UAV Demonstrations Operations Lead

Destinus; Katwijk; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Destinus is seeking a Demonstration Team Lead to plan, coordinate and execute UAV demonstration campaigns and deployments worldwide. You will lead aircraft readiness, mission planning, and on-site execution, coordinating engineering, flight operations and logistics to deliver safe, professional demonstrations.

You will guide teams, train operators, manage schedules and documentation, and travel internationally to support deployments, ensuring compliance with safety and regulatory requirements.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of experience in UAV operations, military aviation, aerospace operations, flight testing, or defense environments.
• Proven experience leading operational teams, deployments, demonstrations, or complex field activities
• Military background is strongly preferred, particularly within aviation, reconnaissance, UAV operations, intelligence, artillery, or special operations environments
• Strong engineering understanding with the ability to effectively collaborate with aerospace and technical teams
• Experience managingaircraftreadiness, maintenance coordination, operational planning, and mission execution
• Strong understanding of UAV systems, avionics, telemetry, communication systems, and flight operations
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary teams in dynamic and demanding operational environments
• Strong project planning, organizational, and stakeholder management skills
• Ability toanticipateoperational challenges and proactively drive solutions
• Experience preparing operational procedures, deployment plans, and technical documentation
• Excellent communication and leadership skills
• Fluency in English isrequired;any other language is a plus
• Willingness to travel internationally and support deployments wheneverrequired

Responsibilities

• Lead the planning, preparation, and execution of UAV demonstration campaigns and operational deployments
• Act as the primary operational focal point for the Demonstration Team, ensuring all activities are coordinated and executed successfully
• Build andmaintain demonstration schedules, ensuring milestones, deadlines, and operational requirements are met
• Coordinateaircraftavailability, maintenance activities, payload integration, and system readiness prior to demonstrations
• Ensureaircraft, equipment, personnel,logistics, permits, and operational requirements are fully prepared for each deployment and demonstration
• Coordinate with engineering, flight operations, andlogisticsteams to ensure successful execution of demonstration activities
• Supervise UAV operators, technicians, and support personnel during demonstration campaigns and deployments
• Ensure demonstration teams areproperly trained, briefed, and prepared to execute missions safely and professionally
• Monitor operational risks and implement mitigation measures to ensure successful mission execution
• Oversee flight operations during demonstrations and ensure compliance with applicable safety and regulatory requirements
• Support customer-facing activities and representDestinusduring demonstrations, evaluations, and operational showcases
• Maintain operational documentation, deployment plans, maintenance records, and post-mission reports
• Participate in advanced operational UAV trainingandsupport the continuous development of team capabilities

Skills

UAV operations

Leadership

Operational planning

Project management

English fluency

Job description

Destinus is seeking a Demonstration Team Lead to plan, coordinate and execute UAV demonstration campaigns and deployments worldwide. You will lead aircraft readiness, mission planning, and on-site execution, coordinating engineering, flight operations and logistics to deliver safe, professional demonstrations.

You will guide teams, train operators, manage schedules and documentation, and travel internationally to support deployments, ensuring compliance with safety and regulatory requirements.