Program Manager - FAA Compliance

What you'd do

• Develop, implement, and maintain compliance programs to ensure adherence to FAA regulations, including Part 21, Part 91, Part 107, Part 135, or other applicable rules.
• Prepare and submit regulatory applications, including FAA Certificates of Authorization (COAs) — new, amended, and altitude/airspace expansions — 44807 exemptions, Part 107 waivers and authorizations, Certificates of Waiver, and type certification requests.
• Own the intake, prioritization, and end-to-end tracking of airspace access requests from across the company, maintaining a single authoritative system of record from initial request through FAA decision and post-approval conditions.
• Serve as a liaison with the FAA, Department of Defense (DoD), and other regulatory bodies to obtain necessary approvals for flight operations and experimental testing.
• Coordinate the non-FAA approvals that also gate flight test — including radio frequency and spectrum authorizations — so that airspace and supporting authorizations arrive in step rather than sequentially.
• Develop compliance strategies for new technologies, including autonomous systems, beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS) operations, and large UAS.
• Build and maintain the team’s compliance reporting: track submission volume, approval and denial turnaround, cycle time, and aging of open requests; deliver a recurring readout to program and company leadership on regulatory throughput, bottlenecks, and risk.
• Support test site and range activation — work with site leads and flight operations on airspace design, deconfliction, NOTAMs, operating limitations, and standing authorizations for recurring test activity.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of FAA regulatory changes and provide guidance to internal stakeholders on compliance implications.
• Support audits, inspections, and internal reviews to ensure ongoing regulatory adherence.

What they want

• Bachelor’s degree in Aviation, Aerospace Engineering, Regulatory Affairs, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in FAA regulatory compliance, certification, airworthiness or equivalent experience.
• Strong knowledge of FAA regulatory frameworks, including experience with COAs, 44807 exemptions, Part 91, Part 135, or Part 107 operations.
• Experience engaging directly with FAA representatives and regulatory agencies.
• Ability to instrument and report on your own process: define the metrics that show whether approvals are keeping pace with test demand, and present them to a leadership audience.
• Familiarity with autonomous systems, UAS, and emerging aviation technologies.
• Experience in defense-related aviation programs, including interactions with the DoD or other government agencies.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret and apply regulatory requirements to real-world operations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience drafting regulatory submissions and compliance documentation.
• Ability to work cross-functionally in a fast-paced environment, balancing regulatory requirements with operational objectives.