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Director Flight Operations Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Zipline

Fleet Operations Lead

South San Francisco, CA · On-site

$39.50 - $48/hr

Our team is motivated by building systems that have a direct, meaningful impact on people's lives ... Oversee live flight operations and serve as an RPIC (Controller) or Ops Assist for approximately 25 ...

Red Cat Holdings

Director of Manufacturing

Torrance, CA · On-site

$165 - $205/hr

The Director of Manufacturing partners closely with Engineering, Logistics, Supply Chain, Quality ... Oversee Flight Operations to ensure efficient aircraft testing, acceptance, documentation, and ...

Clutch Canada

Senior Flight Test Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$138.55 - $187.45/hr

... Director in an active flight test program * Strong understanding of aircraft systems and flight test procedures * In depth understanding of flight operations and air traffic management

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All JobsFlight Operations JobsDirector Flight Operations JobsDirector Flight Operations Jobs in California

Director Flight Operations information

See California salary details

$33.6K

$106.3K

$177.2K

How much do director flight operations jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 5, 2026, the average yearly pay for director flight operations in California is $106,270.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $74,500.00 and $133,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a director flight operations?

A Director of Flight Operations is responsible for overseeing an airline or aviation company's flight operations, ensuring compliance with safety regulations, operational efficiency, and company policies. They manage pilot scheduling, flight planning, and coordination with regulatory authorities like the FAA or EASA. Additionally, they work closely with maintenance, safety, and dispatch teams to ensure smooth flight operations. Their role is critical in maintaining high safety standards, optimizing costs, and ensuring on-time performance.

What are some typical challenges a director flight operations faces in their day-to-day work?

Directors of Flight Operations often navigate complex logistical challenges, such as adapting flight schedules due to weather disruptions, maintenance issues, or crew availability. They must also ensure ongoing compliance with evolving aviation regulations while maintaining optimal safety and efficiency standards. Successfully leading a diverse team of pilots, dispatchers, and ground support staff requires balancing operational demands with strategic planning. Overcoming these challenges involves strong decision-making skills, effective communication, and the ability to respond quickly under pressure, making the role both dynamic and rewarding.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the director flight operations position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Director Flight Operations, you need deep knowledge of aviation regulations, flight planning, safety management systems, and significant leadership experience, often supported by a commercial pilot's license or equivalent operational background. Familiarity with airline management software, flight scheduling tools, and compliance documentation systems is essential. Outstanding organizational, communication, and crisis management skills are crucial for coordinating teams and maintaining operational efficiency. These skills ensure the safe, efficient, and compliant operation of flight activities in a highly regulated environment.

What are the most commonly searched types of Flight Operations jobs in California?

The most popular types of Flight Operations jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Director Flight Operations jobs in California?

For Director Flight Operations jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Director Flight Operations jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Director Flight Operations jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Director Flight Operations jobs?

Cities in California with the most Director Flight Operations job openings:

Director Flight Operations jobs near you
Infographic showing various Director Flight Operations job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 97% Full Time, and 3% Part Time. Highlights an 94% In-person, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $106,270 per year, or $51.1 per hour.

Fleet Operations Lead

Zipline

South San Francisco, CA • On-site

$39.50 - $48/hr

Full-time

Re-posted 23 days ago

Job description

About Zipline

Zipline is the world's largest and most experienced drone delivery service. We are on a mission to serve all humans equally by ensuring access to food, medicine and essential goods anytime, anywhere. We design, build, and operate the world's largest autonomous logistics system, delivering critical supplies quickly and reliably. Today, Zipline operates on four continents, makes a delivery somewhere in the world every 30 seconds, and has completed millions of deliveries to date, including blood, vaccines, medical supplies, food, and retail products. 

Our customers include the world's largest and most prominent healthcare systems, governments, retailers, restaurants and global businesses who rely on us to save lives, reduce emissions, increase economic opportunity, and provide delivery from point A to point B as fast as possible. The drone is only 15% of what we've built to enable seamless, reliable, global operations.

Our system strengthens supply chains, reduces congestion, and gives people time back. With more than 140 million commercial autonomous miles safely flown, Zipline is redefining access to healthcare, consumer products, and food across the globe.

We operate at a global scale and are looking for practical problem solvers who thrive on real-world challenges and rapid growth. Our team is motivated by building systems that have a direct, meaningful impact on people's lives and by scaling the future of logistics. We are seeking people who sculpt from first principles, enjoy facing adversity, and can do the impossible at record breaking speeds.

About You and The Role

Zipline's Remote Operations Control Center keeps autonomous deliveries moving safely and reliably for customers. As a Fleet Ops Lead, you will lead shifts, make delegated flight decisions, and help turn operational lessons into stronger service. You will spend approximately half your time overseeing daily operations, a quarter supporting the Flight Operations Manager, and a quarter performing remote flight operations as an RPIC or Ops Assist.

What You'll Do
  • Oversee live flight operations and serve as an RPIC (Controller) or Ops Assist for approximately 25% of your time.
  • Make delegated, time-sensitive decisions independently when the Fleet Operations Manager is not on shift.
  • Coordinate off-nominal events as Event Response Coordinator and route issues to the appropriate safety, maintenance, engineering, or operational stakeholders.
  • Lead end-of-shift reviews and provide operational forecasts that improve next-day readiness.
  • Coach Controllers and Ops Assists, identifying performance gaps and sharing observations with the Flight Operations Manager.
  • Ensure missions follow OpSpecs, operational manuals, safety standards, and FAA Drug & Alcohol Program requirements.
  • Turn feedback from local operations, maintenance, customer, and training teams into playbooks, tools, and documentation that improve service continuity and team readiness.
What You'll Bring
  • FAA Remote Pilot Certificate (Part 107).
  • 2+ years of experience in aviation, UAS operations, or a mission-critical control room environment.
  • At least six months of leadership, supervisory, or mentorship experience within an operations organization.
  • Working knowledge of operational procedures, safety management systems, and regulatory compliance.
  • Sound judgment under pressure, clear communication, collaboration, and strong situational awareness.
  • Willingness to work rotating shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays, as part of 24/7 operations.
  • Experience with incident response or emergency coordination is a plus.

Location & other constraints

  • On-site at Fleet Command facility, South San Francisco, CA. Zipline will provide required training and cover approved travel for that training.

What Else You Need To Know

Please note that:

This is a full-time position and the compensation range for this role is $39.50 - $48/ hour.

Zipline is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, colour, 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!

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in Zipline 's Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.