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Aerial Pilot Jobs in Iowa (NOW HIRING)

SkySpecs

UAS Pilot

Des Moines, IA

As a UAS Pilot, you will ... Join our team of operators in the United States as we scale to conquer the aerial inspection ...

SkySpecs

UAS Pilot

Des Moines, IA · On-site

As a UAS Pilot, you will ... Join our team of operators in the United States as we scale to conquer the aerial inspection ...

All JobsAerial Pilot JobsAerial Pilot Jobs in Iowa

Aerial Pilot information

See Iowa salary details

$46.5K

$123K

$188.8K

How much do aerial pilot jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for aerial pilot in Iowa is $122,965.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $93,900.00 and $145,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Aerial Pilot vs Drone Operator?

AspectAerial PilotDrone Operator
CertificationsFAA pilot license, commercial pilot certificateRemote Pilot Certificate (Part 107)
Work EnvironmentAircraft in various outdoor settings, often in aviation or film industriesRemote control, often indoors or in designated outdoor areas
Industry UsageAviation, aerial photography, surveying, firefightingFilmmaking, inspections, agriculture, real estate

While both roles involve flying devices, Aerial Pilots operate manned aircraft requiring pilot licenses and often work in aviation or aerial services. Drone Operators control unmanned drones with remote licenses, mainly used for filming, inspections, or agricultural purposes. The key differences lie in certification requirements, work environment, and industry applications.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an aerial pilot, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Aerial Pilot, you need a commercial pilot’s license, strong aviation knowledge, and excellent flight proficiency, often supported by specialized training for aerial operations. Familiarity with navigation systems, GPS technology, and flight planning software is typically required, along with certifications such as an FAA Part 61 or 141 license. Attention to detail, situational awareness, and strong decision-making skills set exceptional aerial pilots apart. These skills and qualifications are crucial for ensuring flight safety, regulatory compliance, and effective execution of specialized missions like photography, surveying, or agricultural work.

What are some common challenges aerial pilots face when operating in diverse weather conditions?

Aerial Pilots often encounter rapidly changing weather patterns that can significantly affect flight safety and mission success. Navigating through turbulence, low visibility, and unexpected wind shifts requires quick decision-making and constant communication with ground control and co-pilots. Staying updated on weather reports and having contingency plans in place are essential parts of the job. Pilots must also be adept at adjusting flight plans on the fly to maintain safety and efficiency.

What does an aerial pilot do?

The job duties of an aerial pilot involve operating an aircraft to perform different airborne tasks. Your responsibilities vary depending on the industry. An aerial survey pilot performs data acquisition and mapping tasks while they fly over an area. As an aerial photography pilot, you take images from the air or fly a photography team over the site or event they want to photograph. An aerial firefighter pilot releases water or fire suppression liquid over a forest fire. Crop dusters release fertilizer or pesticide over farm fields.

What is an aerial pilot?

Aerial pilots are licensed professionals who operate aircraft for purposes other than commercial airline transportation. Their work often includes aerial photography, surveying, agricultural applications (like crop dusting), firefighting, search and rescue, and banner towing. Aerial pilots must have specialized training and certifications that depend on their specific area of work, and they must adhere to strict safety and regulatory standards. They often work in varied and sometimes challenging environments, and their skills are critical for tasks that require precision flying. Aerial pilots play an essential role in industries ranging from agriculture to emergency services.
More about Aerial Pilot jobs
What are popular job titles related to Aerial Pilot jobs in Iowa? For Aerial Pilot jobs in Iowa, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Aerial Pilot jobs in Iowa look for? The top searched job categories for Aerial Pilot jobs in Iowa are:
What cities in Iowa are hiring for Aerial Pilot jobs? Cities in Iowa with the most Aerial Pilot job openings:
Aerial Pilot jobs near you
Infographic showing various Aerial Pilot job openings in Iowa as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 40% Full Time, and 60% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $122,965 per year, or $59.1 per hour.

UAS Pilot

SkySpecs

Des Moines, IA

Full-time

Re-posted 25 days ago

Job description

About SkySpecs

SkySpecs is simplifying renewable energy asset management by offering purpose-built technologies and services that help our customers deliver industry-leading productivity, efficiency, and returns. Every day we help our customers unlock the power of their data so they can make confident, informed decisions. Our team brings deep industry experience and a willingness to get our hands dirty to first understand and then solve customer problems on the ground.

SkySpecs launched the world's first completely autonomous blade inspection product in 2016 with a custom-designed drone system. Since then, SkySpecs has inspected over 160,000 wind turbines in over 31 countries, becoming the world leader in understanding the health of turbine blades. Identifying issues with turbine blades is only the first step. In 2019, SkySpecs launched Horizon to be a platform for SkySpecs to offer a multi-layered solution for customers that includes: data collection, wind turbine blade engineering expertise, and a place for all stakeholders to collaborate to manage and analyze massive amounts of data, spot trends, and create plans for high-cost repair campaigns. Since 2021, SkySpecs acquired three companies specializing in wind turbine drivetrain monitoring, financial management and automated turbine data analytics and fleet optimization, further expanding our offering in the market. Ultimately, this will help reduce the cost and risk of operations for the industry.

What will I be getting myself into?

SkySpecs will probably be unlike any place you've ever worked. The second you walk in the door (or log in, if you are remote), you will feel the high-energy environment filled with incredibly smart people solving hard problems. SkySpecs values collaboration, multidisciplinary problem solving, and a mantra of 'under-promise, over-deliver'. SkySpecs is at a critical growth period where there are endless opportunities to make an impact.

As a UAS Pilot, you will:

Join our team of operators in the United States as we scale to conquer the aerial inspection industry. You will combine a passion for autonomous flight operations and drone electrical and mechanical troubleshooting knowledge. You will be responsible for executing on-site inspection work for our American customers, in-field technical troubleshooting, and transiting your equipment between sites as needed for longer deployment campaigns. You will be a critical member of the SkySpecs Operations Team and interact regularly with our on-site customers face-to-face, representing us on-site through efficient project execution, exceptional professionalism, and a nonstop commitment to safe UAS operations. You will be deployed across the USA for onshore inspections, spanning from the Pacific Northwest, down through central California, across the plains states and up to the Northeast. As a Commercial UAS Pilot, you'll be responsible for solving a variety of operational challenges, many of which will involve implementing new processes and fielding new technology solutions.

In a given week you will:

  • Deploy to customer project locations - sometimes solo, sometimes on small teams - to execute on-site wind turbine blade inspections using the SkySpecs automated drone system
  • Communicate daily to SkySpecs and customers on project progress, upcoming logistics, technical troubleshooting details, product improvements, etc.
  • Be patient with and passionate for the most advanced commercial UAS technology on the market
  • Charge, discharge, pack, and ship flight batteries

Requirements of the job:

  • FAA Part 107 Certificated Remote Pilot (current)
  • Native English speaker or proficiency at or above CEFR Level C1 or TOEFL Score >100
  • Eligible to work in the United States
  • Primary place of residence within the USA: Omaha, NE, Des Moines, IA, Sioux Falls, SD or Texas preferred.
  • Minimum of 25 logged hours as pilot-in-command (PIC) with heavy-lift (>7 kgs MTOW) multi-rotor platforms and at least 100 logged hours of overall UAS PIC experience; strong preference for extensive experience in "DJI Atti" mode equivalent (i.e. manual flying with no GPS position hold)
  • Ability to travel up to 80% of the time, deployed to remote wind farms throughout the USA, in up to 4-week increments with 1-week breaks, depending on local regulations - Average is closer to 2-3 week increments
  • Work 10+ hours a day in various weather conditions
  • Knowledge and hands-on experience with UAS operations, vehicle and sensor assembly, telemetry radios, R/C transmitters, video downlinks, or general UAS field troubleshooting
  • Willingness to jump in at any level of operations and do "whatever it takes" to help the project
  • Excellent organizational and communication skills; high attention to detail; a stellar team player
  • Must be comfortable with ambiguity and fast, constant changes to "the plan" with the ability to adapt quickly and make it seem effortless
  • A valid passport
  • A valid driver's license
  • Ability to lift up to 50 lbs. and stand for long periods of time
  • Experience with being deployed for long periods of time
  • 2-year technical degree or higher in unmanned systems, aviation, operations, or a related field
  • CPR/AED & First Aid training certificate (active) preferred
  • OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 training certificates (active) preferred
  • Wind energy / renewables experience preferred
  • Startup or tech experience

Bonus points for:

  • 2-year technical degree or higher in unmanned systems, aviation, operations, or a related field
  • Experience with drone operations as PIC in multiple EU countries - the more, the better!
  • Offshore flight operations experience - bonus points for having GWO 1-5 certifications
  • CPR/AED & First Aid training certificate (active)
  • OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 training certificates (active)
  • Working-level proficiency in multiple languages besides English
  • Experience with being deployed for long periods of time
  • Wind energy / renewables experience
  • Startup or tech experience

If you require a reasonable accommodation in accordance with applicable laws to assist with the job applicable or pre-employment process, please direct inquiries to People & Culture at ask-people-culture @ skyspecs.com

Employment Type: FULL_TIME

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