Aviation Regulatory Program Manager

This role is responsible for executing regulatory strategy to secure and sustain operational approvals for advanced autonomous drone operations in the U.S. and globally. The Program Manager will develop, submit, and defend regulatory approval requests, waivers, and exemptions, and serve as a point of contact with civil aviation authorities. They will also provide regulatory guidance to internal teams and support product demonstrations and technical validation events.

Responsibilities

• Develop, submit, and defend aviation regulatory operational approval requests, waivers, exemptions, and declarations that enable safe and scalable drone operations.
• Be a trusted resource and guide for our customers and partners pursuing advanced regulatory projects.
• Develop and maintain scalable systems to track and oversee the implementation of regulatory projects.
• Translate emerging regulations into clear internal guidance and actionable plans.
• Support key product demonstrations and technical validation events in coordination with the flight testing and solutions engineering teams.
• Provide regulatory advice to the customer support, product management, and engineering teams to ensure the compliant, safe, and scalable use of Skydio’s hardware and software products.
• Serve as a point of contact with civil aviation authorities (FAA and global regulators), representing Skydio in regulatory reviews, audits, and compliance discussions.
• Contribute to standards development and represent Skydio in industry bodies and consensus forums.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in aviation, engineering, public policy, or a related field or equivalent experience.
• Passion for aviation, autonomy, and creating solutions that drive real impact. Having both manned and unmanned aviation experience is a plus.
• Experience navigating regulatory frameworks for unmanned aircraft operations (U.S. and international is a plus).
• Demonstrated ability to communicate complex technical and regulatory concepts clearly and persuasively to both regulators and internal teams.
• History of collaborating cross-functionally in fast-paced, high-growth environments.
• Strong sense of ownership and the ability to operate in a fast-paced environment with competing demands on your time.
• Obsessive focus on customer success.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to explain complicated topics--such as autonomy--to regulators and partners.
• Ability to travel to client sites and attend technical validation events, as required (including international).

Benefits

• 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 $122,000 - $155,000. 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.