Head of Flight Safety

Job title: Head of Flight Safety in San Francisco, CA at Zipline International
Company: Zipline International
Job description: About ZiplineDo you want to change the world? Zipline is on a mission to transform the way goods move. Our aim is to solve the world's most urgent and complex access challenges by building, manufacturing and operating the first instant delivery and logistics system that serves all humans equally, wherever they are. From powering Rwanda's national blood delivery network and Ghana's COVID-19 vaccine distribution, to providing on-demand home delivery for Walmart, to enabling healthcare providers to bring care directly to U.S. homes, we are transforming the way things move for businesses, governments and consumers. The technology is complex but the idea is simple: a teleportation service that delivers what you need, when you need it. Using robotics and autonomy, we are decarbonizing delivery, decreasing road congestion, and reducing fossil fuel consumption and air pollution, while providing equitable access to billions of people and building a more resilient global supply chain.Join Zipline and help us to make good on our promise to build an equitable and more resilient global supply chain for billions of people.About You and The RoleWe're searching for a dynamic Head of Flight Safety to join our US Operations Team who can play both a strategic and tactical role-embedding safety into the design and execution of operational activities. You will lead the evolution and management of our Safety Management System (SMS), risk mitigation strategies, incident response, and operations specific safety leadership. As the Head of Flight Safety, you will report to the Director of Flight Operations and be responsible for ensuring a safety assurance mindset is proactively built into all operational processes and procedures, helping the company scale efficiently while maintaining compliance across Part 91, Part 107, and Part 135 operations.This is a high-visibility, high-ownership role that plays a critical part in ensuring a safe, scalable, and compliant operation across all commercial delivery and flight test operations. The ideal candidate brings strong experience in aviation safety, manned or unmanned systems, and the integration of automated technologies within a regulatory framework. This position will work with operations, engineering, product development, and regulatory teams to integrate safety principles at the test stage of new operational processes as well as react to risks and incidents in real-time as needed.The ideal candidate is a qualified manned pilot with formal part 121 or part 135 or military experience and has a deep understanding of safety management systems, safety assurance principles, and is passionate about all things airspace. The right candidate has a strong attention to detail and the initiative to solve problems in a complex environment!What You'll DoStrategic Safety Leadership

• Partner with operations, engineering, and product teams to integrate safety-driven design principles into new processes, procedures, and automation strategies.
• Guide strategic decision-making on how new markets, operational models, and technologies should be structured from a risk and compliance perspective.
• Advise leadership on scaling test and commercial operations safely, ensuring our approach to Part 91, Part 107, and Part 135 operations aligns with long-term business goals.
• Champion safety as a business enabler, ensuring risk mitigation strategies support-not hinder-growth and innovation.

Safety Management System (SMS) & Risk Management

• Lead the continuous improvement of the company's SMS in accordance with FAA and Part 135 UAS-specific standards to ensure a proactive approach to risk identification, mitigation, and continuous improvement.
• Establish data-driven safety performance indicators, using analytics to track trends and drive safety enhancements across multiple operating sites.
• Lead internal safety audits, risk assessments, and hazard identification processes, ensuring operational risks are mitigated before incidents occur.
• Continuously refine Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to align with evolving safety best practices and regulatory requirements.

Facility-Specific Safety Leadership

• Provide direct oversight of Facility Safety Leads at each operational site, ensuring local safety programs are aligned with company-wide safety standards.
• Work closely with facility leadership to implement localized risk management strategies tailored to site-specific challenges.
• Ensure all sites maintain regulatory compliance with OSHA, hazmat handling, and site-specific risk mitigation protocols.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for facility-level safety concerns, training, and compliance efforts, fostering a standardized safety culture across all locations.

Incident Response & After-Action Reporting

• Serve as the primary investigator and point of contact for all safety-related incidents, including near-misses and operational anomalies.
• Lead the company's incident response framework, ensuring all events are properly documented, investigated, and followed by corrective actions.
• Conduct root cause analyses (RCAs) and implement preventive measures to avoid repeat safety incidents.
• Oversee post-incident reviews, after-action reports, and safety drills to ensure learnings are institutionalized across the company.
• Ensure teams are trained in emergency response protocols, equipping frontline operators with the tools needed to handle safety-critical events.

Regulatory & Compliance Leadership

• Ensure the company is fully compliant with all FAA, ICAO, and other regulatory safety standards for Part 91, Part 107, and Part 135 operations.
• Act as a key liaison with FAA, NTSB, ICAO, and other regulatory bodies, shaping internal compliance strategies while also influencing external policy developments.
• Stay ahead of regulatory changes and proactively adjust safety policies to ensure ongoing compliance with evolving UAS laws and best practices.
• Lead the company in compliance with Part 135 Drug and Alcohol Program requirements.
• Lead the company in Dangerous Goods (hazmat) management under Part 107 and Part 135 operations.

Culture & Training

• Foster a strong, organization-wide safety culture, ensuring all employees-from frontline operators to executive leadership-understand and prioritize safety assurance mindset.
• Develop and deliver comprehensive safety training programs for flight crews, maintenance teams, and operations personnel.
• Implement continuous safety awareness initiatives, encouraging proactive reporting and engagement across the workforce.
• Act as a mentor and internal safety advocate, ensuring that safety remains an embedded mindset rather than a compliance checkbox.

What You'll BringRequired:

• Over years of experience in the aviation safety environment, UAS operations, or related fields (manned or unmanned), with expertise in SMS implementation, operational site safety leadership, and regulatory compliance.
• Experience in multi-site operations under Part 91, Part 107, and Part 135 or military equivalent.
• Must have a Remote Pilot's Certificate (RPIC)
• Strong working knowledge of FAA regulations, ICAO safety management principles, and aviation risk mitigation strategies.
• Proven ability to lead incident investigations, root cause analyses, and corrective action planning.
• Experience developing safety governance frameworks and performance metrics.
• Exceptional cross-functional leadership skills, with a track record of working with operations, engineering, and executive teams.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to use data-driven insights to improve safety processes.

Preferred:

• Advanced education in aviation, engineering, UAS operations, or safety related fields.
• An FAA private, commercial or military equivalent pilot certificate.
• Experience working in UAS safety and automation, particularly in scaling autonomous aviation operations, UTM systems, and detect-and-avoid technologies.
• Technical knowledge of UAS platforms, flight systems, and autonomous safety technologies.
• Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Part 135 Safety Manager experience, or equivalent credentials.
• Background in human factors, system safety, and emerging aviation risk management methodologies, and OSHA standards.

What Else You Need to KnowThis is an onsite role based in South San Francisco and performs regular travel to operational sites, testing ranges, and remote flight control centers.The starting cash range for this role is $140,000 - $180,000. Please note that this is a target, starting cash range for a candidate who meets the minimum qualifications for this role. The final cash pay for this role will depend on a variety of factors, including a specific candidate's experience, qualifications, skills, working location, and projected impact. The total compensation package for this role may also include: equity compensation; discretionary annual or performance bonuses; sales incentives; benefits such as medical, dental and vision insurance; paid time off; and more.Zipline is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion or religious creed, mental or physical disability, medical condition, genetic information, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, military or veteran status, citizenship, or other characteristics protected by state, federal or local law or our other policies.
Expected salary: $140000 - 180000 per year
Location: San Francisco, CA
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