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Drone Developer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Western Magnetics

Engineering Intern

South San Francisco, CA · On-site

$20.25 - $26.25/hr

About Westmag Westmag is the American manufacturer of drone motors and robot actuators, backed by ... Interns and co-op students will work closely with full time engineers, contributing to impactful ...

Western Magnetics

Engineering Intern

South San Francisco, CA · On-site

$20.25 - $26.25/hr

About Westmag Westmag is the American manufacturer of drone motors and robot actuators, backed by ... Interns and co-op students will work closely with full time engineers, contributing to impactful ...

Western Magnetics

Engineering Intern

South San Francisco, CA

$20.25 - $26.25/hr

About Westmag Westmag is the American manufacturer of drone motors and robot actuators, backed by ... Interns and co-op students will work closely with full time engineers, contributing to impactful ...

LMI

Drone Pilot - Clearance Required

Fort Bragg, CA · On-site

$103K - $179K/yr

LMI is seeking a Drone Pilot /Autonomy Test Operator to support a Department of War mission partner ... Rapid capability iteration with engineers and developers You will serve as a key operational test ...

LMI

Drone Pilot - Clearance Required

Fort Bragg, CA · On-site

$103K - $179K/yr

Overview LMI is seeking a Drone Pilot /Autonomy Test Operator to support a Department of War ... Rapid capability iteration with engineers and developers You will serve as a key operational test ...

LMI

Drone Pilot - Clearance Required

Fort Bragg, CA · On-site

$103K - $179K/yr

Overview LMI is seeking a Drone Pilot /Autonomy Test Operator to support a Department of War ... Rapid capability iteration with engineers and developers You will serve as a key operational test ...

Mirafra Technology

Test Automation Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$48.75 - $64.50/hr

San Diego, CA SW engineer needed to develop test automation for Linux Drone platform using Qualcomm's MSM chipset platform. Candidate will also be involved with drone technology work including flying ...

Scout AI

Mission Operator - UAV

Paso Robles, CA

$24.25 - $29.75/hr

Lead and schedule the drone operator team day to day * Partner with the Flight Test Engineer to drive product development on the air platform - shaping test priorities, splitting execution, and ...

Western Magnetics

Quality Engineer

South San Francisco, CA

$86K - $111K/yr

About Westmag Westmag is the American manufacturer of drone motors and robot actuators, backed by ... About the role As a Quality Engineer at Westmag, you will be responsible for ensuring the quality ...

Western Magnetics

Quality Engineer

South San Francisco, CA · On-site

$86K - $111K/yr

About Westmag Westmag is the American manufacturer of drone motors and robot actuators, backed by ... About the role As a Quality Engineer at Westmag, you will be responsible for ensuring the quality ...

Western Magnetics

Quality Engineer

South San Francisco, CA · On-site

$86K - $111K/yr

About Westmag Westmag is the American manufacturer of drone motors and robot actuators, backed by ... About the role As a Quality Engineer at Westmag, you will be responsible for ensuring the quality ...

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Drone Developer information

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$52

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How much do drone developer jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 2, 2026, the average hourly pay for drone developer in California is $52.15, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $39.86 and $63.80 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a drone developer?

A Drone Developer is a software and hardware engineer who designs, builds, and programs unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). They work with drone flight control systems, navigation algorithms, communication protocols, and sensor integration. Their role often involves writing software for autonomous flight, obstacle detection, and mission planning. Drone Developers collaborate with robotics engineers, aerospace specialists, and AI experts to improve drone capabilities for industries like agriculture, defense, logistics, and surveying.

What are some typical challenges a drone developer faces on a daily basis?

Drone Developers often encounter challenges such as troubleshooting issues with hardware-software integration, ensuring robust communication between onboard systems, and adapting to rapidly evolving regulations in the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) industry. Collaborating closely with cross-functional teams—including hardware engineers, software developers, and test pilots—is a key part of the job, requiring both technical flexibility and strong communication. Additionally, working in a fast-paced environment where project requirements can shift quickly helps developers stay adaptable while delivering innovative solutions. Overcoming these challenges provides valuable experience and can lead to exciting career growth within the drone technology sector.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a drone developer, and why are they important?

A Drone Developer needs a solid background in computer science or engineering, with strong programming skills (often in C++, Python, or ROS) and expertise in robotics and embedded systems. Familiarity with hardware prototyping tools, drone flight controllers, simulation platforms, and relevant certifications like the FAA Part 107 are typically valuable. Creative problem-solving, strong teamwork, and effective communication distinguish top performers in this field. These capabilities are critical because drone technology requires integrating complex software and hardware within regulatory and safety constraints.

How do you become a drone developer?

To become a drone developer, you typically need a background in computer science, robotics, or electrical engineering, along with programming skills in languages such as C++, Python, or Java. Experience with drone hardware, embedded systems, and software development tools like ROS or SDKs is also important, and obtaining relevant certifications can enhance job prospects.

Is drone developer a good career?

A drone developer designs and builds software and hardware for unmanned aerial vehicles, a growing field with applications in surveillance, delivery, and photography. The role often requires skills in programming, electronics, and robotics, and can offer opportunities in technology, manufacturing, and research sectors. Job prospects are strong as drone technology continues to expand across various industries.

What are the most commonly searched types of Drone Developer jobs in California?

The most popular types of Drone Developer jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Drone Developer jobs in California?

For Drone Developer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Drone Developer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Drone Developer jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Drone Developer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Drone Developer job openings:

Drone Developer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Drone Developer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 79% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 13% Contract. Highlights an 81% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 14% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $108,466 per year, or $52.1 per hour.

Senior PX4 Developer

Rainmaker Technology Corporation

El Segundo, CA • On-site

$150K - $200K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 11 days ago

Job description

Rainmaker builds systems to make it rain. Our autonomous drone fleets and weather modification platform operate worldwide: expanding freshwater supplies, protecting agriculture, and proving that cloud seeding works at scale.

You are:

  • A seasoned software engineer with a background in drone autonomy

  • Fast, thoughtful, autonomous, and opinionated

  • Willing to relocate to El Segundo, California

What you'll work on:

  • Contribute to our drone autonomy software stack end-to-end as a domain expert

  • Modify and extend PX4 firmware for custom use cases and flight behaviors

  • Develop firmware for embedded systems across power, peripherals, and sensing

  • Support simulation-based testing in Gazebo, HITL, and SITL environments

  • Assist with flight test support, log analysis, and software debugging

What we're looking for:

  • 3+ years of professional experience developing software for PX4/ArduPilot systems

  • Experience shipping production code in Rust, plus C++ or Python

  • Experience developing firmware for ESP32, RP2040, or similar embedded targets

  • Comfort with low-level peripheral buses: CAN, UART, I2C, SPI

  • Experience with real-time pub/sub middleware (Zenoh, DDS, ROS 2, MQTT, or similar)

  • Working knowledge of MAVLink and typical autopilot integration patterns

$150,000 - $200,000 a year
Benefits:
  • Significant stock options with high potential upside as an early-stage company
  • 401(k) with employer matching
  • Full health coverage (medical, dental, and vision insurance)
  • Relocation assistance provided (if applicable)
  • Unlimited PTO 
  • Paid parental leave for both parents
  • Lunch provided when working in-office and a fully stocked kitchenette
  • Free EV charging at the HQ

Rainmaker is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Rainmaker is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.


Rainmaker participates in E-Verify. To learn more, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit E-Verify.gov.
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