Flight Test Site Manager

Zone 5 Technologies; United States; On-site; USD 110,000 - 211,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

Life insurance

401k with company match

Paid time off 3 weeks

Job summary

Zone 5 Technologies is seeking a Flight Test Site Manager to lead day-to-day flight-test operations at remote test locations, coordinating with Flight Test, Engineering, TPMs, Logistics, Safety, Security, and external range personnel to ensure safe, efficient testing. The role demands ownership, proactive issue resolution, and strong leadership across multi-program test sites.

The manager will serve as the primary operational leader at assigned sites, ensuring readiness of personnel, equipment,

Qualifications

• 5–10+ years of experience in flight-test operations, aviation operations, military test operations, aerospace operations, or similar technical environments.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating personnel, equipment, facilities, and operational resources.
• Proven ability to lead teams and manage complex operations in remote or geographically separated environments.
• Strong understanding of operational safety, risk management, and procedural compliance.
• Ability to independently resolve problems, prioritize competing requirements, and make time-sensitive operational decisions.
• Strong organizational, leadership, and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Flight Test Site Operations & Leadership: Support daily flight-test site operations across multiple programs and test activities.
• Site Readiness & Infrastructure: Maintain operational readiness of test-site facilities, ground-support equipment, vehicles, and infrastructure.
• Range Coordination & Operational Compliance: Serve as a primary interface with range representatives, test-site authorities, and external support organizations.
• Test Execution & Communication: Lead daily operational coordination meetings and communicate test-site readiness.
• Process Development & Continuous Improvement: Develop site operating procedures, checklists, and resource-management processes.

Skills

Flight test operations

Aviation operations

Leadership

Risk management

Operational coordination

Communication skills

Job description

At Zone 5 Technologies, we're redefining what's possible in precision weapons and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). Our team of engineers and innovators are developing cutting‑edge autonomous solutions to deliver affordable and scalable precision weapons, interceptors, and UAS.

We're building the next generation of munitions and unmanned systems for the United States and its allies. If you're driven by hard problems, energized by rapid innovation, and ready to make an impact on defense technology, you belong here.

Role Summary

At Zone 5 Technologies, Flight Test Site Managers lead the day‑to‑day operations, coordination, and execution of flight‑test activities at remote test locations supporting multiple unmanned aircraft programs.

This role is highly hands‑on, execution‑focused, and leadership‑driven, working cross‑functionally with Flight Test, Engineering, Technical Program Managers (TPMs), Logistics, Safety, Security, and external range personnel to ensure flight‑test operations are properly planned, resourced, and executed.

The Flight Test Site Manager serves as the primary operational leader at assigned test locations, responsible for site readiness, personnel coordination, equipment availability, infrastructure, and daily operational execution. This includes establishing and maintaining processes that enable safe, efficient, and repeatable flight‑test operations.

In this role, you are expected to operate with extreme ownership, independently resolving operational challenges, anticipating resource requirements, and ensuring personnel and equipment are positioned to support scheduled testing. You will serve as the primary point of contact between remote flight‑test operations and company leadership.

Responsibilities

Flight Test Site Operations & Leadership

• Support daily flight‑test site operations across multiple programs and test activities
• Serve as the primary operational point of contact for assigned remote test locations
• Coordinate personnel, facilities, equipment, and operational resources required for test execution
• Establish daily operating priorities and communicate operational status to leadership
• Identify and resolve operational challenges before they impact scheduled testing

Site Readiness & Infrastructure

• Maintain operational readiness of test‑site facilities, ground‑support equipment, vehicles, and infrastructure
• Coordinate site setup, mobilization, demobilization, and equipment staging
• Ensure required communications, power, network connectivity, and support systems are available
• Establish and maintain site operating procedures, inspection requirements, and readiness checklists
• Coordinate facility maintenance, repairs, and infrastructure improvements
• Coordinate daily personnel assignments and operational support requirements with functional managers
• Ensure qualified personnel and required resources are available for scheduled activities
• Manage site‑level resource conflicts and elevate unresolved priorities to operational leadership
• Coordinate with Logistics to ensure equipment is properly tracked, maintained, and available
• Support personnel onboarding, site orientation, training coordination, and operational accountability

Range Coordination & Operational Compliance

• Serve as a primary interface with range representatives, test‑site authorities, and external support organizations
• Coordinate site access, operating restrictions, range requirements, and local procedures
• Ensure personnel follow established safety, security, environmental, and operational requirements
• Support operational risk assessments, readiness reviews, and test execution planning
• Maintain site documentation, inspection records, and required operational reporting

Test Execution & Communication

• Lead daily operational coordination meetings and communicate test‑site readiness
• Support flight‑test execution by resolving personnel, equipment, facility, and scheduling constraints
• Coordinate rapidly changing requirements resulting from weather, technical issues, or program priorities
• Communicate operational risks, resource limitations, and schedule impacts to leadership
• Support post‑test activities, equipment accountability, and lessons‑learned reviews

Process Development & Continuous Improvement

• Develop standardized site operating procedures, checklists, and resource‑management processes
• Establish site readiness metrics and track recurring operational constraints
• Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency, equipment utilization, and test‑site capacity
• Support expansion and activation of new remote flight‑test locations
• Drive accountability, disciplined execution, and continuous improvement across site operations

Qualifications

• 5–10+ years of experience in flight‑test operations, aviation operations, military test operations, aerospace operations, or similar technical environments
• Demonstrated experience coordinating personnel, equipment, facilities, and operational resources
• Proven ability to lead teams and manage complex operations in remote or geographically separated environments
• Strong understanding of operational safety, risk management, and procedural compliance
• Ability to independently resolve problems, prioritize competing requirements, and make time‑sensitive operational decisions
• Strong organizational, leadership, and communication skills

Level III: $110,000 - $142,000

Level IV: $138,000 - $186,000

Level V: $179,000 - $211,000

Pay range for this role

$110,000 - $211,000 USD

What's in it for you:

• Comprehensive benefit package options include medical, dental, vision, life, and more.
• 401k with company‑match
• 3 weeks of paid time off each year
• 40 hours of sick time
• 12 annual company holidays

Why Join Zone 5 Technologies?

• Innovative Environment: Work on cutting‑edge technology that is shaping the future of defense and aerospace.
• Collaborative Culture: Join a team of passionate professionals dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.
• Career Growth: Opportunities for professional development and career advancement.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

Zone 5 Technologies is a federal contractor and participates in E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility. As required by law, we will verify the identity and employment authorization of all new employees using the E-Verify system. Learn more about your rights and responsibilities under E-Verify: https://www.e-verify.gov .

Voluntary Self-Identification

As set forth in Zone 5 Technologies’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service‑connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three‑year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.