Ground Operations Systems Lead

About:

This role sits within the ground systems division of an aerospace company building the operational infrastructure needed to safely deploy autonomous aircraft at scale.

Responsibilities:

• Own the end-to-end architecture of the ground command and control platform including redundancy, fault tolerance, and multi-region resilience
• Drive FAA regulatory strategy and submissions covering ground control certification, BVLOS approvals, and DAA integration
• Author and maintain compliance documentation
• Define aircraft-to-ground interface requirements including command latency, telemetry, and degraded-mode behaviour in collaboration with vehicle and avionics teams
• Develop the operational framework for remote pilot supervision of large autonomous fleets, including HMI requirements, workload management, and contingency procedures
• Define cybersecurity architecture and threat modelling practices across ground-to-air links, infrastructure, and authentication systems
• Serve as the primary technical interface with the FAA and other regulatory bodies

Required Experience & Skills:

• Strong software development capability with the ability to write production-quality code from scratch, proficiency in one or more of C++, Python, JavaScript, or TypeScript is essential
• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering or a related field
• 10+ years in systems engineering, with at least 5 years in aviation, aerospace, UAS, or safety-critical systems
• Deep expertise in system architecture and safety analysis methods for complex distributed systems
• Hands-on experience with FAA certification processes including Part 135, Part 23/25, or BVLOS approvals
• Strong understanding of ground-to-air communication systems including RF, satellite, and LTE
• Proven ability to author safety assessments, compliance artefacts, and interface control documents
• Able to drive alignment across hardware, software, and operations teams without direct authority

Desirable / Additional Qualifications:

• Experience designing or operating real-world UAS or UAM ground control stations
• Familiarity with remote piloting concepts, RPAS regulations, or Air Traffic Management integration
• Knowledge of aviation cybersecurity standards including DO-326A/ DO-356A certification
• Background in human factors or HMI design for safety-critical environments
• Experience with DAA systems, UTM/USS integration, or BVLOS operations
• FAA commercial or remote pilot certificate