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Drone Operations Manager Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Slater Consult

Sales Operations Manager

Reston, VA · On-site

MyDefence is a leading provider of advanced counter-drone technology, delivering mission-critical ... Key Responsibilities As Sales Operations Manager, you will be responsible for managing and ...

Motorola

DFR Solutions Architect

Washington, DC · Remote

$71.25 - $94/hr

... Operations Organization. This position is vital for supporting Motorola Solutions' advanced drone command-and-control software, CAPE, which empowers public safety agencies to establish and manage ...

Leonardo DRS

Systems Engineer - DevOps

Germantown, MD · On-site

$75K/yr

... counter-drone applications, critical infrastructure protection, and border surveillance. Job ... Develop and maintain DevOps infrastructure in local-hosted air-gapped environment, managing ...

Heven AeroTech

Chief UAS Pilot

Sterling, VA · On-site

... and managing the drone program across the United States and among the defense, public safety and commercial sectors. This role involves overseeing all drone operations, training programs, and ...

Heven AeroTech

Chief UAS Pilot

Sterling, VA · On-site

... and managing the drone program across the United States and among the defense, public safety and commercial sectors. This role involves overseeing all drone operations, training programs, and ...

Heven AeroTech

Chief UAS Pilot

Sterling, VA

... and managing the drone program across the United States and among the defense, public safety and commercial sectors. This role involves overseeing all drone operations, training programs, and ...

Leonardo DRS

Facilities Manager

Germantown, MD

$107K - $144K/yr

... counter-drone operations, critical infrastructure security, and border surveillance. Job ... Manage an Aerospace and Defense facility of a production, maintenance and repair of company ...

Leonardo DRS

Facilities Manager

Germantown, MD · On-site

$107K - $144K/yr

... counter-drone operations, critical infrastructure security, and border surveillance. Job ... Manage an Aerospace and Defense facility of a production, maintenance and repair of company ...

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Drone Operations Manager information

What are some common challenges faced by a drone operations manager, and how can they be effectively managed?

Drone Operations Managers often encounter challenges such as ensuring compliance with evolving aviation regulations, managing fleet maintenance, and coordinating schedules across multiple projects. Staying updated on local and federal laws is crucial, as is developing standardized operating procedures to maintain safety and efficiency. Effective communication with pilots, technicians, and clients helps address logistical issues promptly and ensures projects run smoothly. Leveraging management software and ongoing training can also mitigate operational risks and improve team performance.

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

To thrive as a Drone Operations Manager, you need expertise in UAV flight operations, regulatory compliance, and logistics management, typically supported by a relevant degree or equivalent field experience. Familiarity with drone piloting software, airspace management tools, and certifications such as Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate are commonly required. Strong leadership, problem-solving, and communication skills are crucial for leading teams and coordinating complex projects. These competencies ensure safe, efficient, and compliant drone operations in dynamic environments.

What is the difference between Drone Operations Manager vs Drone Pilot?

AspectDrone Operations ManagerDrone Pilot
CertificationsFAA Part 107 certification, management trainingFAA Part 107 certification, flight experience
Work EnvironmentOversees teams, plans operations, manages logisticsOperates drones in the field for data collection or filming
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in construction, agriculture, surveying, and inspectionUsed in media, filmmaking, real estate, and inspections

The Drone Operations Manager focuses on overseeing drone operations, managing teams, and planning projects, while the Drone Pilot primarily operates drones for specific tasks. Both roles require FAA Part 107 certification, but their responsibilities and work environments differ significantly.

What does a drone operations manager do?

A Drone Operations Manager oversees the planning, coordination, and execution of drone missions for various applications such as surveying, inspections, or deliveries. They manage teams of drone pilots, ensure compliance with aviation regulations, maintain equipment, and develop operational protocols. The role also involves liaising with clients, analyzing data collected by drones, and ensuring all safety and legal standards are met. This position requires strong leadership, technical knowledge of unmanned aerial systems, and up-to-date understanding of industry regulations.

What is the role of a drone operations manager?

A drone operations manager oversees the planning, coordination, and execution of drone flights for commercial or industrial purposes. They ensure compliance with aviation regulations, manage drone pilots, and maintain safety standards, often using specialized software and obtaining relevant certifications. Their role involves logistical planning, risk assessment, and operational management to ensure efficient drone missions.
What are the most commonly searched types of Drone Operations jobs in Washington? The most popular types of Drone Operations jobs in Washington are:
What are popular job titles related to Drone Operations Manager jobs in Washington? For Drone Operations Manager jobs in Washington, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Drone Operations Manager jobs in Washington look for? The top searched job categories for Drone Operations Manager jobs in Washington are:
What cities in Washington are hiring for Drone Operations Manager jobs? Cities in Washington with the most Drone Operations Manager job openings:
Drone Operations Manager jobs near you
Infographic showing various Drone Operations Manager job openings in Washington as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 83% Full Time, 14% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 94% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution.

Senior Product Manager, Analytics, Reporting, & City

Axon

Sterling, VA • On-site

$125K - $165K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Re-posted 18 days ago

Axon rating

8.8

Company rating: 8.8 out of 10

Based on 15 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

14th of 156 rated electronics manufacturers

Job description

Dedrone, now part of Axon, is the global leader in smart airspace security, protecting critical infrastructure, military installations, and public spaces worldwide. Our comprehensive command and control (C2) solution safeguards hundreds of commercial, government, and military customers from unauthorized drone threats while enabling secure drone operations. Through AI-powered technology, we deliver continuous, autonomous drone detection, tracking, and mitigation capabilities, all unified on a single integrated platform. Our battle-tested solutions combine multi-sensor detection and mitigation options to defend against emerging airspace threats, while supporting authorized drone operations including public safety and first responder missions. As part of Axon's ecosystem, we're advancing both defense and public safety capabilities through innovative airspace security solutions. Whether deployed on-premise, air-gapped, or in the cloud, Dedrone provides unmatched protection for sensitive sites, facilities, and communities worldwide.

Your Impact

As Senior Product Manager for Analytics, Reporting & City, you will own the product surface that turns raw counter-UAS telemetry into situational awareness, real-time decision, and historical analysis tools for operators across single sites and networked deployments. You'll lead the DaaS product line, drive the evolution of Dedrone City, and partner with the Detection and C2 teams to ensure that the wealth of data collected by Dedrone is effectively turned into insights that enhance our customers' airspace security.

What You'll Do
  • Own Analytics, Reporting, and Dedrone City end-to-end: vision, roadmap, requirements, launch
  • Productize DaaS (Detection-as-a-Service) as an attributable commercial offering
  • Work closely with Software Engineering, Data Science, UX / Design, and QA teams to ship multi-site operational reporting that serves law enforcement, military, and critical-infrastructure customers
  • Partner with RF Detection & Tracking PM on data pipeline contracts
  • Drive customer validation through direct engagement with law enforcement, military, and critical-infrastructure operators
  • Implement AI agents to reinvent how you ship products and 10x your product team's effectiveness
What You Bring
  • 7+ years of product management experience, with 3+ in analytics, data, or operational-intelligence domains
  • A passion for understanding customers' challenges and objectives and a proven track record productizing a data service with attributable revenue or adoption
  • The ability to translate ambiguous customer problems into well-defined product requirements and technical specifications
  • A talent for collaborating with agile software development teams to turn complex technical processes into intuitive and effective user workflows
  • The ability to combine speed of execution with an uncompromising commitment to quality
  • Strong analytical skills with experience defining and tracking product metrics to drive decisions
  • Excellent communication skills with the ability to bridge technical and non-technical audiences
  • Working knowledge of counter-UAS
Nice to Have
  • Experience using agentic AI to accelerate product development and deployment
  • Background in defense tech, aviation, or first-responder software
  • Experience with real-time distributed systems
  • Existing, prior, or ability to obtain US Secret Security Clearance

Work Location: Sterling Virginia 

Benefits that Benefit You
  • Competitive salary and 401k with employer match
  • Discretionary time off
  • Paid parental leave for all
  • Medical, Dental, Vision plans
  • Fitness Programs
  • Emotional & Development Programs
  • And yes, we have snacks in our offices

What Axon employees say

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