Senior Safety & Compliance Manager - Flight Operations/ Flight Test

STARK is a new kind of defence technology company, revolutionizing the way autonomous systems are deployed across multiple domains. We design, develop and manufacture high-performance unmanned systems that are software-defined, mass-scalable, and cost-effective. This provides our operators with a decisive edge in highly contested environments. In a time of rising threats, STARK is bolstering the technological edge of NATO Allies and their Partners to deter aggression and defend Europe.

As Safety & Compliance Manager - Flight Operations/ Flight Test at STARK, you are the individual who ensures every test flight we conduct is legally defensible, regulatorily compliant, and commercially insured before the rotors start spinning. You will be the operational backbone of our regulatory function, reporting directly to the Head of Flight Test and also working in close collaboration with our Legal team.

You are a hands-on regulatory operator who owns the SORA process end-to-end, manages the interface with National Aviation Authorities, ensures our test crews are qualified and current, and builds the compliance infrastructure that enables STARK to fly faster and more often than any competitor.

SORA & Operational Authorisations

• Process Ownership: Lead the end-to-end SORA process, from ConOps definition and SAIL determination to OSO compliance and risk mitigation. 
• Regulatory Submissions: Prepare and submit authorisation applications to the LBA, EASA, and other EU National Aviation Authorities (NAA).
• Risk Management: Oversee PDRA declarations and coordinate Design Verification Report (DVR) applications for SAIL IV+ platforms.
• Compliance Tracking: Manage the lifecycle of active authorisations and establish operator competence frameworks.  

Military & Experimental Flight Permits 

• Flight Certification: Support negotiations for Military Permits to Fly and Experimental Certificates with the Bundeswehr and NATO authorities.  
• Safety Analysis: Conduct hazard footprint analyses and define flight corridors/range safety protocols (exclusion zones, termination criteria).
• Safety Cases: Develop technical safety cases including failure mode inputs and flight envelope limitations.

• Implementation: Support and improve the company SMS in alignment with EASA UAS.LUC.030 and ICAO Annex 19. 
• Incident Oversight: Manage occurrence reporting, lead incident investigations, and track corrective actions. 
• Auditing & KPIs: Conduct internal safety audits and monitor Safety Performance Indicators (SPIs) for executive reporting. 

Training, Personnel & Legal Support

• Qualification Oversight: Maintain the central register for pilot licenses, medicals, and SQEP designations; enforce currency requirements. 
• Safety Training: Deliver safety inductions and design recurrent training modules. 
• Cross-Functional Support: Provide technical safety documentation for insurance underwriters and regulatory input for legal contracts and tenders.

• Experience: 4–8 years in aviation safety, flight operations management, or regulatory compliance.

• SORA Expertise: Deep working knowledge of EASA Regulation (EU) 2019/947, the full SORA methodology, and the PDRA framework. Hands-on experience preparing and submitting operational authorisation applications to at least one European NAA.

• SMS Experience: Practical experience with Safety Management Systems, including occurrence reporting, internal auditing, safety risk management, and safety performance monitoring.

• Military Awareness: Familiarity with EASA Part 21 (Regulation EU 748/2012) and experience interfacing with national Military Airworthiness Authorities for experimental permits or test flight authorisations.

• Languages: Business-fluent English required. German strongly preferred for LBA and Bundeswehr interface.

• Mindset: Structured but pragmatic. You bring order to chaos without creating bureaucracy for its own sake. You build systems that are robust enough for an auditor but lean enough for a startup.

• Nice to have: 

  • 1-3 years directly involving UAS/RPAS operations.

  • ISO 9001 or AS9100 Lead Auditor certification.

  • Specific SORA training from an EASA-recognised or JARUS-accredited provider.

  • Previous experience with military airworthiness authorities (Bundeswehr, UK MAA, French DGA) for experimental flight testing.

  • Experience with aviation insurance processes for experimental or non-standard operations.

  • Knowledge of NATO munitions safety standards (AOP-4107, MSIAC guidance) as applied to loitering munitions.