UAV Demonstration Operations Lead

Destinus; Katwijk; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Destinus is seeking a Demonstration Team Lead in the Netherlands to orchestrate UAV demonstration campaigns from planning through execution. You will unify aircraft, systems, and people across engineering, flight operations, and logistics to deliver flawless on-site demonstrations with precision and professionalism.

The role emphasizes leadership in highly operational settings, ensuring readiness, safety, and compliance while supporting customer-facing activities and mission showcases.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of UAV operations, military aviation, aerospace ops, flight testing, or defense environments.
• Proven experience leading operational teams, deployments, or complex field activities.
• Strong planning, organizational, and stakeholder management skills.
• Fluency in English is required; any other language is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning, preparation, and execution of UAV demonstration campaigns and deployments.
• Act as primary operational focal point for the Demonstration Team, ensuring coordination and execution.
• Build and maintain demonstration schedules with milestones and requirements.
• Coordinate aircraft availability, maintenance, payload integration, and system readiness.
• Ensure all deployment essentials—aircraft, equipment, personnel, logistics, permits—are prepared.
• Coordinate with engineering, flight operations, and logistics teams for successful demonstrations.
• Supervise UAV operators, technicians, and support personnel during campaigns.
• Ensure teams are trained, briefed, and prepared for safe, professional missions.
• Monitor risks and apply mitigation measures for successful missions.
• Oversee flight operations and ensure safety/regulatory compliance.
• Support customer-facing activities and represent Destinus during demonstrations.
• Maintain deployment plans, maintenance records, and post-mission reports.
• Participate in advanced UAV training and ongoing team capability development.

Skills

UAV operations

Leadership

Logistics coordination

Safety compliance

English fluency

International deployments

Job description

Destinus is seeking a Demonstration Team Lead in the Netherlands to orchestrate UAV demonstration campaigns from planning through execution. You will unify aircraft, systems, and people across engineering, flight operations, and logistics to deliver flawless on-site demonstrations with precision and professionalism.

The role emphasizes leadership in highly operational settings, ensuring readiness, safety, and compliance while supporting customer-facing activities and mission showcases.