WindBorne Systems is supercharging weather forecasts with a unique proprietary data source: a global constellation of next-generation smart weather balloons targeting the most critical atmospheric data. We design, manufacture, and operate our own balloons, using the data they collect to generate otherwise unattainable weather intelligence.
Our mission is to eliminate weather uncertainty, and in the process help humanity adapt to climate change, be that predicting hurricanes or speeding the adoption of renewables. We are building a future in which the planet is instrumented by thousands of our microballoons, eliminating gaps in our understanding of the planet and giving people and businesses the information they need to make critical decisions. The founding team of Stanford engineers was named Forbes 2019 30 under 30 and is backed by top-tier investors, including Khosla Ventures and Footwork VC.
We’re hiring someone to manage field operations in Central and South America. You will manage a large team of launch operators spread across the region. The role is hands-on and includes both travel and outdoor fieldwork on evenings, weekdays, and weekends. You are the field extension of our Head of Launch. While strategy and infrastructure are built at HQ, you execute it on the ground — standing up new launch sites, training local contractors, building the physical sites, and tracking site and operator performance.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Manage an international team of launch contractors, resolving performance issues, interpersonal complications, and other management challenges
- Handle complex international logistics: customs clearance, equipment shipping, and vendor sourcing
- Train and certify local launch contractors on operations, equipment, and safety protocols
- Maintain meticulous records of site configs, contractor certifications, and equipment inventories
- Contribute to SOPs, site setup guides, and training materials to make operations faster and more replicable
- Travel across the region (10-25% of time): including regular travel to regional launch locations to resolve issues or set set up new launch sites, and annually to our Redwood City workspace
- Launch high-altitude weather balloons and manage compressed gas equipment in strict compliance with safety protocols
- Adapt to varying conditions and work well under ambiguity
SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS
- Bilingual English & Spanish fluency required
- Willing to work long or unusual hours to support your team’s needs
- 5+ years experience with operational field work in Central and South America
- 2+ years of supervisory or management experience, including training and onboarding new employees
- Experience creating training programs, SOPs, and other documentation in low-structure environments
- Experience scaling logistics operations
- Highly organized
- Excellent communicator — clear written reports, sharp field observations, effective cross-cultural rapport
- Comfortable operating independently for extended periods without direct supervision
- Able to lift up to 50 lbs and work outdoors in varied conditions in remote locations (up to 95F/35C, down to 14F/-10 C)
SALARY
The base salary range for this role is $70,000 - $110,000 USD (converted to local currency). Final compensation packages are dynamically adjusted based on the candidate's localized geographic market. We are considering a range of backgrounds and experience levels for this position.
BENEFITS
Benefits vary based on the employee’s country of employment and may include:
- Paid time off in accordance with the applicable country policy
- Eligibility for stock options, subject to local laws and plan terms
LOCATION
Preference will be given to candidates currently residing in Central or South America.