Operations Manager

Location: Bay Area (deployment-facing) with travel  ABOUT USBuoyant Aero builds autonomous lighter-than-air aircraft. We’re transitioning from prototype shop to operating company — running daily commercial deployments in challenging real-world environments.We’re a small, technical, fast-moving team building a new category of aerial infrastructure and media platform.THE ROLEYou will own the operational backbone of our SF deployment and the deployments that follow.That means:- SOPs that exist, get followed, and improve- Crew schedules that hold- Spares inventories that don’t run out offshore- Calm, professional execution even when conditions change quicklyYou will be responsible for making deployments feel reliable, repeatable, and scalable.RESPONSIBILITIES- Own deployment SOPs (launch, recovery, battery swaps, weather calls, emergency procedures)- Coordinate pilots, vessel crew, and field operations staff- Run daily deployment debriefs and weekly ops reviews- Manage spares, batteries, helium logistics, transport, and deployment readiness- Serve as the on-site operational point of contact for clients- Track operational metrics including uptime, cancellations, cycle time, and cost per flight hour- Identify operational risks before they become incidentsYOU PROBABLY HAVE- 5+ years running field operations in aviation, maritime, film/TV production, military logistics, expedition operations, field service, or similar environments- Strong operational judgment under pressure- Comfort with checklists as a craft, not a chore- Excellent written communication skills — a large portion of this role is documentation and coordination- Willingness to spend significant time on boats during deployment seasonsBONUS- Part 107 certification (or willingness to obtain one — we’ll sponsor)- Aviation, drone, or UAS operations background- Maritime operations experienceCOMPENSATIONCompetitive salary + equity for full time positions.Send a short note and resume to jobs@buoyant.aero.