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Drone Developer Jobs in Boston, MA (NOW HIRING)

MIT Lincoln Laboratory

System Analyst

Lexington, MA · On-site

Identifying critical needs - We analyze emerging missile and drone threats from around the world to ... MS in Electrical Engineering, Control Systems, Physics, Applied Mathematics, System Science and ...

MIT Lincoln Laboratory

System Analyst

Lexington, MA · On-site

Identifying critical needs - We analyze emerging missile and drone threats from around the world to ... MS in Electrical Engineering, Control Systems, Physics, Applied Mathematics, System Science and ...

MIT Lincoln Laboratory

AI/ML Engineering

Lexington, MA · On-site

Identifying critical needs - We analyze emerging missile and drone threats from around the world to ... Desired areas of expertise include any of the following: data science and engineering, artificial ...

MIT Lincoln Laboratory

System Analyst

Lexington, MA

Identifying critical needs - We analyze emerging missile and drone threats from around the world to ... MS in Electrical Engineering, Control Systems, Physics, Applied Mathematics, System Science and ...

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All JobsDrone Developer JobsDrone Developer Jobs in Boston, MA

Drone Developer information

See Boston, MA salary details

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$57

$88

How much do drone developer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 6, 2026, the average hourly pay for drone developer in Boston, MA is $57.40, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $43.89 and $70.24 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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.

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.

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 various industries with competitive salaries. As drone technology advances, demand for skilled developers is expected to increase.

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 the most commonly searched types of Drone Developer jobs in Boston, MA? The most popular types of Drone Developer jobs in Boston, MA are:
What are popular job titles related to Drone Developer jobs in Boston, MA? For Drone Developer jobs in Boston, MA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Drone Developer jobs in Boston, MA look for? The top searched job categories for Drone Developer jobs in Boston, MA are:
Drone Developer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Drone Developer job openings in Boston, MA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 79% Full Time, 6% Part Time, and 15% Contract. Highlights an 83% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $119,401 per year, or $57.4 per hour.

Application Engineer, Drone Technology

Re:Build Manufacturing

Framingham, MA • On-site

$112K - $168K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 8 days ago

Job description

About Re:Build Manufacturing
Re:Build Manufacturing is a growing family of industrial and engineering businesses combining enabling technologies, operational superiority, and strategic M&A to build America's next generation industrial company. At Re:Build we deploy deep expertise in engineering, operations management, and technology to supercharge the performance of our member companies. We leverage deep professional expertise and a candid, principled operating culture to drive differentiated outcomes. Ours is a fast-paced environment where individuals can stretch and be challenged to pursue their fullest potential.
Re:Build was founded to pioneer a profitable model for the revitalization of US manufacturing. We've assembled a powerful set of complimentary capabilities and lines of business that enable us to pursue a wide range of end markets. Our acquired businesses are grounded in build-to-print and by-the-hour engineering and design services, and we're leveraging their combined expertise to migrate to increasingly sophisticated program development and production, as well as the generation of our own products. Our unique set of capabilities lend themselves to highly complex systems and products, and we offer customers a range of services including product and systems design, automation, fabrication, assembly, and large volume contract manufacturing. Our customers span a wide array of industries including aerospace, defense, mobility, healthcare, pharma, biotech, clean tech, chemicals, energy, lifestyle, food production, and industrial equipment.
Who we are looking for
This role provides technical customer support and integration services for Re:Build's family of drone platforms. The Applications Engineer serves as a critical bridge between customers and Re:Build's engineering team, helping customers successfully integrate payloads, configure systems, and deploy drone solutions for their specific applications. This position focuses on customer-facing technical problem-solving, integration testing, and supporting customers through their architectural designs and operational deployments.
What you get to do
  • Assist customers with the integration of custom payloads, sensors, and companion computers (eg. Raspberry Pi, NVIDIA Orin GPU, Qualcomm SnapDragon) into multiple drone platforms
  • Support customers with architectural designs and system configuration to meet their specific mission requirements
  • Manage and maintain software and firmware builds for customer deployments, working closely with the Re:Build member site teams as needed
  • Provide technical support for customers implementing PixHawk compliant payloads and accessories
  • Support autopilot builds for customers to include PX4, Ardupilot, Betaflight, and others
  • Conduct benchtop testing, integration testing, and assist with flight testing to validate customer configurations
  • Create and maintain integration documentation, user guides, and video tutorials for the Re:Build platform
  • Troubleshoot technical issues and provide timely solutions to customer challenges
  • Collaborate with the engineering team to capture customer requirements and feedback for product improvements
  • Support the development and maintenance of Re:Build's GitHub repositories and API documentation
  • Travel to customer sites and Re:Build offices for integration support and training
  • Other responsibilities as assigned.

What you bring to the Team
  • Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Computer Engineering, Robotics, or related technical field required or equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • 2-5 years of experience with autonomous systems, drones, robotics, or related applications preferred
  • Experience with open-source flight control systems (e.g., ArduPilot, PX4) is a plus
  • Hands-on experience with electronics integration, embedded systems, or hardware prototyping preferred
  • Familiarity with defense or commercial drone applications is beneficial

The base salary range for this position is $112,012.60 - $168,018.91 per year. This range represents the Company's good faith estimate of the base compensation for this role at the time of posting. Actual compensation will be determined based on several factors, including but not limited to relevant experience, skills, qualifications, internal equity, and geographic location. In addition to base salary, this role may be eligible for annual incentive compensation and/or long-term incentives, subject to Company plans. The Company offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, retirement, paid time off, and other benefits.
The BIG payoff
We are a company who is going to make a difference in the industries and the communities in which we choose to operate.
Every employee of Re:Build will share ownership in the company and will share in the financial rewards of the success we achieve together, at all levels of the company!
We want to work with people that reflect the communities in which we operate
Re:Build Manufacturing is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, marital status, parental status, cultural background, organizational level, work styles, tenure and life experiences. Or for any other reason.
Re:Build is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at accommodations.ta@ReBuildmanufacturing.com or you may call us at 617.909.6275.

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