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Drone Operator Jobs in Reno, NV (NOW HIRING)

Sentradel

Drone Operator and Engineer

Minden, NV · On-site

We are seeking a Drone Operator to build, program, and fly the drones our turret shoots down, and to run the flight side of demos in front of customers. You own the fleet end to end: airframes ...

Halo Technical Solutions Global

Safety Manager

Sparks, NV · On-site

$48.24/hr

Operating in a fast-paced, high-risk environment, this position also supports safety documentation ... drone deployment, vendor and project management, and general staff augmentation. Their approach ...

Halo TS Global

Inspector 2

Sparks, NV · On-site

$50 - $55/hr

... drone deployment, vendor and project management, and general staff augmentation. Their approach ... Operating in fast-paced environments such as data centers, manufacturing facilities, and other ...

Halo Technical Solutions Global

Inspector 2

Sparks, NV · On-site

$50 - $55/hr

Operating in fast-paced environments such as data centers, manufacturing facilities, and other ... drone deployment, vendor and project management, and general staff augmentation. Their approach ...

HTSG

Inspector 2 - Site A

Sparks, NV · On-site

$50 - $55/hr

Operating in fast-paced environments such as data centers, manufacturing facilities, and other ... drone deployment, vendor and project management, and general staff augmentation. Their approach ...

HTSG

Inspector 2 - Site B

Sparks, NV · On-site

$50 - $55/hr

Operating in fast-paced environments such as data centers, manufacturing facilities, and other ... drone deployment, vendor and project management, and general staff augmentation. Their approach ...

Clean Harbors

Remediation Project Supervisor

Reno, NV · On-site +1

$18.75 - $53.41/hr

Lead teams comprised of foreman, equipment operators, and other professionals; * Travel to new ... Additional annual reimbursement for maintaining certain licenses including a drone pilot's license;

All JobsDrone Operator JobsDrone Operator Jobs in Reno, NV

Drone Operator information

See Reno, NV salary details

$10

$22

$36

How much do drone operator jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 14, 2026, the average hourly pay for drone operator in Reno, NV is $22.98, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.98 and $21.83 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a drone operator?

Drone operators are professionals who pilot unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, for various purposes such as aerial photography, surveying, inspections, mapping, agriculture, and delivery services. They are responsible for planning flights, operating the drone safely, capturing data or images, and maintaining equipment. Drone operators must comply with aviation regulations, ensure safe flight paths, and often analyze the data collected during their missions. The job requires technical skills, attention to detail, and sometimes certification depending on the country and type of operation.

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

To thrive as a Drone Operator, you need strong spatial awareness, hand-eye coordination, and a solid understanding of aviation regulations, often supported by a Remote Pilot Certificate (Part 107) from the FAA. Familiarity with drone flight control software, GPS systems, and camera operation is crucial for effective and safe operations. Attention to detail, problem-solving skills, and effective communication set standout operators apart, especially when working in teams or with clients. These skills ensure safe, compliant, and high-quality drone operations across diverse industries such as surveying, videography, and inspection.

What are some common challenges faced by drone operators during field operations?

Drone operators often face challenges such as adapting to changing weather conditions, maintaining compliance with local aviation regulations, and troubleshooting technical issues with equipment in the field. Additionally, they may need to coordinate closely with team members or clients on-site to ensure safety and meet project objectives. Effective communication and thorough pre-flight planning are essential to mitigate risks and complete missions successfully.

What is the difference between Drone Operator vs Drone Pilot?

AspectDrone OperatorDrone Pilot
CertificationsFAA Part 107 certificationFAA Part 107 certification
Work EnvironmentIndoor/outdoor, various industriesOutdoor, primarily flight operations
Employer & IndustryMedia, agriculture, construction, inspectionFilmmaking, surveying, inspection
Common Search IntentOperational roles, job descriptionsFlying, piloting, flight skills

While both Drone Operators and Drone Pilots require FAA Part 107 certification and often work in similar environments, Drone Operators typically focus on managing drone operations, data collection, and payload handling. Drone Pilots primarily focus on flying the drone, ensuring safe and precise flight. The roles often overlap, but Drone Operators may handle more of the operational planning and data processing, whereas Drone Pilots concentrate on the actual flight execution.

Do drone operators make money?

Drone operators can earn varying incomes depending on their experience, location, and the industry they work in. They often get paid per project, hourly, or through contracts, with salaries ranging from entry-level to experienced professionals earning higher wages. Certification and skills in operating different drone types can also influence earning potential.

How do you become a drone operator?

To become a drone operator, you 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 regulations, and having technical skills with drone equipment are important for the role.

Is there a demand for drone operators?

The demand for drone operators is growing across industries such as agriculture, construction, filmmaking, and inspection services. Employers seek certified operators skilled in flight safety, navigation, and data collection, with job opportunities increasing as drone technology becomes more integrated into various sectors.

What are popular job titles related to Drone Operator jobs in Reno, NV?

For Drone Operator jobs in Reno, NV, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Drone Operator jobs in Reno, NV look for?

The top searched job categories for Drone Operator jobs in Reno, NV are:

What cities near Reno, NV are hiring for Drone Operator jobs?

Cities near Reno, NV with the most Drone Operator job openings:

Drone Operator jobs near you
Infographic showing various Drone Operator job openings in Reno, NV as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 44% Full Time, 54% Part Time, 1% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $47,790 per year, or $23 per hour.

Drone Operator and Engineer

Minden, NV • On-site

Air Pixels, Inc.
See more jobs at Air Pixels, Inc.external

Other

Posted 11 days ago

Job description

About Sentradel

Over 90 percent of combat deaths in Ukraine are caused by small drones. In Colombia, over 100 military and police officers have been killed by cartel operated drones. Shahed drones hit civilian and military targets across the Middle East uncontested. Unjammable fiber optic and AI controlled drones are making the threat cheaper, faster, and harder to stop. This problem will only get worse.

Sentradel is a defense startup building autonomous, low cost kinetic turret systems designed to defeat Group 1 (small FPV drones) and low flying Group 2 drone threats. We have shot down dozens of drones in live fire testing, have active Department of War agreements, commercial partnerships, and sales.

How we work

Full time, in person at our Minden, Nevada office. We also travel and test frequently at ranges across the US with partners and customers.

Job Overview

Every live fire test we run needs a target in the air. We are seeking a Drone Operator to build, program, and fly the drones our turret shoots down, and to run the flight side of demos in front of customers. You own the fleet end to end: airframes, firmware, flight profiles, and the repairs between sorties.

Responsibilities
  • Build, wire, solder, and repair the target drone fleet
  • Flash and configure flight controllers, tune aircraft for repeatable test profiles
  • Modify ArduPilot source to get behavior stock firmware will not do, including speed caps, failsafes, and autonomous attack profiles
  • Plan and fly autonomous missions that produce consistent, repeatable engagements for the turret
  • Serve as pilot in command at range tests and customer demos across the US
  • Own batteries, radios, ground stations, and spares so a test day never stops for a missing part
  • Pull flight logs and turn them into usable test data for the engineering team
Qualifications
  • Extensive ArduPilot experience: Mission Planner, parameter tuning, custom builds, and reading a log to explain why the aircraft did what it did
  • You can read the ArduPilot codebase, modify it, compile it, and flash it yourself
  • FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate
  • You have built drones from bare frames: soldering, wiring, ESCs, motors, power, and RF
  • Expert level stick time, manual and autonomous
  • You have fixed a broken aircraft in the field and flown it again the same day
Bonus Skills
  • INAV or Betaflight experience
  • Python or C++
  • FPV and fixed wing experience
  • Prior military or commercial UAS operations background
US Person Requirement

Sentradel is a US defense contractor and this role involves access to export-controlled technical data. Applicants must be a US Person as defined under ITAR (22 CFR 120.62): a US citizen, US lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or a protected individual such as a refugee or asylee.

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