Product Operations Associate (Robotics & AI)

Company: DroneDeploy
Location: Auckland, New Zealand (Hybrid: min. 3 days/week in office)
Role Type: Fixed-term (3 months, with possibility of extension)

About DroneDeploy

DroneDeploy powers field teams with robotics and AI, offering a reality capture platform that combines robotic automation, AI agents, and a unified system. Industries like construction, energy, and agriculture rely on DroneDeploy to simplify operations, improve safety, and make faster, smarter decisions. We are a remote-first company recognized as a Best Place to Work, fostering innovation, impact, and a culture where diverse perspectives drive smart decisions. We invest in our people, offering flexible schedules, family-friendly benefits, and strong internal promotion tracks.

Role Overview

The DroneDeploy AI team is building and scaling robotics operations for real-world inspections, data capture, and autonomous workflows. As a Product Operations Associate, you will operate robots remotely, analyze data, optimize AI-driven workflows, and act as a liaison between operations, product, and engineering. This role is vital for ensuring robots run safely and efficiently, transforming captured data into actionable insights, and supporting the remote operations team. We value initiative, curiosity, and the ability to translate frontline operational experience into product and engineering improvements.

Work Environment

• Work Location: Must be based in Auckland, New Zealand, and work from the Auckland office at least three days per week. Full-time with flexible working hours, requiring strong overlap with standard office hours.
• Business Travel: Must be able to travel domestically and internationally, occasionally supporting international customers across U.S. time zones.
• AI Tooling: Comfortable working with AI tools, including prompt tuning, testing, and evaluating outputs.

Responsibilities

• Operate and monitor robots remotely, ensuring safe and efficient task completion.
• Act as the operations team's voice in product and engineering discussions, providing real-world feedback and validating new features.
• Coordinate a distributed remote operations team: assign tasks, unblock issues, and ensure smooth operations.
• Own daily planning, task tracking, and documentation across shifts and time zones.
• Produce daily summaries and reports on robot performance, metrics, and operational trends.
• Maintain operational playbooks and knowledge bases for scalable processes.
• Work with customers and site teams to resolve daily operational blockers.
• Identify gaps between product intent and real-world usage, translating frontline experience into actionable improvements.
• Leverage AI and automation tools to streamline workflows, detect anomalies, and reduce manual effort.

Requirements

• Strong organizational skills: manage tasks, shifts, and workflows across distributed/remote teams.
• Experience producing clear reports, metrics, or summaries of operational performance.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to translate technical observations into actionable insights for various audiences.
• Ability to coordinate with cross-functional teams and work directly with customers/site teams to resolve operational blockers.
• Self-starter with strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently in a fast-moving environment.
• Detail-oriented with the ability to prioritize; anticipates and mitigates operational risks.
• Curious about emerging technology and AI; excited to experiment, iterate, and optimize workflows. Experience building web applications or tools is a bonus.
• Ability to occasionally lift and position robots and related equipment (up to 50 lbs / 23 kg).
• Comfortable attaching and securing payloads (e.g., 360° cameras) onto robotic platforms.
• Basic knowledge of construction projects and job site operations.
• Familiarity with basic scripting, vibe-coding, dashboards, or workflow automation.

Employee Offerings & Benefits

• Culture of Innovation & Collaboration
• Drone Certification
• Flexible Work Arrangements
• Paid Family Leave
• Comprehensive Healthcare Coverage
• Career & Growth Development
• Flexible PTO
• Employee Referral Bonus

Note: DroneDeploy may use AI tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications. These tools assist the recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are made by humans.