
• Operational Preparation & Continuous Improvement
• Participate in the logistical and operational preparation of missions.
• Verify the availability, condition, and compliance of equipment before each deployment.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of operational procedures.
• Participate in the structuring of Ops processes (documentation, standardization, lessons learned).
• Participate in software and system testing and validation activities in the field and at the air base.

Technical Skills:

• Proven experience in UAV operations.
• Good aviation background and understanding of basic airspace regulations.
• Field operations and team management experience.
• Ability to conduct missions autonomously.
• Comfortable travelling frequently across France and undertaking overnight multi-day deployments.
• A manned aviation license (PPL, LAPL, ULM, or equivalent) or CATS is a plus.

Soft Skills:

• Strong attention to detail, organization, and rigor in mission preparation and execution.
• High level of autonomy and ownership in the field.
• Ability to manage unexpected situations and make decisions in an operational environment.
• Ability to represent the company professionally and clearly.
• Team player with a collaborative mindset.
• Adaptable and comfortable with frequent travel.

Languages:

Professional proficiency in French and English (written and spoken).

What We Offer:

• Full-time or freelance contract depending on profile.
• Salary between €30,000 and €40,000 depending on experience for full-time employees.
• Competitive day rate based on experience for freelance contractors.
• Additional daily field allowance for days spent on deployments..
• HyLight equity through BSPCE stock options (employees).
• 100% company-covered lunches (equivalent to approximately €1,000/year).
• 100% reimbursement of public transportation subscriptions (Navigo) or €800/year for sustainable transportation.
• Company bicycle available for commuting.
• Two team offsites per year.
• An excellent work environment: international team, regular team events, and offices located on a former air base.

Why Join Us:

• Founder Mentality

We value full ownership and accountability. We are looking for people who think like founders: able to make decisions quickly, solve problems independently, and execute efficiently.

• Early-Stage Opportunity

You will directly contribute to shaping and growing a breakthrough company, with the resources needed to support its ambitions.

• Impact & Speed

You will thrive in a fast-paced environment where your contributions have an immediate and tangible impact on the company's development.

Recruitment Process:

• Introductory phone call (20 min)
• Video interview with our Head of Ops, Charbel (40 min)
• On-site day including a one-hour technical assessment followed by interviews with the founders.
• Reference checks.

Location:

• Office: Base 217, Brétigny-sur-Orge (accessible via RER C)
• You will work alongside experts in embedded systems, aviation, and hydrogen propulsion where your impact matters from day one.
• Frequent travel across France is required. Missions regularly involve overnight multi-day deployments in the fieldih