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Drone Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Kiewit Corporation

Drone Pilot

Abilene, TX · On-site

Bachelor's degree in Geography, Geomatics, Engineering, or related field preferred * Experience with drone tools * Working knowledge of survey equipment and techniques (GPS, total stations) * Strong ...

TSMG

UAS Drone Pilot

Houston, TX

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 ...

LPL Solar

Surveyor / Drone Pilot

Fort Lauderdale, FL · On-site

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 ...

NMEWbuild

Be Seen First

Drone Operator

Santa Fe, NM · Remote

$200/hr

Looking for Drone Work to develop out Construction Projects Creating 3D models for visualization, preliminary site planning, survey-grade elevations for engineering and construction purposes.

New

Bear Country Inc

Drone Show Designer

Caledonia, WI

Summary: Northern Lights Drone Shows is seeking a Drone Show Designer that's excited to bring ... Associate degree or equivalent coursework in computer science, engineering, game design/animation ...

Air Pixels, Inc.

Surveyor / Drone Pilot

Fort Lauderdale, FL · On-site

$55 - $85/hr

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 ...

New

LPL Solar LLC

$50 - $80/hr

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 ...

New

LPL Solar

GA · On-site

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 ...

Air Pixels, Inc.

$60 - $90/hr

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 ...

New

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How much do drone engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 7, 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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Drone Engineer jobs near you
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.

Sr. Simulation & Model Training Engineer - Drone Autonomy (AI2531)

SiMa Technologies

San Jose, CA

$120K - $193K/yr

Full-time

Posted 22 days ago

Job description

Job Title: Sr. Simulation & Model Training Engineer - Drone Autonomy    

Job Location: San Jose, CA (This position requires a full-time, on-site presence in our San Jose, CA office)     

Job ID: AI2531     

Job Description:   

Overview: SiMa.ai provides high-performance computing for autonomous robotics. In this role, you will bridge virtual testing and real-world flight by building realistic simulation environments and training models for reliable deployment on physical drone hardware. 

What you'll do

  • Simulation & Synthetic Data — Create physics-based virtual environments and sensor models to generate high-fidelity synthetic datasets for robust model training.
  • Model Development — Design and refine AI architectures for perception, navigation, and multi-sensor fusion specifically for autonomous flight.
  • Edge Optimization — Optimize deep learning models to run efficiently on specialized, power-constrained edge hardware.
  • Validation — Establish automated testing pipelines that use real-world flight data to validate and improve sim-to-real performance. 

Qualifications:

  • 5+ years of experience in robotics, simulation, and training deep learning models for physical hardware.
  • Proven expertise in simulation platforms, sensor modeling, and flight dynamics.
  • Experience optimizing and deploying AI models to power-constrained edge devices.
  • Proficiency in modern programming languages (C++, Python) and robotics middleware (ROS).
  • Background in drone navigation, flight controllers, or aerial autonomy is highly preferred.
  • Degree in Computer Science, Robotics, Aerospace, or a related engineering field. 

Why it matters 

You will build the high-fidelity flywheel that enables every drone program running on SiMa.ai silicon to train faster and ship more reliably in the real world. 

Personal attributes:  

Can-do attitude. Strong team player. Curious, creative and good at solving problems. Execution and results-oriented. Self-driven, Thinks Big and is highly accountable. Good communication skills.   

The annual salary for this position ranges from $120,800 - $193,300. The actual annual salary offered will depend on several factors, including - among others - job-related skills, experience, technical expertise, qualifications, work location, and business needs. The annual salary range for this position is subject to change and may be adjusted in the future.   

In addition to base salary, this role is also eligible for private company equity, and a comprehensive package of employee benefits. Please note that the salary ranges listed for U.S. roles reflect base salary only and do not include equity or other forms of compensation.     

EEO Employer: SiMa is an equal opportunity employer; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or any other protected classification.

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