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Drone Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Coordinate drone activities with mine supervisors, engineering, dispatch, security, and safety personnel. * Conduct mission risk assessments and maintain awareness of mining hazards, traffic ...

Drone Technician

San Diego, CA · On-site

$85K - $95K/yr

Help improve internal build, test, inventory, and engineering-change processes. * Travel as needed to support testing, demonstrations, and field operations. Technical Areas You'll Work In * FPV drone ...

As a Drone Pilot, you will be responsible for the safe and efficient execution of complex drone ... A degree or diploma in Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), Aviation, Geomatics, Engineering, or a ...

Director of Engineering Travel: Extensive travel to active project sites required Position Summary The Drone Pilot / Surveyor is responsible for performing aerial data collection, mapping, surveying ...

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How much do drone engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 6, 2026, the average hourly pay for drone engineer in the United States is $55.99, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $40.14 and $74.52 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.
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Infographic showing various Drone Engineer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 93% Full Time, 3% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $116,463 per year, or $56 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 9 days ago


Job description

About Re:Build 

At Re:Build, our mission is to ensure the next generation of important products are made, at scale, in America. We are laying the foundation for a better future for our customers, employees, and communities by revitalizing America's manufacturing base and creating meaningful jobs across the country, including in historically deindustrialized regions. 
We operate an advanced, end-to-end manufacturing platform that partners with industrial companies and innovators to take products from first concept to full-scale production in critical verticals including aerospace and defense, electrification, medical, energy and environment, and robotics and automation. 
The way we operate is as important as the work we do. It's guided by The Re:Build Way, 16 principles that shape how we collaborate with each other, partner with our customers and vendors, and contribute to the communities where we operate. (link to The Re:Build Way principles)

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!

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.