
Creative Director - Storyteller
SCALIS, Burbank, CA, United States
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At Nova Sky Stories , we empower artists and producers to bring awe and wonder to live audiences around the world. As the global leader in drone entertainment , we’ve been redefining live shows for over a decade—merging cutting‑edge drone technology with imaginative artistry.
With a veteran team of engineers and creatives, we design and operate lightweight, small, precise, and safe drones that perform in the most demanding environments—urban centers, extreme temperatures, and high winds. The result? Sky Stories that inspire, captivate, and transform the sky into a canvas of imagination.
Headquartered in the U.S. with teams across Europe and the UAE, Nova Sky Stories works with the world’s leading brands, venues, and events. Follow us: @NovaSkyStories
Creative Director
We are seeking an experienced, collaborative Creative Director to help advance an emerging medium for storytelling within the Sky Story industry. In this role, you will work closely with clients and partners to develop innovative, inspiring story concepts, and collaborate with our world‑class Nova Design Studio to bring those ideas to life.
Our work spans a range of industries, including theme parks, music, and fine art, but we are particularly interested in those with experience in cultural storytelling, such as tourism, heritage sites, and place‑based narratives.
You will play a key role in uniting Nova’s cross‑functional teams, including engineering, operations, and finance, to push creative and technical boundaries.
The Sky Story industry is still young and growing, and so there is no one‑size‑fits‑all approach. We are open minded to finding the right individuals who can continue to grow this industry.
As a Creative Director, you will be responsible for:
Develop creative proposals for long‑term shows, installations, and residencies
Partner directly with clients to understand objectives and translate them into compelling story‑driven concepts
Collaborate with the Nova Design Studio to develop and refine creative ideas
Lead projects from initial concept through execution and delivery
Align cross‑functional teams to ensure creative vision, feasibility, and business goals are met
Contribute to sales and business development efforts through pitches, decks, and creative presentations
You’ll need to have:
10+ years of experience in storytelling, creative entertainment, cultural preservation, or a related field
Strong background in cultural storytelling, ideally with an anthropology, historical, or heritage‑based focus
Proven ability to lead projects from concept through completion
Experience creating sales collateral, including pitch materials and presentations
Open‑minded, collaborative approach with a strong sense of humility and continuous learning
What defines you:
Passionate about the creative potential of drone and emerging technologies
Exceptional communication skills with the ability to clearly articulate ideas
Strong interpersonal skills and a highly team‑oriented mindset
Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast‑paced environment
Agile, quick learner who adapts creatively as projects evolve
Results‑driven, “can‑do” attitude focused on innovative solutions and growth
Comfortable giving and receiving constructive creative feedback
Eager to collaborate closely with teammates, clients, and external partners
How to be successful in this role:
Enthusiastic about the creative potential of drone technology
Effective communication skills to articulate ideas and collaborate within teams
Strong interpersonal skills with a team‑oriented approach
Capacity to manage priorities, multitask, and meet deadlines in a dynamic environment
Having an efficient and structured workflow
Strong drive to experiment and innovate
Quick learner with agility in adapting design approaches
A results‑oriented, “can‑do” attitude with a focus on creative solutions
Ability to provide and receive constructive, creative feedback across teams
Willingness to collaborate closely with team members, clients, and external partners
Benefits:
Health Insurance
Vision Insurance
401(k) Matching
Paid Time Off (PTO)
Paid Holidays
Location: Gilching, Germany
Test Engineer
Als Test Engineer bei Nova Sky Stories verantwortest du das Design, die Entwicklung und die Wartung unserer manuellen und automatisierten Testinfrastruktur. Du arbeitest eng mit Software-, Hardware- und Produktionsteams zusammen, um sicherzustellen, dass Firmware- und Softwarekomponenten unseres Drone Light Show Systems den höchsten Standards an Zuverlässigkeit und Leistung entsprechen.
As a Test Engineer at Nova Sky Stories, you will own the design, development, and maintenance of our manual and automated testing infrastructure. You will work closely with software, hardware, and production teams to ensure that our flight‑control software, creative tools, and show‑orchestration systems meet the highest standards of reliability and performance.
Key responsibilities include:
Creating and maintaining automated tests (unit, integration, system‑level) for our drone light show applications built with C++, Qt, and Dear ImGui.
Designing test frameworks, mock environments, and test utilities that help validate critical real‑time and UI‑driven functionality.
Building and improving our CI/CD test pipelines, ensuring fast, reliable, and repeatable verification for every code change.
Collaborating with software engineers, designers, and drone operators to understand feature behavior and translate it into effective test strategies.
Testing components involving real‑time data processing, mission‑critical control interfaces, and operator tools used in live drone show production.
Investigating issues, reproducing complex edge cases, and providing detailed feedback to help engineers maintain the highest level of software reliability.
You will be responsible for:
Develop and maintain manual and automated unit tests, integration tests, and end‑to‑end test suites.
Build and optimize test pipelines to support continuous integration and delivery.
Collaborate with developers to identify, diagnose, and resolve software defects.
Design test strategies for new features and system components.
Contribute to improving internal QA processes, tooling, and best practices.
Work with C++ and Qt/QML codebases to write effective, maintainable test code.
Ensure test coverage and reliability for mission‑critical systems used in large‑scale drone show productions.
You’ll need to have:
Strong experience in C++ development.
Hands‑on experience with automated testing (unit, integration, CI pipelines).
Ability to design clear, reliable test cases and frameworks.
Familiarity with modern development workflows (Git, CI/CD, code review culture).
Experience with Qt/QML, especially for UI‑driven testing.
Strong problem‑solving skills and attention to detail.
Ability to communicate fluently in German and English.
It’s a plus if you have:
Knowledge of testing embedded, real‑time, or robotics systems.
Experience in the entertainment tech, UAV, or simulation domains.
Why you’ll love working with us:
Be part of something innovative: Work on projects that combine cutting‑edge technology and creativity to deliver one‑of‑a‑kind visual experiences.
Creative freedom: Have the autonomy to take on challenges, propose solutions, and see your ideas implemented in real‑world applications.
Direct impact: Your work will have a real and visible influence on the execution of massive, high‑profile visual events across the globe.
Supportive environment: We’re a fun, forward‑thinking team that loves solving big problems and working together to create something magical.
Exciting perks: Competitive salary, flexible hours, and front‑row access to the incredible visual experiences you help bring to life.
Location: Gilching, Germany
Corporate Controller
We are a high‑growth company with a rapidly expanding international footprint. We are seeking a strategic, hands‑on Corporate Controller to support our scaling business. This is a critical leadership role for a highly adaptable accounting professional who thrives in a fast‑paced, evolving environment.
Key Responsibilities:
Oversee daily transactional accounting activities for Nova’s international entities, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, credit cards, and cash management.
Lead, manage, and develop a team currently consisting of a Project Accountant and a Senior Accounting Manager.
Prepare and review financial statements for international entities, including the consolidation of results into group financial statements.
Manage inter‑company reconciliations and ensure transfer pricing compliance.
Lead month‑end and quarter‑end close processes for international entities.
Support compliance with international tax regulations, including VAT/GST, and statutory reporting requirements.
Perform financial analysis, monitor and report on financial performance, and provide strategic financial insights.
Necessary qualifications:
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related field.
Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
Proven experience leading, managing, and developing a finance team.
Strong expertise in financial analysis, budgeting, and cash flow management.
Demonstrated experience in financial reporting and regulatory compliance.
Knowledge of strategic financial planning, forecasting, and scenario modeling.
Proficiency in IFRS and familiarity with international and local tax compliance requirements.
Experience overseeing payroll and contractor payroll processes.
Excellent analytical and problem‑solving skills, with a high degree of attention to detail.
Ability to work independently in a hybrid environment. CPA certification is a plus.
What defines you:
Clear communicator with strong internal follow‑through.
Detail‑obsessed and process‑driven.
Proactive, responsive, and resourceful.
Ability to work independently and anticipate next steps.
Excited to support a creative and mission‑driven team.
Location: Gilching, Germany
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