DoorDash · 2 months ago
Head of Drone Operations
San Francisco, CA
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
$156K/yr - $229K/yrDoorDash Labs is an independent team within DoorDash focused on robotics and automation for last-mile logistics. The Director of Drone Operations will oversee all aspects of drone flight operations, ensuring compliance with FAA regulations and leading a team to enhance drone delivery capabilities.
AppsDeliveryE-Commerce PlatformsFood DeliveryOnline Portals
Responsibilities
Develop, implement, and oversee drone operations in compliance with FAA Part 135 regulations
Thorough knowledge of the contents of Part 135 documentation and experience with writing and revising General Operations Manual (GOM) and Training Manuals
Ensure compliance with all FAA, DOT, and company policies and regulations
Represent the company in regulatory discussions and industry events
Lead the operations team through immense scaling, with the chief pilot and director of maintenance reporting to you
Lead the development of standard operating procedures (SOPs) and emergency response plans
Maintain operational readiness and ensure adherence to safety standards
Manage flight operations, scheduling, and logistics for commercial drone deliveries
Oversee training programs for pilots and operations personnel
Monitor and analyze operational data to improve efficiency and performance
Excited to be high touch with the operations team, observing operations from the field
Collaborate with engineering and technology teams to enhance operational capabilities
Work closely with our commercial operations lead, understanding what the commercial goals are and matching them to our current state of flight operations
Be at the forefront of autonomous aviation and shape the future of last-mile drone delivery
Lead a high-impact team in a fast-paced, innovative environment
Work with industry leaders in delivery, logistics and autonomous aviation
Build a team from the ground up with autonomy and trust
Develop scalable workflows that ensure compliance, safety, and efficiency as operations expand
Qualification
Required
Develop, implement, and oversee drone operations in compliance with FAA Part 135 regulations
Thorough knowledge of the contents of Part 135 documentation and experience with writing and revising General Operations Manual (GOM) and Training Manuals
Ensure compliance with all FAA, DOT, and company policies and regulations
Represent the company in regulatory discussions and industry events
Lead the operations team through immense scaling, with the chief pilot and director of maintenance reporting to you
Lead the development of standard operating procedures (SOPs) and emergency response plans
Maintain operational readiness and ensure adherence to safety standards
Manage flight operations, scheduling, and logistics for commercial drone deliveries
Oversee training programs for pilots and operations personnel
Monitor and analyze operational data to improve efficiency and performance
Excited to be high touch with the operations team, observing operations from the field
Collaborate with engineering and technology teams to enhance operational capabilities
Work closely with our commercial operations lead, understanding what the commercial goals are and matching them to our current state of flight operations
FAA Part 135 operational experience, including leadership in a commercial aviation or UAS environment
Strong understanding of FAA regulations, airspace management, and compliance frameworks
Experience leading teams, managing pilots, and scaling flight operations
Background in risk assessment, safety management systems (SMS), and emergency response planning
Excellent communication and leadership skills, with the ability to work cross-functionally
Preferred
Part 107 certification and extensive UAS flight experience (1,000+ logged flight hours preferred)
Proven ability to develop and enforce SOPs for aviation operations
Experience with commercial drone delivery operations or UAS integration into logistics networks
Prior involvement in obtaining and maintaining FAA Part 135 certification for UAS operations
Strong technical understanding of autonomous flight systems and aviation software
Benefits
401(k) plan with employer matching
16 weeks of paid parental leave
Wellness benefits
Commuter benefits match
Paid time off and paid sick leave in compliance with applicable laws
Medical, dental, and vision benefits
11 paid holidays
Disability and basic life insurance
Family-forming assistance
Mental health program
Company
DoorDash
DoorDash is a food delivery platform that connects customers with local and national businesses. It is a sub-organization of DoorDash.
Founded in 2013
10001+ employees
H1B Sponsorship
DoorDash has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (530)
2024 (510)
2023 (413)
2022 (612)
2021 (439)
2020 (126)
Funding
Current Stage
Public CompanyTotal Funding
$5.22BKey Investors
Durable Capital PartnersT. Rowe PriceDarsana Capital Partners
2025-05-27Post Ipo Debt· $2.75B
2020-12-09IPO
2020-06-11Series H· $400M
Leadership Team
Tony Xu
CEO and Co-founder
Stanley Tang
Co-Founder / Chief Product Officer
Recent News
Business Insider
2026-01-07
2026-01-07
Deli Market News
2026-01-07
Company data provided by crunchbase