Global Drone Deployments Program Manager

Skydio, Inc.; United States; Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid vacation time

Sick leave

Holiday pay

401K savings plan

Group health insurance

Job summary

Skydio is seeking a seasoned, customer-facing Program Manager to own commercial deployments end to end, from pilot through scaled rollout. You will coordinate hardware, software, and operational workstreams with customer operators, safety leads, and internal teams to deliver repeatable programs.

The role requires 5+ years in complex technical programs, strong project management, and the ability to translate customer needs into concrete plans.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in a customer-facing program or professional services role delivering complex technical programs.
• Track record running multi-phase implementations that combine hardware, software, and operational process change.
• Strong project management fundamentals: planning, dependency tracking, risk management, execution tracking.
• Experience standing up new technology at customer sites, including the workflow design, documentation, and training that makes it stick.
• Clear writing and speaking, with equal comfort in a customer's operations meeting and an internal engineering review.
• Ability to diagnose and resolve execution problems independently.

Responsibilities

• Own planning and execution for commercial deployments, from pilot through scaled rollout, including dock-based remote operations programs.
• Manage scope, schedule, dependencies, and risk across hardware, software, and operational workstreams - and flag the technical, regulatory, and logistical problems early, with a plan attached.
• Partner with customers to build the operational foundation: Standard Operating Procedures, Safety Management System inputs and operational controls, and maintenance and support plans matched to Skydio platforms.
• Run the handoff to steady-state operations, and confirm the customer's team is genuinely ready before you step back.
• Translate customer operational requirements into execution plans and clear internal deliverables.
• Coordinate across Mission Success, Support, Product, Engineering, and Operations.
• Keep customer expectations and Skydio's actual capabilities in the same place, including saying no when that's the honest answer.
• Support commercial expansion - early deployments, new use cases, and the groundwork for scaling them.

Skills

Program management

Customer-facing experience

Hardware-software-ops integration

Documentation and training

Communication skills

Job description

Skydio is the leading US drone company and the world leader in autonomous flight, the key technology for the future of drones and aerial mobility. The Skydio team combines deep expertise in artificial intelligence, best-in-class hardware and software product development, operational excellence, and customer obsession to empower a broader, more diverse audience of drone users, from utility inspectors to first responders , soldiers in battlefield scenarios , and beyond .

About the role

Skydio builds autonomous drones. Our largest commercial customers run global logistics and site security operations, and they're moving from one-off drone flights to standing programs that run every day across dozens of sites. Getting there takes more than shipping hardware.

That's this role. You'll own commercial deployments end to end: planning, rollout, operational handoff, and the stabilization period after go-live. You'll work directly with the customer's operators and safety leads to build the procedures, training, and maintenance practices a program needs to run without you. And you'll bring what you learn in the field back to Product and Engineering.

The work spans piloted operations and dock-based remote operations. It sits at the intersection of hardware, software, operations, and aviation compliance, and there is no playbook yet for much of it. You should be comfortable writing one.

What you'll do

Own planning and execution for commercial deployments, from pilot through scaled rollout, including dock-based remote operations programs

Manage scope, schedule, dependencies, and risk across hardware, software, and operational workstreams - and flag the technical, regulatory, and logistical problems early, with a plan attached

Partner with customers to build the operational foundation: Standard Operating Procedures, Safety Management System inputs and operational controls, and maintenance and support plans matched to Skydio platforms

Run the handoff to steady-state operations, and confirm the customer's team is genuinely ready before you step back

Translate customer operational requirements into execution plans and clear internal deliverables

Coordinate across Mission Success, Support, Product, Engineering, and Operations

Keep customer expectations and Skydio's actual capabilities in the same place, including saying no when that's the honest answer

Support commercial expansion - early deployments, new use cases, and the groundwork for scaling them

What we're looking for

5+ years in a customer-facing program or professional services role delivering complex technical programs

Track record running multi-phase implementations that combine hardware, software, and operational process change

Strong project management fundamentals: planning, dependency tracking, risk management, execution tracking

Experience standing up new technology at customer sites, including the workflow design, documentation, and training that makes it stick

Clear writing and speaking, with equal comfort in a customer's operations meeting and an internal engineering review

Ability to diagnose and resolve execution problems independently

Nice to have

Hands-on experience with sUAS, robotics, or aviation-adjacent platforms

FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate - helpful on day one, but you'll have time and support to earn it after you join

Familiarity with dock-based or remote/BVLOS operations

Experience in global logistics or site security environments

Experience working alongside agile product and engineering teams on customer-driven roadmaps

What Makes You a Good Fit:

Obtaining FAA Part 107 certification within the first 60 days of employment is strongly encouraged for all Skydio employees and required for certain positions.

Compensation: At Skydio, our compensation packages for regular, full-time employees include competitive base salaries, equity in the form of stock options, and comprehensive benefits packages. Compensation will vary based on factors, including skill level, proficiencies, transferable knowledge, and experience. Relocation assistance may also be provided for eligible roles. The annual base salary range for this position is $150,000 - $180,000*. Fundamentally, we believe that equity is the key to long-term financial growth, and we ensure all regular, full-time employees have the opportunity to significantly benefit from the company's success. Regular, full-time employees are eligible to enroll in the Company’s group health insurance plans. Regular, full-time employees are eligible to receive the following benefits: Paid vacation time, sick leave, holiday pay and 401K savings plan. This position and all associated benefits are subject to applicable federal, state, and local laws, as well as the Company’s policies and eligibility criteria.

*Compensation for certain positions may vary based on the position’s location.

#LI-AY1

At Skydio we believe that diversity drives innovation. We have created a multidisciplinary environment that embraces the power of diverse perspectives to create elegant solutions for complex problems. We are committed to growing our network of people, programs, and resources to nurture an inclusive culture.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by federal, state or local anti-discrimination laws.

For positions located in the United States of America, Skydio, Inc. uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit https://www.e-verify.gov/

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Skydio provides equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other classification protected by applicable law.

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