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Drone Controller Jobs (NOW HIRING)

FOCUSPOINT

Drone Pilot

Brentwood, TN · On-site

Role Summary The Drone Pilot leads mission planning, execution, and data capture across controlled industrial environments. This includes advanced flight operations, emergency‑readiness support ...

Waller HROPS LLC

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Drone Builder Test Pilot

Palmetto, FL · On-site

$20 - $23/hr

The Drone Builder Test Pilot is responsible for assembling, configuring, testing, and validating ... Calibrate sensors, gimbals, flight controllers, and radio transmitters/receivers, using product ...

Skydio, Inc

Technical Support Specialist

$59K - $100K/yr

Know Skydio drone, controller, and cloud products inside and out, and proactively seek clarity on areas of ambiguity negatively impacting our customers * Be the Voice of Customer frontline to other ...

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Drone Controller information

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$55K

$119.5K

$175.5K

How much do drone controller jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 4, 2026, the average yearly pay for drone controller in the United States is $119,497.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $97,000.00 and $138,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

Is drone flying a good career?

Drone controllers operate unmanned aerial vehicles for various applications such as photography, surveying, and inspection. The field offers opportunities in industries like agriculture, construction, and media, often requiring certifications and technical skills. Job prospects depend on industry demand and regional regulations, with some roles offering flexible schedules and remote work options.

What is a drone controller?

A Drone Controller operates and navigates drones for various applications, such as surveillance, mapping, deliveries, or inspections. They are responsible for ensuring safe flights, adhering to regulations, and troubleshooting technical issues. Depending on the industry, they may also analyze data collected by drones to support decision-making. Training, certification, and knowledge of aviation laws are often required.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a drone controller?

To thrive as a Drone Controller, you need strong spatial awareness, attention to detail, and experience with remote piloting, usually supported by a relevant license such as a Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate. Proficiency in drone flight software, GPS navigation systems, and real-time monitoring tools is essential. Effective communication, problem-solving abilities, and the capacity to stay calm under pressure help distinguish top candidates. These skills ensure safe and efficient operations, compliance with regulations, and optimal collaboration with ground teams or clients.

What are the typical daily responsibilities of a drone controller?

As a Drone Controller, your daily tasks often include preparing and inspecting drones before flights, planning and executing flight missions, adhering to airspace regulations, and capturing or analyzing aerial data as required by the project. You may also be responsible for maintaining detailed flight logs, coordinating with team members or clients to meet mission objectives, and troubleshooting any technical issues during operations. Depending on the employer, you might work in sectors such as surveying, agriculture, cinematography, or emergency services, each with unique operational demands. Collaboration with field technicians, data analysts, or project managers is common to ensure the accuracy and safety of every mission.

More about Drone Controller jobs
What cities are hiring for Drone Controller jobs? Cities with the most Drone Controller job openings:
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Drone Controller jobs near you
Infographic showing various Drone Controller job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 95% Full Time, 2% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 6% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $119,497 per year, or $57.5 per hour.

Flight Control Firmware Engineer

DMR TECHNOLOGIES INC

Lafayette, LA • On-site

$14 - $60/hr

Full-time

Re-posted 11 days ago

Job description

Flight Control Firmware Engineer
Lafayette, LA · Full-Time · Built on the Bayou — Bringing the Future of Flight to Life
*The description below is a best-case candidate.  This specific role could potentially be a part-time internship for someone in the 3rd / 4th year of a computer science-related field.
 
DMR is building next-generation drone technology right here in Lafayette, LA. Our flight controllers are flying production missions today — multi-IMU redundancy, dual GPS+RTK, dual-antenna heading with magnetometer fusion, and layered safety strategies. We need a firmware engineer ready to own this system, push it forward, and help us scale.
 
What You'll Do
•        Own the flight control firmware — analyze, document, and evolve a mature production codebase covering multi-IMU redundancy, dual GPS+RTK, and dual-antenna heading fusion.
•        Lead feature development and stability tuning for RTK and 4G modules.
•        Develop and maintain sensor drivers: IMU, GNSS, magnetic compass, barometer, Hall/ultrasonic flow meters, and radar.
•        Implement production-line calibration methods and support test fixtures.
•        Maintain the flight control protocol SDK; coordinate integration with application and cloud teams.
•        Refine flight modes and safety strategies; contribute early research into RTK base stations and centrifugal nozzles.
•        Close the loop on mass-production issues and ensure firmware consistency across batches.
 

What You Bring
•        Bachelor's degree or above in Automation, Electronics, Aerospace, Computer Science, or related field.
•        5+ years of embedded flight control firmware experience, including at least one drone controller taken from development through mass production.
•        Strong STM32 (H7 preferred) skills — both bare-metal and RTOS environments.
•        Solid knowledge of IMU/GNSS-RTK/compass drivers and multi-sensor fusion (Kalman/ESKF), attitude estimation, and control algorithms.
•        Familiarity with CAN, RS-485, serial, PWM, ADC, and other embedded bus interfaces.
•        Self-directed — you can troubleshoot independently and drive work to completion.
 

Bonus Points
•        Agricultural or crop-protection drone experience: spraying, spreading, seeding, swath-width route planning, or resume-spraying.
•        RTK high-precision positioning, dual-antenna heading, or 4G base station integration experience.
 
 
 
DMR is headquartered in Lafayette, LA — the heart of Cajun Country. We move fast, build real products, and take pride in doing it here. If you're ready to own the firmware on drones that are actually flying, we want to hear from you.