VP Engineering

Flytrex is revolutionizing suburban on-demand delivery from the skies up, literally. As the leading drone delivery company in the U.S., we’re scaling our operations across Dallas–Fort Worth, bringing ultrafast, on-demand delivery to doorsteps via autonomous aircraft.

The VP of Engineering is a senior executive responsible for the end-to-end leadership of Flytrex’s hardware research, development, testing, and deployment functions, ensuring the company’s drone systems meet the highest standards of safety, performance, and regulatory compliance. This role oversees the multidisciplinary engineering organization—including mechanical, electrical, and embedded software teams—while driving execution from concept design through FAA certification, manufacturing, and customer delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Hardware R&D Leadership: Direct and manage the mechanical, electrical, and embedded engineering teams to design, prototype, and develop next-generation drone hardware. Establish clear development roadmaps, enforce engineering best practices, and ensure alignment with company product and business goals.
• Systems Engineering & Integration: Lead the systems engineering function, ensuring robust architecture, integration, and validation of all drone subsystems. Oversee end-to-end testing protocols, reliability assessments, and performance optimization across components and platforms.
• Regulatory Testing & FAA Certification: Drive the Company’s streamlined FAA Type Certification (TC) process, including G-1 Issue Papers, G-3 Compliance Checklists, and related validation activities. Act as the technical liaison with regulatory authorities to secure approvals and maintain compliance.
• Manufacturing, Maintenance & Supply Chain: Oversee drone manufacturing and maintenance operations, from prototype builds through scaled production. Manage supply chain strategy, vendor relationships, and quality control to ensure efficient, cost-effective, and reliable delivery.
• Electronics Design & NPI: Lead the electronics design and manufacturing lifecycle, from PCB and avionics development through New Product Introduction (NPI). Ensure seamless transition from R&D to volume production with an emphasis on manufacturability and long-term supportability.
• Customer Deployment & Technical Support: Support customer-facing deployment of drone systems, ensuring that engineering support and technical documentation enable smooth operations in the field. Support the technical US organization, providing expertise and solutions for customer success.
• Executive Leadership: Partner with the CEO, COO, and VP of Finance to define engineering priorities, budgets, and resources. Build and mentor a high-performing engineering organization that is innovative, disciplined, and accountable.

Educational Background

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Aerospace, Systems Engineering or equivalent is (usually) a strong plus.
• Formal training in systems engineering and safety-critical development (e.g., DO-178C, ARP4754A, DO-254) is a plus.

Technical Expertise

• 5+ years of engineering leadership experience, with at least 2 years in senior management (Director/VP) roles.
• Proven track record leading multidisciplinary hardware teams (mechanical, electrical, embedded software, and systems engineering).
• Hands-on experience with aviation-grade hardware development, including prototyping, reliability testing, and large-scale manufacturing.
• Deep understanding of avionics, flight-critical electronics, and safety certification processes.
• Strong knowledge of FAA certification pathways (e.g., Type Certification, Part 135, Part 21, STCs).
• Expertise in supply chain strategy, vendor qualification, and quality assurance for aerospace hardware.

Leadership & Execution

• Demonstrated success in scaling engineering organizations, recruiting and mentoring high-performing teams.
• Ability to translate business objectives into clear engineering roadmaps, balancing innovation speed and regulatory rigor.
• Exceptional program management skills, with experience delivering complex products from concept through certification and deployment.
• Experience in cross-functional leadership, collaborating with product, operations, regulatory, and customer teams.

Soft Skills

• Strong executive presence with excellent communication skills—able to represent Flytrex with regulators, partners, and investors.
• Strategic thinker with a hands-on, roll-up-your-sleeves mentality suited for a fast-growing, lean aerospace company.
• Data-driven decision-making with proven ability to prioritize under constraints (time, cost, safety).

Preferred / Nice-to-Have

• Experience with UAS (Unmanned Aircraft Systems), robotics, or autonomous vehicles.
• Prior involvement in FAA Type Certification programs or other civilian aerospace certification frameworks (EASA, CAAI, etc.).
• Familiarity with drone delivery operations, logistics, or last-mile aviation.
• International experience and cross-cultural management is a plus.