Assistant Chief Pilot

Socket.dev; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 140,000 - 148,000; Full time

Job summary

Wing is seeking an Assistant Chief Pilot to join our Flight Operations team in Dallas, Texas. You will lead PIC Managers and sUAS Operators, ensuring safe, compliant daily operations, and ongoing readiness for regulators and external stakeholders.

With 8+ years in safety-critical aviation and 5+ years of people management, you will mentor a 3-5 person team, oversee training, and coordinate travel as needed. A current FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot certificate and valid medical are required.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience with commercial/civil or public UAS operations or university-level education and training in civil UAS operations or military equivalent.
• 5+ years of people management experience with 5+ direct reports or more in aviation, transportation, or other safety-critical operations.
• 3+ years of experience as a PIC in Part 135 commercial drone delivery operations or equivalent, and a passion for aviation and the ongoing development of this new industry.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Chief Pilot in overseeing the safe and compliant daily operation of Wing’s delivery business in the United States, including ongoing commercial delivery operations and demonstrations/tests for regulators and other external stakeholders.
• Work closely with the Chief Pilot to manage PIC operational performance, availability, readiness, and scheduling.
• Work closely with the Chief Pilot to support Policy, Regulatory, Operations, and other teams.
• Maintain qualification for and function as a Part 135 Pilot-in-Command for Wing’s highly autonomous drone delivery service on a regular basis.
• Function as a people manager for a team of 3-5 PIC Managers
• Enable professional and skill development of the PIC Managers and PICs on your team
• Assist the Chief Pilot with ensuring the readiness and availability of PIC Stations and Operations Rooms and associated equipment
• Facilitate onboarding of newly hired crew members
• Exercise specific delegated operational authority on behalf of the Chief Pilot or Director of Operations, including as a duty Remote Operations Control Center supervisor
• Directly support Wing’s public and government outreach efforts
• Maintain strict confidentiality when dealing with sensitive information
• Travel within the United States (up to 20%) required and sometimes for extended periods

Skills

People management

Leadership

Communication

Attention to detail

Education

University-level education in civil UAS operations

Job description

About Wing:

Wing offers drone delivery as a safe, fast, and sustainable solution for last mile logistics. Consumer appetites for on-demand services are increasing, but current delivery methods are inefficient, costly, and contribute to road accidents and air pollution. Wing’s fleet of highly automated delivery drones can transport small packages directly from businesses to homes on-demand, in minutes. We design, build, and operate our aircraft, and offer drone delivery services on two continents. Our technology is designed to be easy to integrate into existing delivery and logistics networks, offering a scalable drone delivery solution for a broad range of businesses. Wing is a part of Google's parent company, Alphabet, and our mission is to create the preferred means of delivery for the planet. If you're ready to do the greatest work of your life, come join us.

About the Role:

Wing is looking for an Assistant Chief Pilotto join our Flight Operations team. This role is based onsite in Dallas, Texas. As our Assistant Chief Pilot, you will play a pivotal leadership role in shaping the future of autonomous aviation. Reporting directly to the Chief Pilot, you will inspire, lead, and empower our Pilot-in-Command (PIC) Managers and sUAS Flight Operators, ensuring operational excellence, mission readiness, and continuous team development across Wing's commercial drone delivery service. If you are an experienced leader with 8+ years of managing-high performing teams in safety-critical environments and are passionate about driving cutting-edge flight operations, we want to hear from you.

Note: This position is subject to Wing’s Drug and Alcohol testing policy in accordance with company procedures and DOT/FAA regulatory requirements. Wing is a Zero Tolerance Drug Free Workplace. All prospective employees in FAA/DOT-regulated roles are subject to pre-employment drug testing. Any applicant applying to a FAA/DOT regulated role who has previously tested positive on any required drug or alcohol test at a former employer will be considered ineligible for employment with Wing.

What You’ll Do:

• Assist the Chief Pilot in overseeing the safe and compliant daily operation of Wing’s delivery business in the United States, including ongoing commercial delivery operations and demonstrations/tests for regulators and other external stakeholders
• Work closely with the Chief Pilot to manage PIC operational performance, availability, readiness, and scheduling
• Work closely with the Chief Pilot to support Policy, Regulatory, Operations, and other teams
• Maintain qualification for and function as a Part 135 Pilot-in-Command for Wing’s highly autonomous drone delivery service on a regular basis
• Function as a people manager for a team of 3-5 PIC Managers
• Enable professional and skill development of the PIC Managers and PICs on your team
• Assist the Chief Pilot with ensuring the readiness and availability of PIC Stations and Operations Rooms and associated equipment
• Facilitate onboarding of newly hired crew members
• Exercise specific delegated operational authority on behalf of the Chief Pilot or Director of Operations, including as a duty Remote Operations Control Center supervisor
• Directly support Wing’s public and government outreach efforts
• Maintain strict confidentiality when dealing with sensitive information
• Travel within the United States (up to 20%) required and sometimes for extended periods

What You’ll Need:

• 8+ years of experience with commercial/civil or public UAS operations or university-level education and training in civil UAS operations or military equivalent
• 5+ years of people management experience with 5+ direct reports or more in aviation, transportation, or other safety-critical operations
• 3+ years of experience as a PIC in Part 135 commercial drone delivery operations or equivalent, and a passion for aviation and the ongoing development of this new industry.
• Current FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot certificate. If applicable, Part 107 recurrent certificate: only the ALC-677 course is accepted
• Current driver’s license and clean driving record within the last 36-months
• Must hold a valid FAA Third Class Medical Certificate (or higher) with an issuance date within the previous 36 months
• Extensive knowledge and experience working with an aviation regulatory framework
• A determination to recruit and foster the development of diverse teams
• Experience with technical or engineering record keeping methods and tools
• Experience working with web-based monitoring and control systems
• Ability to communicate clearly in spoken and written English
• Ability to work a rotating 7-day schedule within crew duty time limits, including weekends and holidays
• Willingness to travel to complete initial and recurrent training
• Ability to work independently and in teams while still maintaining rigorous attention to detail
• Ability to maintain attention to detail for extended periods in a monitoring role
• Willing to meet Pilot Records Database (PRD) consent requirements

The US base salary range for this full-time position is the salary range below + bonus + equity + benefits. Wing’s salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your location during the hiring process.

Salary Range

$140,000—$148,000 USD

Wing is an equal opportunity employer and it is Wing's policy to comply with all applicable national, state and local laws pertaining to nondiscrimination and equal opportunity. Employment at Wing is based solely on a person's merit and qualifications directly related to professional competence. Wing does not discriminate against any employee or applicant because of race, creed, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy or related condition (including breastfeeding), or any other basis protected by law.

If you have a need that requires accommodation during the interview process due to a disability or special need, please let us know by completing our Candidate Accommodations Request Form.