Drone engineer and operator jobs
Drone engineer and operator: a person in this job designs, builds or flies drones and other uncrewed aircraft. Anduril Industries, Applied, Shield AI, Se3 and Harmattan Ai have the most open roles with “Drone engineer and operator” or a close variant in the title right now.
166 open roles · 9 posted in the last 7 days · 1% remote · 29 companies hiring · $172K median advertised salary · checked Nov 15 against employer career pages
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| under $75K | 0 |
| $75K to $100K | 2 |
| $100K to $125K | 7 |
| $125K to $150K | 12 |
| $150K to $175K | 36 |
| $175K to $200K | 16 |
| $200K to $250K | 12 |
| $250K to $300K | 7 |
| $300K and more | 3 |
Skills asked for in drone engineer and operator roles
Bars show the share of these 166 roles; one role can count in several rows.
Newest drone engineer and operator jobs
- Lead, UAV Integration TechnicianRainmaker · 🇺🇸El Segundo, CA—Lead and above
- Electromechanical Technician – Wildfire Drone ManufacturingSeneca · Sausalito$71K - $130KLinux
- Drone Pilot (part-time)Re:Build Manufacturing · 🇺🇸Englewood, CO—Security clearanceAviation
- Order & Delivery Coordinator (C-UAS)Robin Radar · Delft—Hybrid
- Chief Engineer, Air Vehicle Lead - RangerShield AI · 🇺🇸Seattle, WA, US—Lead and aboveSecurity clearanceAviation
- Engineering Manager, Air Vehicle Mechanical Systems (R5391)Shield AI · 🇺🇸San Diego, CA, US—Performance managementAviationGD&T
- Senior Test Pilot, RotorcraftAnduril Industries · 🇺🇸Costa Mesa, California, United States$147K - $196KSeniorComputer VisionSecurity clearanceSensor fusion
- Senior Electrical Engineer, Drone (High-Voltage & Low-Voltage Power Systems)Applied · 🇺🇸Sunnyvale$170K - $240KSeniorPythonMATLABNetwork engineering
- Internship - UAV Robotics/Mechatronics (Drone Prototyping, Integration & Field Testing)Fiducial · Delft—HybridInternLinux
- Staff Robotics Software Engineer, CUAS, OmenAnduril Industries · 🇺🇸Costa Mesa, California, United States—Lead and aboveRustPythonC++
- Director, Sales - Dedrone (Counter-UAS)Axon · 🇬🇧London, England, United Kingdom—Lead and above
- Director of Engineering, UAS DevelopmentHarmattan Ai · Rabat—Lead and above
- EMEA Regulatory Lead - DronesDeliveroo · 🇬🇧London, United Kingdom—Lead and aboveEnglishRegulatory complianceAviation
- Drone System Reliability Technician and PilotHarmattan Ai · Orly—
- Senior Flight Test Engineer - Mission Autonomy (UAS - Fury)Anduril Industries · 🇺🇸Costa Mesa, California, United States$147K - $196KSeniorPythonC++ROS
- Flight Test Engineer - Mission Autonomy (UAS - Fury)Anduril Industries · 🇺🇸Costa Mesa, California, United States$117K - $154KPythonC++ROS
- Senior Manufacturing Engineer, DronesAnduril Industries · 🇺🇸Santa Ana, California, United States · +1 more location$147K - $196KSeniorComputer VisionSecurity clearanceControl systems
- Autonomy Integration Engineer (Drone Stack)Applied · 🇺🇸Sunnyvale$120K - $175KPythonC++Docker
- Autonomy Integration Engineer - Drone StackApplied · 🇺🇸Freeport, FL$120K - $175KPythonC++Docker
- Senior Engineer, Air Vehicle Fluid Systems (R5203)Shield AI · 🇺🇸Seattle, WA, US—SeniorControl systemsCADFMEA
- Senior Engineer, Air Vehicle Fluid Systems (R4891)Shield AI · 🇺🇸Seattle, WA, US—SeniorSecurity clearanceCADFMEA
- Staff Technician, Air Vehicle Systems (R4892)Shield AI · 🇺🇸Seattle, WA, US—Lead and aboveSecurity clearanceMechatronicsCAD
- Staff Technical Program Manager, Air Vehicle Systems (R6044)Shield AI · 🇺🇸Seattle, WA, US—Lead and aboveJiraSecurity clearanceTDD
- Certification & Airworthiness Engineer (UAV)Alta Ares · Toulouse—
- V-BAT Air Vehicle Operator, Deployed OperationsShield AI · 🇺🇸Dallas, TX, US$100K - $150KSecurity clearanceAviationRisk management
- Senior Robotics & Autonomy Engineer (Collaborative drone autonomy)Swarmer · 🇺🇦Kyiv—HybridSeniorPythonC++Linux
- Senior Robotics & Autonomy Engineer (Individual drone autonomy)Swarmer · 🇺🇦Kyiv—HybridSeniorPythonC++Linux
- Senior C++ Software Engineer - Drone StackApplied · 🇺🇸Washington, D.C. · +1 more location$135K - $185KSeniorC++DockerLinux
- UAV / Robotics Integration Field Engineer - HardwareSe3 · 🇩🇪Undisclosed test site 35km from Munich—PythonC++Docker
- Drones Operations ManagerDeliveroo · 🇬🇧London, United Kingdom—GoPCB designAviation
- Ground Loads Engineer, Air VehiclesAnduril Industries · 🇺🇸Costa Mesa, California, United States$132K - $175KPythonMATLABComputer Vision
- Senior Technician, Unmanned System Test Operator (R5413)Shield AI · 🇺🇸San Diego, CA, US—SeniorSecurity clearanceControl systemsAviation
- Technical Account Manager - C-UASAxon · 🇧🇪Belgium-Remote—RemoteSQLLinux
- Drone Operations, Intern - Labs (Summer 2027)DoorDash USA · 🇺🇸San Francisco, CA—Intern
- UAS Pilot/Flight Test & Mission OperatorCHAOS Industries · 🇺🇸El Segundo, California, United States$130K - $180KGoPythonJira
- UAV Software and Controls EngineerSe3 · 🇩🇪Munich—LLMComputer VisionEnglish
- Founding Drone & Avionics TechnicianSe3 · 🇩🇪Munich—LLMComputer VisionEnglish
- Staff UAS Flight Test Operator - 5793Shield AI · 🇺🇸San Diego, CA, US$57 - $85 an hourLead and aboveLinuxROSTest planning
- Senior Manager, Electrical Engineering - DroneApplied · 🇺🇸Sunnyvale$258K - $316KSeniorTest equipmentHardware interfacesPCB design
- Head of Drone HardwareApplied · 🇺🇸Sunnyvale$270K - $355KLead and aboveHardware testingPCB designRoot cause analysis
- Hardware Systems Lead, DroneApplied · 🇺🇸Sunnyvale$200K - $270KLead and aboveMechatronicsHardware testingLidar
- Senior Manager, Mechanical Engineering - DroneApplied · 🇺🇸Sunnyvale$225K - $310KSeniorCADAviationCNC machining
- Electromechanical Integration Engineer - Air VehiclesAnduril Industries · 🇺🇸Costa Mesa, California, United States$132K - $175KComputer VisionSecurity clearanceMechatronics
- Senior Mechanical Engineer, DroneApplied · 🇺🇸Sunnyvale$170K - $260KSeniorCADAviationCNC machining
- Hardware Electronics Engineer (UAV)Rnrs.solutions · Leerdam, NL—Python
- UAS Operations Specialist - Ground SupportDoorDash USA · 🇺🇸Bay Point, CA; Concord, CA—
- Senior V-BAT Air Vehicle Operator, Demonstration (R5505)Shield AI · 🇺🇸Dallas, TX, US$100K - $150KSeniorSecurity clearanceControl systemsAviation
- Systems Engineer, Army (CUAS)Anduril Industries · 🇺🇸Irvine, California, United States$146K - $194KPythonLinuxComputer Vision
- Tooling Design Engineer, Air VehiclesAnduril Industries · 🇺🇸Costa Mesa, California, United States$129K - $171KComputer VisionSecurity clearanceSensor fusion
- Simulation Engineer - Drone Physical Models IntegrationHarmattan Ai · 🇫🇷Paris—PythonC++Linux
- Senior Hardware Systems Engineer – Counter-UAS (Onsite)Axon · 🇺🇸Sterling, Virginia, United States$109K - $174KSenior
- UAS Operations Specialist - PilotDoorDash USA · 🇺🇸Concord, CA; Bay Point, CA—
- UAS Operations Specialist, LabsDoorDash USA · 🇺🇸San Francisco, CA—
- Principal Engineer, cUAS Lead, OmenAnduril Industries · 🇺🇸Costa Mesa, California, United States$220K - $292KLead and abovePythonC++MATLAB
- Air Vehicle Lead, Chief EngineerShield AI · 🇺🇸Seattle, WA, US—Lead and aboveSecurity clearanceAviation
- Senior Propulsion Engineer, Air Vehicles (Ramjet Integration)Anduril Industries · 🇺🇸Costa Mesa, California, United States$167K - $222KSeniorPythonMATLABComputer Vision
- Embedded Software Engineer (Drone Stack)Applied · 🇺🇸Fort Walton Beach, FL$125K - $185KC++DockerLinux
- Software Engineer - Multi-Agent UAV Autonomy (Defense)Applied · 🇰🇷Seoul—PythonC++Korean
- Senior V-BAT Air Vehicle Operator, Deployed Operations Site LeadShield AI · 🇺🇸Dallas, TX, US—Lead and aboveSecurity clearanceAviationRisk management
- Senior Jet Engine Design Engineer – Interceptor DronesAlta Ares · Toulouse—Senior
- Senior Flight Test Engineer, Unmanned Air VehiclesAnduril Industries · 🇺🇸Las Vegas, Nevada, United States$127K - $170KSeniorComputer VisionSecurity clearanceSensor fusion
- Staff Flight Test Engineer, Unmanned Air VehiclesAnduril Industries · 🇺🇸Victorville, California, United States · +1 more location$166K - $220KLead and aboveGoPythonJavaScript
- UAS Flight Operations Manager - GermanyHelsing · 🇩🇪Munich - Berlin—
- UAS / Drone Integration LeadNeros Technologies · 🇺🇸Torrance, California, United States$112K - $158KLead and above
- UAS / Drone Integration SpecialistNeros Technologies · 🇺🇸Torrance, California, United States$98K - $136K
- Field Operations Manager (UAV)Alta Ares · 🇬🇧London—Hybrid
- UAS OperatorHeven AeroTech · 🇺🇸Winchester, Virginia—Security clearanceEnglishVideo editing
- Senior Development Test Engineer - DronesAnduril Industries · 🇺🇸Costa Mesa, California, United States$146K - $194KSeniorPythonMATLABComputer Vision
- Production Associate, DronesAnduril Industries · 🇺🇸Santa Ana, California, United States—Computer VisionDriver's licenseERP
- C++ Software Engineer - Drone StackApplied · 🇺🇸Washington, D.C.$135K - $185KC++DockerLinux
- C++ Embedded Software Engineer - Drone StackApplied · 🇺🇸Sunnyvale$135K - $200KC++DockerLinux
- Drone System Validation Technician and PilotHarmattan Ai · Rabat—Linux
- Drone Operator and EngineerSentradel · 🇺🇸Nevada Office$80K - $130KPythonC++Firmware
- Structural Engineer UAV H/FAlta Ares · Toulouse—Flutter
- Mass Properties Engineer, Air VehiclesAnduril Industries · 🇺🇸Costa Mesa, California, United States$132K - $175KComputer VisionSecurity clearanceSensor fusion
- UAV Flight Test LeadTycho Ai · 🇺🇸Cambridge, MA—Lead and abovePythonC++Linux
- Staff Propulsion Engineer, Air Vehicles (Air Breathing Engine Integration)Anduril Industries · 🇺🇸Costa Mesa, California, United States$220K - $292KLead and abovePythonMATLABComputer Vision
- Staff Propulsion Engineer, Air Vehicles (Solid Rocket Motor Integration)Anduril Industries · 🇺🇸Costa Mesa, California, United States$220K - $292KLead and abovePythonMATLABComputer Vision
- Senior Propulsion Engineer, Air Vehicles (Air Breathing Engine Integration)Anduril Industries · 🇺🇸Costa Mesa, California, United States$167K - $222KSeniorPythonMATLABComputer Vision
- Senior Propulsion Engineer, Air Vehicles (Solid Rocket Motor Integration)Anduril Industries · 🇺🇸Costa Mesa, California, United States$167K - $222KSeniorPythonMATLABComputer Vision
- Principal Propulsion Engineer, Air Vehicles (Air Breathing Engine Integration)Anduril Industries · 🇺🇸Costa Mesa, California, United States$260K - $345KLead and abovePythonMATLABComputer Vision
- Principal Propulsion Engineer, Air Vehicles (Solid Rocket Motor Integration)Anduril Industries · 🇺🇸Costa Mesa, California, United States$260K - $345KLead and abovePythonMATLABComputer Vision
- Senior Fuel Systems Engineer, Air VehiclesAnduril Industries · 🇺🇸Costa Mesa, California, United States$167K - $222KSeniorComputer VisionSecurity clearanceSensor fusion
- Fuel Systems Engineer, Air VehiclesAnduril Industries · 🇺🇸Costa Mesa, California, United States$117K - $196KComputer VisionSecurity clearanceSensor fusion
- Air Vehicle Lead, Air Maneuver DominanceAnduril Industries · 🇺🇸Costa Mesa, California, United States$191K - $254KLead and aboveJiraAgileComputer Vision
- Drone Engineer - SoftwareSwarmer · 🇵🇱Warsaw—PythonC++Linux
- Thermal Engineer, Hypersonic Air VehiclesAnduril Industries · 🇺🇸Costa Mesa, California, United States$132K - $175KPythonMATLABComputer Vision
- Manufacturing Test Engineer, DronesAnduril Industries · 🇺🇸Costa Mesa, California, United States$132K - $175KPythonLinuxMATLAB
- Senior Product Quality Engineer, Small DronesAnduril Industries · 🇺🇸Santa Ana, California, United States$147K - $196KSeniorTableauJiraMATLAB
- Air Vehicle Lead, MissilesAnduril Industries · 🇺🇸Costa Mesa, California, United States$175K - $205KLead and aboveComputer VisionSecurity clearanceTest planning
- Drone Support SpecialistNeros Technologies · 🇺🇸Torrance, California, United States$68K - $94KZendesk
- Field Deployment Engineer, Counter-UAS (LATAM)Axon · Puerto Rico—Linux
- Forward Deployed System Integration Engineer - L2 (UAV Robotics) - UkraineFiducial · 🇺🇦Ukraine—PythonC++Docker
- Flight Test Engineer, RotorcraftAnduril Industries · 🇺🇸Costa Mesa, California, United States$117K - $154KComputer VisionSecurity clearanceTest planning
- UAS Operator & Flight Operations Technician (R5438)Shield AI · 🇺🇦Lviv, Ukraine—Driver's licenseEnglishControl systems
- Senior Flight Test Engineer, RotorcraftAnduril Industries · 🇺🇸Costa Mesa, California, United States$147K - $196KSeniorComputer VisionSecurity clearanceTest planning
- Senior Air Vehicle Systems Engineer, Hardware Verification, Integration & ValidationAnduril Industries · 🇺🇸Costa Mesa, California, United States$166K - $220KSeniorComputer VisionSecurity clearanceTest planning
- Staff Engineering Program Manager, UAS ProgramsArcher · 🇺🇸San Jose, California, United States$173K - $228KLead and aboveWorkforce planningAviation
- Senior Battery Engineer (Drones)Anduril Industries · 🇺🇸Costa Mesa, California, United States$147K - $196KSeniorMATLABComputer VisionPRDs
- Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) R&D TechnicianMORSE Corp · 🇺🇸Cambridge, MA$60K - $90K
Showing the newest 100 of 161. The search looks through all of them by title, place and pay.
Who is hiring for drone engineer and operator roles
Where drone engineer and operator roles are
- 🇺🇸United States118
- 🇺🇸California89
- 🇪🇺Europe25
- 🇺🇸San Francisco Bay Area12
- 🇩🇪Germany10
- 🇩🇪Munich10
- 🇺🇸Seattle, WA7
- 🇬🇧United Kingdom5
- 🇺🇦Ukraine5
- 🇬🇧London4
A role that lists several places is counted in each of them.
What drone engineer and operator roles pay, by level
| Level in the title | Median advertised salary | Roles counted |
|---|---|---|
| No level in the title | $154K | 43 |
| Senior | $172K | 29 |
| Lead and above | $222K | 23 |
Medians of the midpoints of advertised yearly US-dollar ranges; a level needs at least 15 such roles. Advertised, not verified pay.
Kinds of work close to this one
Roles where employers ask for the same skills. The bar shows how much the skill lists overlap; the text names the shared skills and, where 30 postings state pay, the median advertised pay there.
Companies hiring drone engineers and operators
Drone engineer and operator salaryQuestions about drone engineer and operator jobs
- What is a drone engineer and operator job?
- In a drone engineer and operator job, a person designs, builds or flies drones and other uncrewed aircraft. 166 such roles are open on Jobs Every Hour as of Nov 15, 2026.
- How many drone engineer and operator jobs are open right now?
- There are 166 open drone engineer and operator jobs at 29 companies on Jobs Every Hour as of Nov 15, 2026. 9 of them were posted in the last seven days. The list is rebuilt every hour from the employers' own careers pages.
- Which companies have the most drone engineer and operator jobs?
- Right now the most openings are at Anduril Industries (70), Applied (15), Shield AI (13), Se3 (8) and Harmattan Ai (6). The ranking changes as companies open and close roles.
- Are there remote drone engineer and operator jobs?
- 2 of the 166 open drone engineer and operator jobs (1%) are listed as remote. Remote roles are often limited to certain countries or time zones, so check the location line of each job.
- What do drone engineer and operator jobs pay?
- The median advertised salary is $172K, based on 95 open roles that publish a yearly US-dollar range. The middle half of those roles advertise between $154K and $194K. These are advertised ranges, not verified pay. Most employers here are technology companies, so the figures run above the wider market for the same work.
- Is it hard to get a drone engineer and operator job?
- 2 of the 166 open drone engineer and operator jobs (1%) are for beginners: junior roles and internships. Of the 111 postings that state experience, the median asks for 5 years. 29 companies are hiring and 9 roles were posted in the last seven days. Matching your resume to the skills each posting names helps most; the free resume builder shows the match.
- How is AI changing drone engineer and operator jobs?
- 80 of the 166 open drone engineer and operator jobs (48%) ask for AI or machine-learning skills, most often Computer Vision, LLM. Employers still list 166 such roles today at 29 companies. Counted from the postings' own text on Nov 15, 2026.
- What skills do drone engineer and operator jobs ask for?
- Most often Security clearance (51%), Computer Vision (48%), Sensor fusion (43%), Aviation (32%), Python (27%) of the 166 open postings, counted from their own text on Nov 15, 2026.
- Which job titles come up most in drone engineer and operator jobs?
- Senior Flight Test Engineer (3), Senior Mechanical Engineer (3), UAS Operations Specialist (3), Air Vehicle Lead (3), Senior Propulsion Engineer (3): the most common titles among the 166 open roles, without the level and place notes in brackets.
- Are drone engineer and operator jobs in demand in 2026?
- 166 drone engineer and operator jobs are open on Jobs Every Hour today at 29 companies, 0.1% of all 148,162 open jobs here; 9 were posted in the last seven days. The median advertised salary is $172K. 2 (1%) can be done remotely.
- How do I apply for drone engineer and operator jobs?
- Open a job and press “Apply on company site”. You go straight to the employer's own careers page and apply there. Jobs Every Hour needs no account and charges nothing for applying.


