Strategy & Operations Associate

The Strategy & Operations Associate works directly with the Chief of Staff and the Head of Operations on high-impact projects across the Ops team. A core part of the role is building operational and financial models that project costs under different scenarios and inform how we price our delivery services. The role is full-time and on-site (no remote work), with substantial room to grow within the company. Operations run Airbound's fleet and makes sure every flight is safe, on time and cost-effective. At our stage it is a strategic pillar, not a support function: it drives growth and shapes what we build.

Responsibilities

Financial modelling and pricing: Build and maintain Excel models that forecast operational costs (airframe, motor and servo life, maintenance, manpower) under different growth scenarios, and use them to guide pricing and resource allocation; Operations roadmap: Work with R&D, Manufacturing and Software to turn growth plans into an operations roadmap, with clear problem statements, constraints and success metrics; Data-driven improvement: Analyse delivery times and cost data to find bottlenecks, and propose fixes for routes, turnaround times and inventory; Special projects: Lead or coordinate projects such as setting up new launch hubs, entering new regions or evaluating partnerships; Leadership and investor reporting: Prepare concise presentations on operational plans, cost forecasts and performance metrics; SOPs and compliance: Help review SOPs and safety protocols so processes stay scalable and compliant as we grow; Ad-hoc support: Handle urgent analyses, competitive research, new business evaluations and the operations inputs to fundraising materials

Requirements

Bachelor's degree from a top-tier engineering school with a strong academic record; 1–2 years at a management consulting firm, an investment bank (front office, Industrials or M&A preferred), or in strategy/operations at a deep-tech startup; Proven financial modelling and advanced Excel skills; A structured problem-solver who is comfortable with ambiguity and turns complex problems into actionable plans; Quick to learn new domains such as drone technology and aviation regulation; Works well with engineers, pilots and business teams; Clear written and verbal communicator, from technicians to the CEO to clients; A self-starter with strong ownership and high attention to detail; Genuine interest in UAVs, aviation, logistics and the future of delivery

Nice to have

Familiarity with SQL, Python or Tableau; Experience coordinating cross-functional projects

Benefits

Comprehensive health insurance; Relocation assistance; Daily travel stipend; Advanced salary credit