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Assistant Drone Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Kimley-Horn

Survey Drone Pilot

Fort Worth, TX · On-site

Overview Kimley-Horn is looking for a Survey Drone Pilot to join our growing team in Fort Worth ... * Assist in translating field data (points, sketches, photos, and reference maps) into ...

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How much do assistant drone jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 10, 2026, the average hourly pay for assistant drone in the United States is $18.95, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $15.14 and $21.15 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an assistant drone?

An Assistant Drone job typically involves operating, monitoring, and maintaining drones for various tasks such as surveillance, deliveries, or inspections. These roles may require assisting with flight planning, troubleshooting technical issues, and ensuring compliance with regulations. Depending on the industry, Assistant Drone operators may work in fields like agriculture, logistics, cinematography, or security. Strong technical skills and knowledge of drone software and hardware are often required.

What are the typical responsibilities of an assistant drone in daily operations?

An Assistant Drone usually supports primary drone pilots with pre-flight and post-flight inspections, maintains flight logs, assists in flight planning, and helps monitor the drone’s status during operations. Daily tasks can also include equipment maintenance, battery management, and reviewing imagery or data collected during flights. You may work closely with a small team, collaborating with pilots, project leads, and data analysts to ensure all missions run smoothly. This role provides a hands-on introduction to industry-standard procedures and often serves as a stepping stone to more advanced UAV positions.

How do I start a career in assistant drones?

To start a career as an assistant drone operator, gain knowledge of drone technology, flight operations, and safety protocols through online courses or training programs. Obtain relevant certifications such as Part 107 from the FAA or equivalent authorities, and develop skills in remote piloting, navigation, and maintenance. Entry-level positions often require a valid drone license, technical aptitude, and familiarity with industry-specific tools and regulations.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the assistant drone position, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Assistant Drone, you should possess a strong understanding of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operations, basic aviation principles, and attention to detail, often supported by relevant training or certification such as FAA Part 107. Familiarity with drone control software, flight planning tools, and GPS navigation systems is commonly required. Strong communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills help you effectively support pilots and coordinate safe flights. These competencies are crucial to ensuring efficient, accurate, and compliant drone operations in commercial or industrial environments.

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Assistant Drone jobs near you
Infographic showing various Assistant Drone job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 76% Full Time, 20% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 98% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $39,407 per year, or $18.9 per hour.

Drone Pilot for AI Training and Data Collection

TSMG

San Francisco, CA

Full-time

Re-posted 23 hours ago

Job description

We are seeking an experienced and highly skilled Drone Pilot to assist in the development and training of AI models, specifically in the areas of computer vision, sensor fusion, and autonomous navigation. The ideal candidate will be responsible for collecting high-quality data in real-world environments, contributing to the optimization of AI algorithms that power autonomous systems.

As a Drone Pilot for AI & Autonomous Systems Training, you will operate advanced drones to capture data essential for training and validating AI models that power autonomous navigation, object detection, and decision-making systems.
Key Responsibilities:
  • Pilot drones equipped with high-resolution cameras, LiDAR, thermal imaging, and other sensors to collect diverse datasets used for training AI algorithms, particularly for autonomous navigation, computer vision, and sensor fusion.
  • Capture data in various real-world conditions (e.g., urban, rural, industrial, challenging weather conditions) to expose AI systems to a wide range of environments and scenarios.
  • Execute complex drone missions with precise data collection objectives, such as aerial mapping, 3D reconstruction, obstacle detection, and object tracking.
  • Collaborate closely with AI engineers, machine learning specialists, and autonomous systems teams to ensure data collection aligns with the specific requirements of AI model training.
  • Perform post-flight data quality checks and initial preprocessing to ensure the datasets are ready for use in training AI models.
  • Operate drones in both manual and autonomous modes, supporting AI-driven flight operations where drones rely on onboard algorithms for navigation and decision-making.
  • Adhere to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and local aviation regulations governing drone operations, ensuring the safe and compliant conduct of all drone missions.
  • Oversee the maintenance, calibration, and troubleshooting of drones and onboard sensors to ensure the highest standards of performance and reliability.
Qualifications:
  • Commercial drone pilot certification (FAA Part 107 or equivalent), with additional certifications in safety or advanced drone technologies considered a plus.
  • Proven track record as a drone pilot, with significant experience in collecting data for industrial, research, or AI-focused applications.
  • Expertise in flying drones equipped with advanced sensors such as LiDAR, thermal cameras, RGB cameras, and multispectral sensors.
  • Familiarity with the nuances of autonomous flight, sensor integration, and machine learning workflows, especially those that involve real-time data processing.
  • Strong understanding of how drone-collected data is used for AI training, including its role in training AI for perception, navigation, and decision-making.
  • Experience in using software for flight planning, such as Pix4D, DroneDeploy, or similar platforms, and geospatial data analysis tools.
  • Familiarity with machine learning concepts, especially those related to computer vision (e.g., image segmentation, object detection, and tracking) and autonomous navigation systems.
  • Basic understanding of geospatial data processing, photogrammetry, and 3D reconstruction techniques for AI applications.
  • Strong attention to detail with a commitment to ensuring the highest quality of data collection and analysis.
  • Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work in multidisciplinary teams.
We would be happy to get to know you and your skills better and see how we can support each other's growth.

Please apply and let's meet!

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.