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Drone Engineer Jobs in Ohio (NOW HIRING)

Maple Aviation

$120 - $160/hr

Chief Engineer - Drone and Delivery SystemThe Role We are an innovative aerospace startup seeking a Chief Engineer for our Drone and Delivery System. At Maple Aviation we develop a unique Tail-Sitter ...

Belcan

Field Service Engineer

North Randall, OH · On-site

$37.84/hr

Field Service Engineer Location: North Randall, OH Zip Code: 44128 Start Date: Right Away Pay Rate ... This role will be responsible for troubleshooting drone issues observed within operations and ...

Zipline

Drone Mechanic

Cleveland, OH · On-site

The drone is only 15% of what we've built to enable seamless, reliable, global operations. Our ... This role works closely with engineering, flight operations, and other teams to solve problems.

Maple Aviation

$80 - $110/hr

At Maple Aviation we develop a unique Tail‑Sitter Drone, that flies with one propeller only and ... Design and programming of flight control algorithms for automatic and autonomous flight * Model ...

Finstockevarsity

$102.76 - $159.85/hr

... ENGINEER Quantum-Systems is seeking a visionary Software Architect to define, own, and evolve end ... drone technology. Responsibilities * Define, own, and evolve comprehensive end-to-end software ...

CRH

Sr. Mine Engineer

Columbus, OH · On-site

$100K - $138K/yr

Sr. Mine Engineer AMAT Columbus, Ohio, United States | Dayton, Ohio, United States | Detroit ... Conducts inventory surveys using drone and traditional surveying methods * Surveys various ...

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How much do drone engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 28, 2026, the average hourly pay for drone engineer in Ohio is $53.23, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $38.17 and $70.87 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a drone engineer do?

A Drone Engineer designs, builds, and maintains unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for various applications, including agriculture, defense, logistics, and surveillance. They work on hardware components like propulsion systems, sensors, and flight controllers, as well as software for autonomous navigation and control. Drone Engineers collaborate with other specialists, such as software developers and aerospace engineers, to improve UAV performance and efficiency. Their role also involves testing, troubleshooting, and ensuring compliance with aviation regulations.

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

To thrive as a Drone Engineer, you need a solid background in aerospace engineering, electronics, and programming—often supported by a specialized engineering degree. Familiarity with design software (like CAD), embedded systems, flight controller platforms, and relevant certifications such as Part 107 (FAA remote pilot license) are typically required. Strong problem-solving skills, collaboration, and attention to detail help Drone Engineers excel when working on complex projects. These skills and qualities are essential to ensure drone systems are designed, tested, and deployed safely and effectively in real-world applications.

What are the typical career growth opportunities for a drone engineer?

Drone Engineers often start in technical roles focused on design, development, or testing but can progress into senior engineering, project management, or specialized research positions as they gain experience. Many organizations offer opportunities to branch into areas like autonomous systems, software development, or team leadership within the robotics or UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) industry. With ongoing advancements in drone technology, there is also potential to move into roles shaping regulatory, safety, or integration standards. Career growth typically depends on your technical expertise, willingness to stay updated with new technologies, and ability to collaborate across multidisciplinary teams.

How do you become a drone engineer?

To become a drone engineer, typically a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, or a related field is required. Gaining experience with drone design, programming, and systems integration, along with proficiency in tools like CAD software and knowledge of flight control systems, is also important. Certifications in UAV operation or engineering can enhance job prospects.

How much does a drone engineer make?

A drone engineer's salary typically ranges from $70,000 to $120,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and specific skills such as UAV design, programming, or systems integration. Entry-level positions may start lower, while experienced engineers with specialized certifications can earn higher wages.

Is drone engineering a good career?

Drone engineering is a growing field that involves designing, developing, and maintaining unmanned aerial systems. It requires skills in electronics, programming, and aerodynamics, and often benefits from certifications or specialized training. The profession offers opportunities in industries such as defense, agriculture, and logistics, with a demand for technical expertise and problem-solving abilities.

What are the most commonly searched types of Drone Engineer jobs in Ohio?

The most popular types of Drone Engineer jobs in Ohio are:

What are popular job titles related to Drone Engineer jobs in Ohio?

For Drone Engineer jobs in Ohio, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Drone Engineer jobs in Ohio look for?

The top searched job categories for Drone Engineer jobs in Ohio are:

Drone Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Drone Engineer job openings in Ohio as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 95% Full Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 86% In-person, 9% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $110,721 per year, or $53.2 per hour.

Chief Engineer - Drone and Delivery System

On-site

Maple Aviation
See more jobs at Maple Aviationexternal

$120 - $160/hr

Other

Posted 10 days ago

Job description

Chief Engineer - Drone and Delivery SystemThe Role

We are an innovative aerospace startup seeking a Chief Engineer for our Drone and Delivery System. At Maple Aviation we develop a unique Tail-Sitter Drone that flies with one propeller only and is controlled in position via a flap-thrust-vectoring system. Our ambition is to create a highly efficient autonomous drone platform for delivery applications. In this role, you will be the technical owner of the complete aircraft and delivery system. You will lead the engineering direction from prototype to product, ensuring that the airframe, propulsion, flight control, avionics, software, delivery mechanism, safety architecture, and operational requirements work together as one reliable system. You will work closely with the founders, engineering team, operations, assembly, flight test, suppliers, and certification partners.

What you'll do
  • Own the overall technical architecture, system design, and engineering roadmap of the Maple drone and delivery system
  • Lead cross-disciplinary engineering across aircraft design, propulsion, flight control, avionics, embedded systems, payload/delivery mechanism, ground systems, and test infrastructure
  • Translate customer, operational, certification, and business requirements into clear technical requirements and system specifications
  • Drive trade studies on performance, endurance, payload, cost, reliability, maintainability, safety, and manufacturability
  • Lead design reviews, technical risk reviews, failure analysis, root-cause investigations, and engineering decision processes
  • Establish engineering processes for requirements management, interface control, configuration management, verification, validation, and documentation
  • Work with the flight test team to plan test campaigns, analyze results, and close the loop between test data and design improvements
  • Support certification strategy, safety cases, and compliance documentation
  • Mentor and develop engineers while keeping the team focused on technical excellence and fast execution
  • Collaborate with assembly and supply chain to ensure the aircraft can be built, tested, maintained, and scaled reliably
What you bring
  • M.Sc., Dipl.-Ing., PhD, or equivalent experience in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, robotics, electrical engineering, systems engineering, or related field
  • 10+ years of engineering experience in aerospace, UAVs, eVTOL, aircraft systems, robotics, automotive, or other safety-critical hardware/software systems
  • Proven experience leading complex multidisciplinary engineering projects from concept through prototype, test, and productization
  • Strong understanding of aircraft systems, flight mechanics, control systems, propulsion, avionics, embedded systems, and system safety
  • Experience with UAS, VTOL, fixed-wing aircraft, delivery drones, autonomous systems, or certification-driven product development is a strong plus
  • Excellent ability to make technical trade-offs and drive decisions under uncertainty
  • Experience with requirements management, verification and validation, FMEA/FTA, configuration control, and design reviews
  • Strong leadership skills with the ability to mentor engineers and build a high-performance technical culture
  • Hands-on mindset and willingness to work directly with prototypes, flight tests, and real hardware
  • We are an international team communicating in English; German language skills are an advantage
What we offer

We offer the opportunity to become the technical leader of a breakthrough drone aircraft and delivery system at a decisive stage of company growth. If you are passionate about aircraft engineering, autonomous systems, and building real products that fly, we would love to hear from you.

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