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Airborne Operator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Preferred experience in operating commercial airborne lidar sensors (Riegl, Leica, Optech) in fixed wing platforms. Candidate should have strong self-motivation with independent working mindset, is ...

Preferred experience in operating commercial airborne lidar sensors (Riegl, Leica, Optech) in fixed wing platforms. Candidate should have strong self-motivation with independent working mindset, is ...

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The Sensor Operator aspect of the position requires the operation of various airborne sensors in the field aboard fixed wing aircraft, perform work duties at various times and schedules when optimal ...

Airborne Field Technical Facilitator

Jonesboro, GA · On-site

$51K - $56K/yr

The Airborne Field Technical Facilitator is responsible for delivering high-quality technical and ... Forklift operator, overhead crane operator, and aerial work platform (AWP) operator trainer ...

Preferred experience in operating commercial airborne lidar sensors (Riegl, Leica, Optech) in fixed wing platforms. Candidate should have strong self-motivation with independent working mindset, is ...

Preferred experience in operating commercial airborne lidar sensors (Riegl, Leica, Optech) in fixed wing platforms. Candidate should have strong self-motivation with independent working mindset, is ...

Machine Operator

Carthage, TN · On-site

$15.75 - $18.75/hr

Machine Operator Department: Manufacturing Employment Type: Full-Time, Non-Exempt Location ... Exposure to vibration, loud noise, airborne particles, fumes, and varying environmental conditions

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Airborne Operator information

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How much do airborne operator jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 13, 2026, the average hourly pay for airborne operator in the United States is $19.09, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.07 and $20.43 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Airborne Operator vs Drone Pilot?

AspectAirborne OperatorDrone Pilot
CertificationsFAA Part 107 or equivalent, depending on jurisdictionFAA Part 107 or similar remote pilot certification
Work EnvironmentAircraft, helicopters, or fixed-wing planes; often outdoors and in various weather conditionsUnmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs); typically remote-controlled, indoors or outdoors
Industry UsageAviation, aerial photography, surveillance, military, and cargoFilmmaking, real estate, inspections, agriculture, and surveying

Both Airborne Operators and Drone Pilots require FAA Part 107 certification and work with aerial technology. However, Airborne Operators typically operate manned aircraft in diverse environments, while Drone Pilots control unmanned drones mainly for commercial or recreational purposes. Understanding these differences helps clarify career paths and job expectations in aerial operations.

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What states have the most Airborne Operator jobs?

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What are popular job titles related to Airborne Operator jobs?

For Airborne Operator jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Airborne Operator job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 48% Full Time, 50% Part Time, 1% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $39,702 per year, or $19.1 per hour.

Program Manager, Airborne Electronic Warfare with Security Clearance

Costa Mesa, CA • On-site

Anduril Industries
Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing • 501 - 1,000 employees

$166K - $220K/yr

Other

Re-posted 22 days ago


Anduril rating

9.1

Company rating: 9.1 out of 10

Anduril

Based on 17 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz


Job description

Anduril Industries is a defense technology company with a mission to transform U.S. and allied military capabilities with advanced technology. By bringing the expertise, technology, and business model of the 21st century's most innovative companies to the defense industry, Anduril is changing how military systems are designed, built and sold. Anduril's family of systems is powered by Lattice OS, an AI-powered operating system that turns thousands of data streams into a realtime, 3D command and control center. As the world enters an era of strategic competition, Anduril is committed to bringing cutting-edge autonomy, AI, computer vision, sensor fusion, and networking technology to the military in months, not years. About This Role You'll own the execution of programs that put EW capability on aircraft - manned and unmanned. These are complex, multi-disciplinary integration efforts involving RF hardware, embedded software, firmware, flight qualification, airframe interfaces, and demanding government customers. You'll manage programs from contract award through flight test, qualification, and fielding. Airborne EW programs move fast but carry high technical risk. Platform integration constraints, flight safety requirements, and limited test windows create an environment where planning, anticipation, and clear communication are the difference between on-time delivery and a year of rework. You'll need to understand enough about the technology to have credible conversations with engineers and customers - and enough about program execution to keep complex efforts on track. What You'll Do * Own end-to-end execution of airborne EW programs - scope, schedule, budget, risk, customer relationships, and delivery * Manage programs involving hardware/software integration onto airborne platforms with all associated qualification and certification requirements * Serve as primary customer interface for DoD program offices (PEOs, PMAs, SOCOM, platform integrators) on programmatic matters * Coordinate across RF engineering, embedded software, FPGA/DSP, systems engineering, flight test, and production teams to deliver on commitments * Manage contract financials - EACs, burn rate, margin, invoicing, and revenue recognition * Drive requirements definition and management in partnership with systems engineering - translate customer needs into executable scope * Plan and coordinate flight test events, ground integration activities, and platform qualification milestones * Manage subcontractor and vendor relationships as needed for platform-specific integration * Proactively identify and mitigate program risks - surface issues early with data and proposed solutions * Support capture and proposal efforts for airborne EW growth opportunities (BOEs, schedules, technical volumes) Required Qualifications * 5+ years of demonstrated success managing or leading complex defense technology programs - delivering real systems to real customers on contract * Direct experience with airborne systems: flight qualification, platform integration, DO-178/DO-254, airworthiness, or flight test coordination * Track record of managing programs with combined hardware, software, and firmware deliverables in a defense or aerospace environment * Experience as the primary interface with DoD program offices or platform integrators (prime or sub) * Comfort operating in technically complex environments - you can follow an engineering discussion about RF, embedded systems, or signal processing without needing everything translated * Proven ability to manage scope, schedule, and budget simultaneously without letting any one collapse * Experience working directly with software and hardware engineering teams - not through layers of intermediaries * Active U.S. Secret clearance (TS/SCI preferred) Preferred Qualifications * Background in electronic warfare, SIGINT, airborne ISR, or aircraft survivability equipment (ASE) programs * Prior experience at defense technology companies (not just traditional primes) - organizations that build and ship fast * Experience managing programs with DCMA oversight, earned value requirements, or CPIF/CPFF contract structures * Previous role as a mission operations lead, technical program manager, or field engineer on airborne systems * Direct experience with aircraft integration (wiring, connectors, SWaP constraints, vibration/thermal environments) * Relationships with relevant DoD program offices (PMA-272, PMA-234, SOCOM, platform SPOs) US Salary Range $166,000 - $220,000 USD The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full time offers; and are considered part of Anduril's total compensation package. Additionally, Anduril offers top-tier benefits for full-time employees, including: Benefits At Anduril, we invest in our people. Our comprehensive, competitive benefits package (available at little to no cost to employees) ensures you're supported in health, recovery, and whatever comes next. For more information, Explore Our Benefits . Protecting Yourself from Recruitment Scams Anduril is committed to maintaining the integrity of our Talent acquisition process and the security of our candidates. We've observed a rise in sophisticated phishing and fraudulent schemes where individuals impersonate Anduril representatives, luring job seekers with false interviews or job offers. These scammers often attempt to extract payment or sensitive personal information. To ensure your safety and help you navigate your job search with confidence, please keep the following critical points in mind: * No Financial Requests: Anduril will never solicit payment or demand personal financial details (such as banking information, credit card numbers, or social security numbers) at any stage of our hiring process. Our legitimate recruitment is entirely free for candidates. * Please always verify communications: * Direct from Anduril: If you receive an email from one of our recruiters, it will only come from an @anduril.com address. * Via Agency Partner: If contacted by a recruiting agency for an Anduril role, their email will clearly identify their agency. If you suspect any suspicious activity, please verify the agency's authenticity by reaching out to . * Exercise Caution with Unsolicited Outreach: If you receive any communication that appears suspicious, contains grammatical errors, or makes unusual requests, do not engage. Always confirm the sender's email domain is @anduril.com before providing any personal information or clicking on links. * What to Do If You Suspect Fraud: Should you encounter any questionable or fraudulent outreach claiming to be from Anduril, please report it immediately to . Your proactive caution is invaluable in protecting your personal information and upholding the security and trustworthiness of our recruitment efforts. Data Privacy To view Anduril's candidate data privacy policy, please visit https://anduril.com/applicant-privacy-notice/ . By submitting your application, you consent to Anduril Industries using a third-party service provider to conduct pre-employment risk, integrity, and due diligence screening and assessing potential risks as part of your application process. This third-party service provider provides risk-intelligence services that may include analysis of sanctions and watchlists, adverse media, public-record information, and other lawful open-source or commercial data sources. This third-party service provider does not act as a consumer reporting agency. Use of this provider helps to ensure compliance with applicable laws and protect technology, intellectual property, and organizational security. Create a Job Alert Interested in building your career at Anduril Industries? Get future opportunities sent straight to your email. Create alert

Working at Anduril

About Anduril, in their own words

From Anduril

As the world enters an era of strategic competition, Anduril delivers cutting-edge autonomy, AI, computer vision, sensor fusion, and networking technology to the warfighter in months, not years.


What Anduril employees say

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About Anduril Industries

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Anduril Industries is a trailblazer in the technology industry based in Costa Mesa, CA, US. Founded in 2017 by Palmer Luckey, the creator of Oculus VR, the company focuses on developing innovative technology to equip and empower those in the defense sector. Its primary products include cutting-edge autonomous systems and AI software that assist in combating threats to national and global security. The mission of Anduril Industries is to integrate technology and defense by building transformative, scalable solutions that ensure a safer world.

Industry

Guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing

Company size

501 - 1,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Costa Mesa, CA, US

Year founded

2017

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