Flight Test Site Manager

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

Personnel & Resource Coordination

• 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