Director of Operations

DroneShield; Warrenton (VA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

DroneShield's U.S. headquarters in Warrenton, Virginia, leads a field-first operations model to accelerate demonstrations and deployments for defense programs. The Operations Director – USA role focuses on building a high-velocity, scalable delivery engine across the U.S. to win customer outcomes.

You will manage field teams, demos, trials, installations, and complex deliveries, targeting on-time, on-budget outcomes with robust planning and risk management.

Qualifications

• Senior leadership in engineering, operations, or PM.
• Experience in defence, aerospace, or highly regulated manufacturing.
• Experience in global, multi-site environments.
• Engineering or technical qualifications preferred.
• Customer-focused with ownership mindset.
• Tertiary qualification in Operations, Engineering or Business desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead field operations across the U.S.
• Deliver demos, deployments, and projects
• Build scalable field playbooks
• Coordinate assets, sites, and teams
• Ensure on-time, on-budget delivery

Skills

Leadership

Defense / Aerospace

Global ops

Engineering

Ownership

Education

Operations degree

Engineering degree

Business degree (desirable)

Job description

Work with cutting-edge AI technology that helps make the world a safer and more secure place. DroneShield (ASX:DRO) develops market-leading counter-drone solutions used by military organisations, government agencies, airports, critical infrastructure operators, and law enforcement operating in some of the most challenging and high-stakes environments in the world. Employees work at the forefront of innovation, solving complex technical problems and delivering mission-critical capabilities where performance, reliability, and speed matter.

As an ASX200-listed company and the world's only publicly listed pure-play counter-drone business, DroneShield is experiencing rapid growth. Revenue increased from A$57 million in 2024 to more than A$217 million in 2025, supported by record profitability, a global sales pipeline exceeding A$2.5 billion, and annual R&D investment of over A$50 million.

Since 2017, DroneShield has grown from 11 employees to more than 550 globally, with operations across Australia, the United States, Europe, and the Middle East, supporting customers in over 70 countries.

DroneShield's U.S. headquarters in Warrenton, Virginia, supports American customers through locally based R&D, sales, customer support, and engagement with defence and security stakeholders.

About the role

The Operations Director – USA is accountable for building and running a field-first, delivery-driven operations engine that enables rapid, reliable demonstrations, deployments, and customer outcomes at scale.

This role is not a traditional back-office operations function. It is a front-line execution leadership role, directly responsible for:

• Winning and enabling customer outcomes through demos and deployments
• Delivering projects and defense programs with predictability and speed
• Building a high-velocity field operations capability across the U.S.

The role ensures operations is a commercial enabler, not a constraint—shifting the organization from reactive execution to planned, repeatable delivery systems.

Responsibilities, Duties and Expectations

Field Operations, Demos & Deployments

Own and lead a world-class field execution engine across the U.S.

Accountability

• All demonstrations, trials, installations, and field support

Key Outcomes

• 50% reduction in demo and mobilisation time
• Consistent, repeatable demo execution across all regions
• Improved first-time fix rate (>20%)
• Standardised deployment models and field playbooks
• Seamless coordination of assets, people, and sites

Project Delivery

In concert with the Global Head of PMO, build and lead a disciplined, scalable project delivery engine.

Accountability

• Local management of Project Managers to ensure priorities are met
• Local coordination of all programs, demonstrations, installations, and complex deliveries

Key Outcomes

• 85% of projects delivered on time and on budget
• Strong front-end planning replacing downstream recovery
• Clear ownership across all deployments and programs
• Reduced execution risk in complex defence and customer programs

Establish and operationalise U.S. test sites as core revenue-enabling assets.

Accountability

• Site establishment, readiness, and integration into planning
• Ensure test sites are always ready, available, and utilised

Key Outcomes

• Fully operational regional test sites
• Sites integrated into scheduling rather than reactive bookings
• Reduced setup time and increased utilisation

Warehouse & Inventory

Key Outcomes

• 98% inventory accuracy
• 98% kitting accuracy for demonstrations, projects, and field operations
• Materials always ready for deployment, not just manufacturing
• Warehouse flow aligned to field demand and project schedules

Facilities & Field Infrastructure

Ensure facilities enable, rather than constrain, field delivery and growth.

Key Outcomes

• Facilities ready ahead of demand (>90%)
• Infrastructure supports field operations, inventory, and demonstration capability
• No delays due to lack of space, tools, or readiness

Health, Safety & Operational Assurance

Embed safe, compliant field execution at speed.

Key Outcomes

• Zero major safety or compliance incidents
• Safety embedded into field, demo, and deployment processes
• Strong leading indicators and proactive risk mitigation

Qualifications, Experience and Skills

• Senior leadership experience in Engineering, Operations, Project Management or similar.
• Background in defence, aerospace, or highly regulated high‑tech manufacturing
• Proven experience operating in global, multi‑site environments
• Engineering or technical qualifications preferred
• Customer-oriented with a strong sense of ownership and accountability
• Relevant tertiary qualification in Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain or Business (desirable)

Note for recruitment agencies: We do not accept unsolicited candidates from external recruiters unless specifically instructed.