Director of Airspace Policy and Regulatory Affairs

About You and The Role 

Zipline is expanding the world’s largest autonomous delivery network into increasingly complex airspace and markets. The technical systems that make this possible, the industry standards, and regulatory framework must evolve to ensure scaled drone operations can successfully integrate into airspaces around the world.

We are looking for a Director of Airspace Policy and Regulatory Affairs to define and lead that evolution. You will set Zipline’s airspace integration policy strategy for operating safely and predictably alongside crewed aircraft, other UAS, and advanced aviation systems, including AAM and eVTOLs; lead Zipline’s engagement in the applicable industry standards; pursue leadership roles in the stakeholder groups focused on airspace integration; translate regulatory developments into product requirements; and represent Zipline with regulators, air navigation service providers, standards bodies, industry peers, and other stakeholders shaping the future of autonomous aviation.

What You'll Do

• Work with cross functional teams to develop and implement Zipline’s airspace integration strategy, including strategic and tactical deconfliction of UAS, remote identification, detection and avoidance of cooperative and non-cooperative crewed aircraft.
• Lead Zipline’s policy strategy for RF deconfliction and spectrum coexistence, address command-and-control and CNPC links, vehicle-to-vehicle communications, cellular connectivity, and the interaction between UAS operations and counter UAS systems.
• Lead Zipline’s policy engagement on electronic conspicuity, ADS-B, Remote Identification (RID) and Network RID, transponder and surveillance requirements, and other means of making UAS visible to airspace-integration systems.
• Turn aviation and spectrum regulatory requirements, e.g. FAA’s BVLOS rulemaking, into practical compliance, certification, and deployment roadmaps.
• Represent Zipline in the forums where airspace integration policy, standards, and governance are developed, including FAA working groups, ASTM F38, RTCA, JARUS, GUTMA, and other relevant industry and international organizations.
• Lead Zipline’s engagement with the FAA on implementation of Part 108, Part 146, and Section 2209, and engage with other civil aviation authorities and air navigation service providers on related UTM and U-space efforts.
• Lead Zipline’s response to government consultations and notices of proposed rulemakings, request for comments, and other proceedings regarding airspace integration, spectrum, UTM, detect and avoid, electronic conspicuity, and ADS-B.
• Convert Zipline’s operational experience, safety evidence, and technical capabilities into credible contributions to standards, guidance, policy, and industry consensus.
• Advise leadership on emerging regulatory requirements, technical dependencies, approval risks, market entry constraints, and policy decisions that affect Zipline’s long-term roadmap.

What You'll Bring

• 10+ years of experience in air traffic management, aviation systems, UAS operations, aviation regulation, UTM, spectrum policy, standards development, or a related field.
• A track record of designing, deploying, operating, regulating, or materially shaping complex airspace-integration systems for UAS or AAM.
• Experience with advanced aviation or eVTOL airspace integration, AAM operating concepts, NextGen air traffic-management programs, or comparable efforts to integrate new aircraft into existing aviation systems.
• Experience in FCC and aviation spectrum issues affecting UAS, including C2 and CNPC links, the 5030–5091 MHz band, RF interference and coexistence, equipment authorization, UWB, cellular or satellite communications, and related licensing or regulatory proceedings.
• Demonstrated leadership or substantive technical participation in international aviation standards and policy forums, such as ICAO, JARUS, ASTM F38, RTCA, GUTMA, or comparable organizations.
• Trusted relationships with civil aviation authorities policy and rulemaking leadership, air navigation service providers, standards organizations, UAS operators, and UTM service providers.
• Experience working in both government and industry, with the judgment to reconcile regulator, operator, service-provider, and public interests into practical systems and policy.
• Technical fluency sufficient to engage with subject matter experts on RF and spectrum issues, interoperability requirements, electronic conspicuity, ADS-B, UTM, safety cases, interoperability requirements, and engineering tradeoffs.
• A demonstrated ability to influence across organizational boundaries and convert complex technical, regulatory, and operational issues into concise recommendations for leadership.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to represent Zipline credibly in technical standards, regulatory, and executive forums.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent practical experience in aerospace engineering, systems engineering, computer science, aviation, air traffic management, public policy, or a related field.
• Based in or willing to work from South San Francisco, California, with regular travel for regulatory engagements, standards meetings, industry convenings, and Zipline operational sites.

Helpful Experience

• Experience with production UAS operations, autonomous systems, BVLOS approvals, Part 135 operations, or large-scale logistics and mobility networks.
• Experience developing safety cases, assurance frameworks, operational concepts, or certification evidence for high-reliability systems.

What Else You Need To Know

Zipline is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws or our own sensibilities.

We value diversity at Zipline and welcome applications from those who are traditionally underrepresented in tech. If you like the sound of this position but are not sure if you are the perfect fit, please apply!