Flight Test Safety & Compliance Specialist

About Us STARK is a new kind of defence technology company revolutionising 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 — providing operators with a decisive edge in contested environments. We are focused on delivering deployable, high-performance systems — not future promises. In a time of rising threats, STARK is bolstering the technological edge of NATO Allies and their Partners to deter aggression and defend Europe, today. Your mission We are on a mission to push the boundaries of UAV technology. To take our operations to the next level, we are actively working to secure our Operating Certificate from the LBA. As a Flight Operations & Compliance Specialist you will support the Head of Flight Test to execute the day-to-day regulatory and compliance operations that keep our aircraft legally in the air. You will be the vital bridge between aviation regulations and our flight crew. Your job is to make safety and compliance work in real life. You will translate complex requirements into practical checklists, run workshops for our pilots, and ensure our field operations are seamless, safe, and fully audit-ready. Responsibilities • You will lead the preparation of SORA-based applications, including ConOps drafting, ground risk calculations, and OSO evidence compilation. • Help build up, implement, and maintain our internal Flight Safety Procedures from the ground up as we march toward our LBA certification. • Maintain the Operations Manual as a living document, ensuring it reflects current equipment, personnel, and procedures. • Monitor EASA (EU) 2019/947, JARUS outputs, and national regulations. • Own the central register for remote pilots and test crew (licenses, medicals, type ratings, and SQEP designations). • Manage a 90/60/30-day expiry-tracking system to ensure zero lapses in operational currency. • Coordinate recurrent training and prepare personnel records for NAA audits and insurance reviews. • Administer the safety reporting system, ensuring mandatory logs are submitted to the NAA within legal timeframes. • Track incident investigations and corrective actions to closure. Compile Safety Performance Indicator (SPI) data for trend analysis. • Gather evidence and draft checklists to ensure alignment with the Operations Manual. • Prepare documentation for Military Permits to Fly and Experimental Certificates, including flight test plans and hazard footprints. • Manage NOTAMs, exclusion zone maps, and communication plans for flight days. • On-Site Compliance: Act as the compliance representative during test campaigns, verifying briefings and adherence to approved authorisations. Qualifications • Degree in aerospace engineering, aviation management, aviation safety, or a related technical field. Military aviation training backgrounds are welcome. • 3–5 years experience in aviation safety, flight operations, UAS operations, or regulatory compliance. • Working knowledge of EASA Regulation (EU) 2019/947 and the SORA methodology. You may not have led a full SORA submission independently, but you understand the framework, the 10-step process, and the relationship between GRC, ARC, SAIL, and OSOs. • Experience with aviation documentation systems: operations manuals, flight logs, safety reports, or qualification records. • Familiarity with Safety Management System principles (ICAO Annex 19 or equivalent). Formal SMS training is a plus but not required if you have practical exposure. • Business-fluent English required. German is a strong advantage. • You will be exposed to regulatory complexity that most professionals encounter much later in their careers. You actively seek to understand, not just to execute. Ask “why” before you ask “how.” Nice to have • Direct experience preparing or contributing to SORA-based operational authorisation applications for any European NAA. • Direct previous exposure or collaboration with the LBA or other National Aviation Authorities. • Internal auditor training or experience (ISO 9001, AS9100, or aviation-specific audit frameworks). • Familiarity with EASA Part 21 concepts, Design Verification Reports, or type certification processes. • Previous exposure to military aviation environments, test ranges, or defence procurement processes.