Flight Operations Manager

At NAES, you’ll find engaging and challenging career opportunities in the power generation, renewable energy and industrial construction industry. At every level of the company, we share a common goal: To instill confidence in our clients through our steadfast commitment to safety, integrity and quality of work. We are committed to supporting a culture with unique perspectives. We value individual differences in each other in an effort to create a brighter future in the power generation industry.

We operate more than 190 power plants throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and the UK that span all technologies and provide over 49 GW of capacity. With the strength of 4000 people, our growing family of companies now addresses the entire life cycle of power generation and other industrial plants.

As the largest independent operator of power facilities in the industry, we’ve come to be viewed as an employer of choice. We strive to attract and retain employees by offering competitive compensation, a comprehensive benefits package (including retirement) and promotional opportunities.

Summary

The Flight Operations Manager will serve as the primary operator and coordinator of all drone flight operations within the StratoSight vertical. Ensure safe, compliant, and efficient execution of aerial inspections, and oversee field protocol development, site mission planning, and team coordination. Work closely with Gecko Robotics during the initial handoff phase and ultimately own operational execution of drone missions across all customer accounts.

Primary Duties

+ Conduct Comprehensive Airspace Risk Assessments:

- Use LAANC or FAA DroneZone to confirm airspace classification and access

- Identify nearby airports, heliports, TFRs, and special use areas

- Determine the need for waivers or ATC coordination in advance

+ Perform Regulatory Pre-Flight Checks:

- Verify pilot currency (within 90 days), and knowledge recertification (every 24 months)

- Confirm aircraft registration, proper Remote ID functionality, and safety labeling

- Conduct preflight inspections per §107.49 to confirm aircraft airworthiness

+ Apply Site-Specific Waivers as Needed:

- Utilize approved waivers for:

* Night operations (§107.29) * Flights over people (§107.39) * BVLOS operations * Flights from moving vehicles (§107.25)

- Maintain waiver documentation onsite (digital or hard copy)

+ Develop Flight Plans per §107.49 Requirements:

- Define mission objectives, geographic limits, maximum altitude, and team roles

- Validate observer positions and communication plans where required

+ Flight Execution Compliance (Daily): + Ensure Real-Time Regulatory Compliance:

- Maintain visual line of sight (unless operating under BVLOS waiver)

- Do not exceed 400 ft AGL unless operating near tall structures

- Log any deviations, aborts, or emergency landings as required

+ Implement Safety Protocols for Crew and Public:

- Set up safe perimeter zones, signage, and VO stations as needed

- Maintain separation from non-participants per §107.39 and internal policies

+ Post-Flight Compliance & Documentation (Daily/Weekly): + Log and Archive Required Flight and Maintenance Data:

- Record location, airspace class, pilot ID, flight time, purpose, and any incidents

- Maintain digital or physical logs in an FAA-compliant system

- Track aircraft maintenance history per §107.7 and §107.49(b)

+ Manage Pilot Credential and Insurance Records:

- Maintain up-to-date documentation including:

- FAA Part 107 Certificate

- TSA vetting proof

- Recurrency training logs

- Aircraft insurance verification

+ Conduct Weekly Internal Compliance Audits:

- Review flight records for completeness, anomalies (e.g., GPS loss, system faults)

- Prepare data for FAA spot checks or internal QA reviews

+ Lead Compliance Investigation and Readiness:

- Ensure documentation is organized and accessible for audits or inspections

- Manage root cause analysis and reporting on any violations or near misses

- Manage flight data integrity, upload, storage, and transfer to analytics teams

- Oversee and train new drone pilots as team scales

- Report on mission status, pilot performance, and safety metrics

Working Relationships

The Flight Lead will report to the Director of Operations for StratoSight and collaborate with cross-functional partners including Product, Compliance, and QA leadership.

Compensation

The initial compensation will range from $133,000 - $153,000.

Education and Experience:

Specific Skills and Knowledge

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

This will vary by job and must be specific.

NAES Safe

Safety is a core value of NAES and as a condition of employment, all employees are expected to be mentally alert and work safely at all times. Additionally, employees are required to adhere to all safety warnings and posted safety signs whenever on company property. Furthermore, employees must follow all NAES safety rules and procedures. Effectiveness in carrying out this responsibility is part of the evaluation of each employee’s performance.

Experience

Preferred

Education

Preferred

Licenses & Certifications

Required

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Driver's License

Skills

Preferred

Behaviors

Preferred

Equal Opportunity Employer

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.