Senior Drone Pilot - #2163593

Senior Drone Pilot

Introduction:

We are looking for an experienced and ambitious drone pilot to head up our unmanned aviation division and to lead and grow our drone-show operation. Specifically, you will take ownership of our brand-new drone-show capability controlling the full lifecycle, from pre-production, show design and licensing through to resourcing, operational readiness, safe delivery and post-show review. You will ensure every show is creatively strong, fully compliant, properly resourced and delivered safely, on time and within budget.

The Company:

SkyShows is a leading drone light show company, renowned for delivering exceptional events across a wide range of sectors.

With a focus on innovation, quality, creativity, and safety, we provide cutting-edge technical and creative solutions that make every event memorable.

Role Overview:

As the company’s Senior Pilot, you will lead the commercial, creative, regulatory and operational performance of the drone-show operation delivered through our operational entity, SkyShows Aerial Ltd. The role requires strong leadership and commercial judgement, supported by practical experience of delivering complex drone shows safely and successfully. In this role, you will:

• Take overall accountability for the performance and development of the drone-show operation.
• Lead and manage the training of a pool of qualified drone pilots within the team.
• Set clear expectations for accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement across the drone team.
• Underpinned by the company’s Operational Safety Case and Operational Authorisation, implement and refine robust planning, approval, quality-control and flight-readiness processes so every show is properly licensed, tested, documented and delivered consistently and legally. 

Key Responsibilities:

●      Strategic Leadership & Growth

o  Develop and execute a drone-show strategy aligned with our growth objectives, with the specific aim of growing SkyShows into a business generating £1 million in annual turnover, supported by the required capability, fleet, people, geographic reach and market positioning.

o  Identify new drone-show products and creative applications, and support Sales in converting technically feasible, compliant and profitable opportunities.

o  Licensing, Permissions & Regulatory Compliance

o  Take day-to-day ownership of the company’s Operational Authorisation and Operational Safety Case, ensuring both remain accurate, current and compliant with applicable CAA requirements. Lead the preparation and

timely submission of amendments, renewals and supporting documentation, working with the Accountable Manager. In time this role would become the Accountable Manager.

o  Own the timely preparation, submission and tracking of all operational permissions, NOTAM requests, landowner approvals and other licences required for each show.

o   Maintain clear records of approvals, pilot competency, aircraft status, incidents, maintenance and mandatory reporting.

●      Show Design, Quality Assurance & Delivery Standards

o  Own the show-design workflow from client contact, through creative brief and storyboard on to animation, all flight planning, simulation, client approval and final show-file release.

o  Set and enforce design deadlines, review gates, version control and testing standards so show content is completed and approved in time for licensing, rehearsals and deployment.

o  Quoting Support & Margin Assurance

o  Provide complete technical scope, fleet, staffing, travel, licensing, design and cost data in the RMS for Sales-led quotes, ensuring margin visibility and delivery feasibility.

o  Assess sites, airspace, timelines, weather exposure, creative complexity and operational constraints before commitments are made to clients.

o  Resource Management & Show Scheduling

o  Plan pilots, observers, designers, programmers, crew, vehicles, drones, batteries, control equipment and spares for every show, resolving conflicts and maintaining suitable contingency.

o  Maintain visibility of the show pipeline, licensing lead times, design milestones and resource requirements to enable proactive recruitment, training, procurement or subcontracting decisions.

o  Ensure each show has a named operational lead, clear responsibilities, complete documentation and a realistic delivery programme.

●      Budgeting & Financial Management

o  Develop, manage and report on drone-show budgets, including CAPEX recommendations for drones, batteries, positioning systems, communications, transport and support equipment.

o  Monitor show profitability by tracking actual costs against quoted margins and taking early corrective action.

o  Keep RMS data accurate and current so Finance and Sales can monitor job-level gross profit and relevant KPIs.

o  Build data-driven business cases for fleet expansion and technology investment, supported by utilisation forecasts, capacity requirements, lifecycle costs and ROI analysis.

o  Track asset condition, availability and utilisation, recommending repair, upgrade, redeployment or disposal where appropriate.

●      Safety, Compliance & Operational Assurance

o  Ensure every show has suitable risk assessments, method statements, emergency procedures, weather limits, flight plans and pre-flight briefings.

o  Maintain a positive aviation-safety culture, with clear stop-work authority, incident reporting, corrective action and continuous learning.

o  Lead on assurance reviews, regulatory interpretation and any corrective actions arising from audits, incidents or changes in CAA requirements.

●      Industry Networking

o  Represent the company at drone, aviation and live-event conferences, trade shows and networking events to build strategic partnerships and stay informed on emerging regulation and technology.

o  Develop relationships with regulators, airspace stakeholders, venues, landowners, suppliers and specialist partners.

●      Team Management & Development

o  Lead, mentor and develop drone pilots, observers, designers, programmers and operational support staff, creating a capable and accountable team.

o  Maintain competency and training plans, succession cover and clear role responsibilities across the drone team.

Working Hours & Time in Lieu

●      As a senior manager, you are expected to complete your responsibilities within normal working hours. Where additional time is required to fulfil critical tasks, time in lieu may be granted in agreement with the Senior Leadership Team.

Your Expertise:

●      You must hold a current General Visual Line of Sight Certificate (GVC) in the Specific Category for Rotary Operations. (or recognised equivalent)

●      Significant experience in commercial drone operations, with a strong track record in a senior operational or leadership role.

●      Detailed knowledge of UK unmanned-aircraft regulation, operational authorisations, airspace permissions and operational risk management.

●      Proven experience designing, planning or delivering complex multi-drone shows safely and to deadline.

●      Strong understanding of show-design workflows, flight-path validation, simulation, testing and version control.

●      Strong financial acumen, including quoting, margin control, budgeting, fleet investment and KPI management.

●      Excellent planning, scheduling and resource-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple shows and approval deadlines concurrently.

●      Exceptional communicator and leader with a strong commitment to safety, quality and team development.

●      A full UK driving licence is essential.

The Ideal Candidate:

●      A growth-oriented leader who can expand the drone-show offering while raising safety, creativity and delivery standards.

●      A people-first manager who develops pilots, designers, programmers and support teams and creates clear accountability.

●      A hands-on problem solver who can manage technical, regulatory, weather and site challenges under pressure.

●      Safety-focused and rigorous about aviation compliance, documentation, readiness and operational discipline.

●      Strong interpersonal skills to work effectively with clients, regulators, venues, landowners, suppliers, crew and internal teams.

●      Commercially aware, with the ability to balance creative ambition, regulatory constraints, technical feasibility and budget.

Additional Skills:

●      Experience applying CAA requirements, operational risk assessments and safety management systems in live commercial drone operations.

●      Ability to establish and control an integrated delivery programme covering pre-production, licensing, design approvals, logistics and live-show deadlines.

●      The flexibility to travel and work evenings or weekends for site visits, rehearsals, client meetings, live shows and industry events.

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

·       This is a permanent, full-time position.

·       Flexible working hours, with core hours from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm each working day.

·       31 days of holiday per year, including bank holidays, with five days allocated by the company.

·       Hybrid working model, offering flexibility to work from our offices, remotely, and on-site as required.

·       Company pension scheme.

·       Access to ongoing training, professional development opportunities, and industry events.

·       Opportunities to attend networking, award, client, and company social events.

·       Weekend and evening work may be required during events.

SALARY

·       £38,000-£48,000 based on a 40-hour working week.

·       Annual salary reviews.