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Drone Operations Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Axon

Senior Product Manager, C2

Sterling, VA · On-site

$125K - $165K/yr

Our comprehensive command and control (C2) solution safeguards hundreds of commercial, government, and military customers from unauthorized drone threats while enabling secure drone operations.

Heven AeroTech

Chief UAS Pilot

Sterling, VA · On-site

This role involves overseeing all drone operations, training programs, and compliance with regulatory requirements, ensuring safe and effective use of UAVs. The Chief Pilot will also act as the ...

Heven AeroTech

Chief UAS Pilot

Sterling, VA · On-site

This role involves overseeing all drone operations, training programs, and compliance with regulatory requirements, ensuring safe and effective use of UAVs. The Chief Pilot will also act as the ...

Heven AeroTech

Chief UAS Pilot

Sterling, VA · On-site

This role involves overseeing all drone operations, training programs, and compliance with regulatory requirements, ensuring safe and effective use of UAVs. The Chief Pilot will also act as the ...

Droneshield

Operations Director (USA)

Warrenton, VA · On-site

At DroneShield, employees work at the leading edge of counter-drone innovation, helping to address ... DroneShield's American operations are headquartered in Warrenton, Virginia, home to a growing team ...

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All JobsDrone Operations JobsDrone Operations Jobs in Virginia

Drone Operations information

See Virginia salary details

$10

$23

$48

How much do drone operations jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 6, 2026, the average hourly pay for drone operations in Virginia is $23.69, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.83 and $26.92 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Drone Operations vs Drone Pilots?

AspectDrone OperationsDrone Pilots
CertificationsFAA Part 107 certification, safety trainingFAA Part 107 certification, flight training
Work EnvironmentTeam coordination, planning, and managementFlying drones, on-site or remote
Employer & Industry UsageMedia, agriculture, construction, inspectionFilming, surveying, inspection

Drone Operations involves managing drone missions, coordinating teams, and planning flights, often requiring additional project management skills. Drone Pilots focus primarily on flying drones and capturing footage or data. While both roles require FAA Part 107 certification, Drone Operations emphasizes coordination and planning, whereas Drone Pilots concentrate on piloting skills and flight execution.

Is a drone operations a good career?

Drone operations is a growing field that involves piloting and managing unmanned aerial vehicles for various industries such as photography, surveying, and inspection. It typically requires certifications, technical skills, and knowledge of aviation regulations, making it a viable career option for those interested in technology and aviation. Job opportunities are expanding as drone technology becomes more widely adopted across sectors.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals in drone operations, and how can they be addressed?

Drone operations professionals frequently encounter challenges such as changing weather conditions, regulatory compliance, and maintaining equipment reliability. Adapting flight plans to sudden weather shifts and staying updated on evolving FAA regulations are essential for safe and legal operation. Additionally, effective pre- and post-flight maintenance routines help minimize technical issues. Collaborating closely with team members, such as airspace coordinators and data analysts, ensures that missions are completed efficiently and safely.

How do you become a drone operations?

To become a drone operator, individuals typically need to obtain a remote pilot certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or relevant authority, which involves passing a knowledge test. Additionally, gaining experience with drone flight, understanding safety protocols, and mastering drone controls and regulations are important steps in the process.

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

To thrive as a Drone Operations Specialist, you need strong piloting skills, a solid understanding of aviation regulations, and often a Remote Pilot Certificate (Part 107) from the FAA. Familiarity with flight planning software, GPS navigation systems, and various drone platforms is typically required. Attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication help you manage missions safely and collaborate with team members. These skills ensure safe, compliant, and efficient drone operations across a range of industries.

Are drone operations in high demand?

Drone operations professionals are experiencing increasing demand across industries such as agriculture, construction, and film production due to the growing use of unmanned aerial vehicles. Skills in piloting, maintenance, and obtaining relevant certifications can improve job prospects as the industry expands.

What are drone operations?

Drone operations refer to the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for various tasks such as aerial photography, surveying, inspection, mapping, delivery, and surveillance. These operations involve planning flight paths, piloting drones, ensuring compliance with regulations, and collecting or analyzing data captured by the drone. Drone operators may work in industries like agriculture, construction, real estate, public safety, and logistics, depending on the mission and type of drone used. Safety, accuracy, and adherence to legal requirements are key aspects of successful drone operations.

What do drone operations get paid?

Drone operators typically earn between $15 and $30 per hour, depending on experience, location, and the complexity of the tasks. Salaries can range from around $35,000 to over $70,000 annually for full-time positions, especially for those with certifications and specialized skills in aerial photography, surveying, or inspection. Pay may also vary based on whether the work is freelance or employed by a company.
What are the most commonly searched types of Drone Operations jobs in Virginia? The most popular types of Drone Operations jobs in Virginia are:
What are popular job titles related to Drone Operations jobs in Virginia? For Drone Operations jobs in Virginia, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Drone Operations jobs in Virginia look for? The top searched job categories for Drone Operations jobs in Virginia are:
What cities in Virginia are hiring for Drone Operations jobs? Cities in Virginia with the most Drone Operations job openings:
Drone Operations jobs near you
Infographic showing various Drone Operations job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 85% Full Time, 12% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 94% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $49,268 per year, or $23.7 per hour.

Senior Product Manager, Analytics, Reporting, & City

Axon

Sterling, VA • On-site

$125K - $165K/yr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Re-posted 13 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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