Aviation Regulatory Affairs Manager

Aviation Regulatory Manager

Rainmaker is pioneering a modern cloud seeding system to address water scarcity and inclement weather challenges worldwide. We develop and integrate radar validation, weather-resistant UAS, numerical weather modeling, and sustainable seeding agents into an effective precipitation enhancement solution.

Rainmaker is building something that hasn't existed before. If you're the kind of person who gets energized by hard problems, new territory, and the opportunity to lead programs that have real impact on water resources, we want to hear from you.

The Aviation Regulatory Manager exists to ensure Rainmaker holds every federal aviation and spectrum authority required to operate as an operator and produce as a manufacturer, today and in the regulatory environment ahead. Sitting at the intersection of Engineering, Flight Operations, and Manufacturing, this person translates engineering and operational decisions into the language federal regulators expect, and translates federal regulatory expectations into requirements the rest of the company can build against.

In doing so, they are expected to continuously challenge and improve how Rainmaker designs operating concepts, builds safety cases, and positions itself with the FAA — building durable institutional credibility that compounds across waivers, certifications, and rule making cycles.

FAA Authorizations & Operating Approvals

• Lead the end-to-end drafting and shepherding of UAS flight authorizations, Certificates of Authorization (COAs), Letters of Agreement (LOAs), and FAA regulatory exemptions
• Develop Concept of Operations (CONOPs), Safety Risk Management (SRM) documentation, and operational risk assessments aligned with FAA acceptance criteria
• Engage directly with the FAA Flight Standards Service, UAS Integration Office, ATO, and applicable FSDOs, including pre-submission consultation, response to RFIs, and post-issuance compliance

FCC Licensing & Spectrum Coordination

• Prepare and submit FCC aircraft radio station licenses, experimental licenses, and any spectrum authorizations required by Rainmaker's command-and-control (C2) link architecture, payload telemetry, and ground-based systems
• Manage license renewals, modifications, and frequency coordination across all operating regions
• Partner with Engineering to ensure spectrum architecture decisions are compatible with available licensing pathways

Airworthiness, Declaration of Compliance & Manufacturer Regulatory Affairs

• Own Rainmaker's manufacturer-side regulatory posture, including airworthiness documentation, Declaration of Compliance (DoC) preparation under the emerging Part 108 framework, and engagement with applicable ASTM and RTCA standards (F3442, F3705, DO-365, DO-381, and successors)
• Coordinate with Engineering and Quality on design data, test plans, and conformity documentation required to substantiate compliance claims
• Advise leadership on the regulatory implications of design decisions, certification pathways, and AS9100 readiness

Regulatory Intelligence & Strategic Advisory

• Track and analyze FAA rule making with material impact on Rainmaker, including Part 108 BVLOS, evolving airworthiness frameworks, and federal contracting prerequisites (American Security Drone Act, FAR 52.240-1, DoD Blue UAS Cleared List)
• Submit comments and participate in standards bodies, test site engagements, and industry working groups where Rainmaker's interests are at stake
• Brief leadership on regulatory developments and translate them into actionable implications for the business

Required

• Demonstrated experience preparing and shepherding FAA submissions for UAS operations through to issuance — flight authorizations, COAs, LOAs, regulatory exemptions, or equivalent
• Strong aviation background: former FAA personnel, military aviation officer, Part 121/135/137 chief pilot or director of operations, UAS program manager at a regulated operator, or aviation safety/SMS specialist
• Strong technical writing skills, with demonstrated ability to translate technical and operational realities into clear, persuasive regulatory submissions
• Working knowledge of Concept of Operations…