About Us

The company is a pioneering aviation company specializing in research and development, flight testing, and special mission operations. We serve aerospace, defense, government, and scientific clients with tailored airborne solutions. With a diverse fleet and an agile operations model, we are driven by innovation, precision, and mission success in non-standard aviation environments. As part of a larger, integrated family of aviation related companies, we have a 25+ year history of performance and a reputation for dedication to our customers’ success.

Position Overview

The General Manager is a key senior leadership role responsible for directing all facets of the operation and driving business development across key markets. This role combines operational oversight with strategic sales and marketing leadership, making it essential to the company’s continued growth in specialized and classified aviation programs.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

• Direct and oversee all flight operations supporting R&D, flight testing, and special missions.
• Lead a multidisciplinary team including pilots, maintenance technicians, mission specialists, and operations staff.
• Ensure all flight activities are safe, compliant with FAA and customer requirements, and mission-ready.
• Coordinate closely with engineering and program teams to align flight support with technical objectives.
• Maintain operational readiness of the fleet in collaboration with the Director of Maintenance.
• Uphold the company’s Safety Management System (SMS), ensuring proactive risk identification and mitigation.

Sales & Marketing

• Develop and execute sales strategies to grow flight services in the defense, aerospace, government, and scientific sectors.
• Lead customer engagement efforts, including proposal development, contract negotiation, engineering studies and technical presentations.
• Represent the company at industry events, client briefings, and trade shows to build brand presence and capture new opportunities.
• Collaborate with internal teams to define service offerings, create marketing content, and refine go-to-market messaging.

Strategic & Financial Oversight

• Own company budgeting, resource allocation, and cost optimization initiatives.
• Define and track KPIs for both operational and commercial performance.
• Report regularly to executive leadership on mission status, revenue development, and market expansion.

What We Offer

• Competitive compensation with performance-based incentives
• Medical insurance benefits package including health, vision, and dental
• The opportunity to lead flight programs at the cutting edge of aviation innovation
• A collaborative environment working with top-tier clients in defense, aerospace, and research
• Growth potential in a fast-scaling, mission-driven organization

• Minimum 7+ years of aviation leadership experience, with a strong track record in both flight operations and business development.
• Dual qualifications in flight and maintenance strongly preferred (e.g., Commercial Pilot License and A&P Certification or equivalent experience).
• Experience in experimental, R&D, defense, or special mission operations.
• Familiarity with FAA Part 91, experimental and restricted category operations.
• Demonstrated success in sales, capture management, or customer engagement, ideally in defense/aerospace.
• Active Secret Clearance preferred; must be eligible for U.S. Government security clearance.
• Strong understanding of aviation safety systems, flight scheduling, regulatory compliance, and mission planning.
• Bachelor’s degree in Aviation, Engineering, or Business (Master’s or MBA a plus).
• Excellent leadership, communication, negotiation, and cross-functional collaboration skills.