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Drone Operations Manager Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Percepto - Autonomous Drones

NY · On-site

$125 - $150/hr

Technical Support Team Manager - Drone Operations About The Position Percepto is the leading provider of autonomous inspection and monitoring solutions that harness robotics, including our market ...

Staffingine LLC

Drone Data Engineer

Houston, TX · On-site

$109K - $131K/yr

Drone Operations Data Execution * Plan execute and optimize drone missions for inspection ... Asset management systems * GIS systems * AIML analytics pipelines * Handle authentication access ...

Aerotek

Drone Logistics Specialist

Pendleton, OR · On-site

$27 - $34/hr

This position plays a key role in maintaining daily drone logistics activities, supporting field operations, managing equipment movement, and ensuring safe execution of flight-testing programs. You ...

Kiewit Corporation

Drone Pilot

Abilene, TX · On-site

Collaborate with project managers, GIS teams, and field personnel to meet project objectives Qualifications * 1-3 years of experience in drone operations, aerial surveying, and/or LiDAR data ...

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Drone Operations Manager information

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$31K

$63.5K

$118.5K

How much do drone operations manager jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 8, 2026, the average yearly pay for drone operations manager in the United States is $63,456.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $41,000.00 and $77,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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 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 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 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.

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Drone Operations Manager jobs near you
Infographic showing various Drone Operations Manager job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 84% Full Time, 13% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 1% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 94% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $63,456 per year, or $30.5 per hour.

Technical Support Team Manager - Drone Operations

Percepto - Autonomous Drones

NY • On-site

$125 - $150/hr

Other

Posted 20 days ago

Job description

The Percepto team is constantly pushing the boundaries of what's possible with hardware, software and AI.

Technical Support Team Manager - Drone Operations About The Position

Percepto is the leading provider of autonomous inspection and monitoring solutions that harness robotics, including our market-leading industrial drone-in-a-box solution. Our team comprises software and hardware engineers, industry experts, and professionals passionate about innovation and driven to push the boundaries of what's possible with software, AI, and hardware. Our company's growth will not stop anytime soon, and we are looking for great talent like you to join our team!

We are seeking an experienced Support Team Manager to own our full customer support organization: an outsourced team handling Levels 1 and 2, and an internal team of 4 handling Level 3 escalations. This is a high-visibility role that sits at the center of the company. You will work daily with Field/Ground Ops, Remote Ops, R&D, Product, Commercial, and Safety to keep our customers running and our fleet flying. This is an opportunity for an experienced, hands-on people leader who wants ownership over an end-to-end support function and a seat at the table across the business.

Responsibilities
  • Own performance and day-to-day operations across all three support levels: manage the 4 direct reports on the Level 3 team directly, and hold the outsourced partner accountable for Levels 1 and 2.
  • Own support KPIs, SLAs, and ticket workflows/escalation paths across all levels, and report on performance and trends to leadership on a regular cadence.
  • Own the Support automation and AI roadmap, turning operational pain points into AI-assisted workflows for triage, routing, and deflection.
  • Design and manage a quality audit program across all three levels, holding the outsourced partner accountable to agreed quality benchmarks.
  • Act as the primary escalation point for critical or high visibility customer issues, personally getting hands-on with complex technical investigations when a case demands it.
  • Serve as the key cross-functional interface: Ground Ops and Remote Ops on field readiness and on-site or remote incidents, R&D and Product on fixes and roadmap input, Commercial on renewal-critical accounts, and Safety on flight-safety and regulatory matters.
  • Own staffing, on-call coverage, and recruiting/onboarding for the Level 3 team, and manage the ongoing relationship and contract performance of the outsourced Level 1/2 vendor.
  • Own the support knowledgebase and documentation strategy, keeping guides and training materials current across all three levels.
Requirements

This role requires more than people management. You will be expected to stay hands‑on and technically credible, able to jump into a hard problem alongside the team rather than only routing it.

  • Deep, hands‑on technical background across hardware and software, comfortable personally diagnosing complex issues rather than only directing others.
  • Willingness and ability to step directly into escalated technical investigations, remote diagnostics, or field level troubleshooting when a case demands it.
  • Solid understanding of how UAV/drone hardware, onboard software, and cloud platforms interact end to end.
  • Hands‑on experience with Windows and Linux operating systems, networking fundamentals, and remote connectivity/troubleshooting tools.
  • Proficiency in scripting (Python or similar) to investigate logs, automate diagnostics, or build support tooling.
  • Comfortable reading technical documentation, wiring diagrams, and system architecture to guide both the team and cross functional partners.
  • Hands‑on experience with automation platforms (e.g. Zapier, Make, Torq, or similar) and proven use of generative AI tools (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or similar) to improve support efficiency and quality.
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