Aviation Regulatory Program Manager

About the role

You will own the end-to-end lifecycle of aviation regulatory approvals for autonomous drone operations across the United States and internationally. This role requires you to develop strategic submissions, manage complex regulatory workflows, and act as the primary technical and regulatory liaison with aviation authorities. You will translate ambiguous regulatory landscapes into clear, actionable pathways that allow Skydio's advanced autonomy to scale safely and reliably. You will build trusted relationships with regulators while safeguarding the company's operational integrity and public safety obligations. This position demands a rare blend of technical acumen, policy interpretation, and stakeholder management. If you thrive at the intersection of technology and governance, you will find this role both challenging and deeply impactful.

Key facts

Location: Remote (USA)

Engagement: Full-time

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.

*Compensation for certain positions may vary based on the position's location.

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What you'll do

You will develop, prepare, and submit detailed regulatory operational approval requests, waivers, exemptions, and declarations to civil aviation authorities to enable safe and scalable drone operations. You will serve as a trusted regulatory advisor to customers and partners, guiding them through advanced approval projects and helping them understand complex requirements. You will design, implement, and maintain robust tracking systems to monitor the status and implementation of regulatory projects across multiple jurisdictions. You will analyze emerging regulations, interpret their implications, and translate them into clear internal guidance and actionable plans for engineering and operations teams. You will coordinate closely with flight testing and solutions engineering to support critical product demonstrations and technical validation events, ensuring all regulatory prerequisites are satisfied. You will advise internal stakeholders, including customer support, product management, and engineering, on regulatory constraints and best practices to ensure compliant, safe, and scalable use of Skydio's hardware and software products. You will act as the official point of contact with civil aviation authorities such as the FAA and international regulators, representing Skydio in formal regulatory reviews, audits, and compliance discussions. You will contribute to industry standards development by participating in standards bodies and consensus forums, advocating for pragmatic frameworks that enable autonomous flight.

Requirements

You must hold a Bachelor's degree in aviation, engineering, public policy, or a related field, or possess equivalent professional experience that demonstrates the required knowledge and judgment. You must have a genuine passion for aviation, autonomy, and creating solutions that deliver meaningful real-world impact, with prior experience in both manned and unmanned aviation strongly preferred. You must have hands-on experience navigating the regulatory frameworks governing unmanned aircraft operations in the United States and internationally, with a proven ability to apply this knowledge in practical scenarios. You must be able to communicate complex technical and regulatory concepts clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences, including regulators, executives, and cross-functional teams. You must have a history of successful collaboration in fast-paced, high-growth, and matrixed organizational environments where priorities can shift rapidly. You must take extreme ownership of your work, demonstrating resilience and adaptability when managing competing demands on your time and attention to detail. You must show an obsessive focus on customer success, ensuring that regulatory strategies actively support the needs of Skydio's clients and partners. You must possess excellent written and oral communication skills, with the capacity to explain intricate topics such as autonomy, risk modeling, and operational limitations to non-technical stakeholders. You must be willing and able to travel to client sites and attend technical validation events as required, including travel outside the United States when necessary.

Nice to have

Experience with regulatory engagement processes for advanced autonomous systems beyond basic drone operations. Familiarity with policy development and participation in industry consortia or standards organizations. Demonstrated success in securing approvals in multiple countries or for highly complex operational environments. Background in public safety, critical infrastructure, or national security mission profiles. Prior collaboration with aviation authorities on policy innovation or regulatory sandbox initiatives.

Practical notes

This role requires travel to client sites and attendance at technical validation events, including international travel when necessary. There are no specified working hours, but the position is full-time and subject to business and regulatory deadlines.