Senior Operations Manager

Pyka is looking for a Senior Operations Manager to support the development and commercialization of its advanced autonomous aircraft. You will be responsible for overseeing successful operation of our autonomous crop spraying aircraft with launch customers in the US and Latin America–ensuring that each operating location is staffed and supplied to meet the company’s high level objectives in the region, and maintaining communications with launch customers to ensure their needs are being met.

You will manage a team of deployed flight test engineers and operators, and will be responsible for putting in place the systems required for us to scale to dozens of operating aircraft in the next two years.

About Pyka

Pyka’s goal is to provide society with a new form of safe, clean, and cost-effective transportation enabled by autonomous electric aviation.
To get there, we’re taking a different approach than most. We're applying our technologies to every industry where autonomous electric aircraft can be useful, starting with the highest value and most dangerous jobs. In doing so, we're building game-changing products manufactured at scale, while perfecting the safety, reliability, and capabilities of our autonomy engine and electric propulsion systems. 

We design, develop and manufacture an ecosystem of technologies including proprietary flight control software, avionics, high power density motors, motor controllers, batteries, and custom carbon-fiber composite airframes.

Today, we supply autonomous electric aircraft for cargo transport and crop protection to real-world customers across four separate continents and have secured industry-first regulatory approvals from the FAA. 

Our cargo aircraft enables remote connectivity, enhances express delivery networks, and ensures fast and reliable shipping of critical supplies to areas in need. Our crop protection aircraft offers agricultural services providers and farmers an autonomous tool to make aerial application safer, more precise, and less harmful to surrounding environments. Both vehicles are highly economical to operate, easy to deploy, and significantly reduce C02 emissions in their respective industries. 

What you work on at Pyka makes people’s lives better now and brings the future of electric aviation one step closer each day. 

Responsibilities

• Maintain communication with launch customers and operating partners abroad
• Set and communicate goals and priorities to operations personnel deployed abroad
• Own customer success (smooth deployment and execution of new customer engagements, and growing scope of customer engagements)
• Manage deployed flight test operators and their schedules
• Manage training and currency requirements for Pyka personnel and operators from our launch customers
• Manage complex logistics in support of flight operations
• Travel to and participate in international commercial deployments (Central America, South America to start) to support flight operations
• Identify organizational needs and develop processes/initiatives accordingly
• Make product suggestions based on feedback from customer operations
• Set and communicate goals and priorities to operations personnel deployed abroad
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing complex relationships with launch customers of new technology
• Experience managing operations of a fleet of robotic systems in the R&D stage and beyond
• Experience operating autonomous and/or flying vehicles
• Experience with mechanical and electrical systems, assembly, and troubleshooting
• Experience managing operational teams remotely and in person
• Proficient in Spanish and/or Portuguese preferred
• Independent and motivated, with an extremely strong work ethic; able to self-direct and manage time
• Comfortable working in a busy and rapidly changing environment—propensity to bring order to chaos
• Extreme attention to detail and thoroughness
• Willingness to travel in foreign countries (approximately ¼ time)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  

Company Perks

• $140,000 - $178,000 per year base salary + equity. Compensation will vary depending on location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Salary ranges are subject to change.
• Employer-sponsored health, dental and vision insurance
• FSA with employer matching
• 401(k)
• Paid holidays, generous PTO, and additional unpaid time off
• Voluntary short-term disability, long-term disability, and life insurance
• Pre-tax commuter benefits
• Free catered lunch and plenty of snacks in our headquarters

Export Control Requirements

This position requires access to technology, software and other information that is subject to governmental access control restrictions, due to export controls.  Employment in this position is conditioned on the continued availability of government authorization to authorize release of such items, to the extent required, including without limitation an export license, or other documentation required to establish authorization to receive access to such items. 

Company may delay commencement of employment, rescind an offer of employment, terminate employment, and/or may modify job responsibilities, compensation, benefits, and/or access to Company facilities and information systems, as Company deems appropriate, in order to ensure compliance with applicable government access control restrictions.

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We do not work with external recruiters; if you are an external recruiter, please do not reach out.