Fleet Engineering Manager at Aerovect

WHO WE ARE AeroVect is transforming ground handling with autonomy, redefining how airlines and ground service providers around the globe run day-to-day operations. We are a Series A company backed by top-tier venture capital investors in aviation and autonomous driving. Our customers include some of the world’s largest airlines and ground handling providers. For more information, visit www.aerovect.com [Upgrade to PRO to see link] This is a field-based leadership role requiring regular presence at operational sites, test facilities, and garage infrastructure. The Fleet Engineering Manager will work at the intersection of engineering and operations, collaborating daily with both teams. Physical requirements include the ability to work outdoors, inspect equipment hands-on, and travel between sites as needed. YOU WILL - Orchestrate Fleet allocation with Operations and Engineering, ensuring alignment on priorities, timelines, and issue resolution. - Maintain fleet readiness and oversee tractor allocation across engineering and production programs. - Manage service, maintenance, and new vehicle commissioning workflows to minimize downtime. - Tackle field issues and testing requests within acceptable SLA times, driving rapid resolution and clear communication to stakeholders. - Ensure proper fleet maintenance and calibration over time. - Drive garage infrastructure updates and design improvements to support efficient field operations. - Oversee software release rollouts across the fleet, coordinating timing and sequencing with engineering teams. - Own release regression testing and feature regression testing processes, ensuring quality gates are met before wider deployment. - Support verification and validation (V&V) efforts by allocating resources and personnel as needed. - Build, mentor, and manage a team of Integration Engineers and Test Operators, setting priorities and fostering a culture of execution and accountability. YOU HAVE - Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Computer Science, Robotics) or equivalent practical experience. - 8+ years of experience in systems engineering, QA, or technical program management within robotics, autonomous systems, or a related hardware/software domain. - Demonstrated hands-on technical ability — comfortable diagnosing and solving problems across hardware, software, and integration boundaries. - A proven track record managing cross-functional teams in fast-paced, field-based environments. - Strong project management skills with an execution-first mentality. - Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate between engineering and operations stakeholders. WE PREFER - Experience with autonomous vehicles or outdoor mobile robotics. - A background in fleet management, vehicle commissioning, or field service operations. - Familiarity with software release management and regression testing frameworks. - Experience standing up or scaling field operations teams from the ground up.