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Drone Jobs in Riverside, CA (NOW HIRING)

Mining Engineer

Jurupa Valley, CA · On-site

$105K - $135K/yr

Operate as a commercial drone pilot operate remote drones for aerial survey work Education Bachelor's degree in Mining Engineering or related field preferred; degrees such as a degree in Civil ...

Mining Engineer

Jurupa Valley, CA · On-site

$105K - $135K/yr

Operate as a commercial drone pilot operate remote drones for aerial survey work Education Bachelor's degree in Mining Engineering or related field preferred; degrees such as a degree in Civil ...

Produce 2D drawings using AutoCAD and/or Civil 3D software. • Drone operating experience. • Bilingual in English and Spanish *= Requirements for position. NOTE: Items without a "*" are not ...

Operate as a commercial drone pilot operate remote drones for aerial survey work Education Bachelor's degree in Mining Engineering or related field preferred; degrees such as a degree in Civil ...

Director of Technology

Riverside, CA · On-site

$171K - $219K/yr

As Director of Customer Technology & Worksite Solutions, you'll lead Quinn's full ecosystem of Cat integrated machine technology, Trimble and SITECH grade control, VisionLink connected fleet, drone ...

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Drone information

See Riverside, CA salary details

$18

$21

$26

How much do drone jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 26, 2026, the average hourly pay for drone in Riverside, CA is $21.65, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $18.80 and $23.08 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How much can you get paid for drone work?

Drone operators can earn between $15 and $50 per hour, depending on experience, location, and the complexity of the tasks. Certified pilots with specialized skills in aerial photography, surveying, or inspection often command higher rates, and freelance work may pay per project rather than hourly.

What are some common challenges faced by drone operators in the field, and how can they be managed?

Drone operators often encounter challenges such as unpredictable weather conditions, technical malfunctions, and navigating complex airspace regulations. To manage these, operators need to conduct thorough pre-flight checks, stay updated on local regulations, and maintain open communication with their team. Additionally, ongoing training and adherence to safety protocols are crucial for ensuring both the drone's integrity and the successful completion of missions.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Drone Operator, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Drone Operator, you need expertise in piloting drones, understanding airspace regulations, and often a Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate or equivalent licensing. Familiarity with flight planning software, GPS navigation systems, and camera or sensor equipment is typically required. Attention to detail, problem-solving, and strong communication skills help operators adapt to changing environments and coordinate with teams. These skills and qualifications ensure safe, efficient, and compliant drone operations across various industries.

What kind of jobs can you do with drones?

Drone operators and pilots can work in various industries such as aerial photography, surveying, agriculture, inspection, and delivery services. These jobs often require knowledge of drone operation, safety regulations, and sometimes certification or licensing. Drones are used for tasks like mapping, monitoring infrastructure, and creating promotional content.

What is the difference between Drone vs Photographer?

AspectDronePhotographer
Required CredentialsFAA Part 107 certification (for commercial use), drone operation trainingPhotography certifications (e.g., CPP), portfolio
Work EnvironmentOutdoor, aerial locations, remote areasIndoor studios, outdoor scenes, various locations
Industry UsageReal estate, filmmaking, surveyingEvents, portraits, commercial shoots

Both drones and photographers require specialized skills and certifications. Drones focus on aerial imaging and often involve remote operation, while photographers capture images from the ground. Understanding these differences helps clients choose the right professional for their visual needs.

Is there a demand for drone operators?

Yes, there is increasing demand for drone operators across industries such as agriculture, construction, photography, and inspection services. Skilled operators with certifications and knowledge of FAA regulations are particularly sought after as drone usage expands in commercial applications.

What Are Careers in the Drone Industry?

Careers in the drone industry include drone pilots, software or hardware designers, and positions that analyze and assess the data acquired by drones. As a drone pilot, you can work in a variety of fields, including the mapping, real estate, construction, photography and film production, and military industries. Your responsibilities differ depending on the industry, but your general duties are to operate the drone and return the data to your supervisor. As a designer, you typically only work for drone manufacturers. Your goal is to either improve existing products or produce new drones.

What are drones and what are they used for?

Drones, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), are aircraft that operate without a human pilot onboard. They are commonly used for a variety of applications including aerial photography, agriculture, surveying, delivery services, infrastructure inspection, and even emergency response. Drones can be controlled remotely or fly autonomously using pre-programmed flight plans and sensors. Their versatility and ability to access hard-to-reach areas have made them valuable tools across many industries.
What are the most commonly searched types of Drone jobs in Riverside, CA? The most popular types of Drone jobs in Riverside, CA are:
What are popular job titles related to Drone jobs in Riverside, CA? For Drone jobs in Riverside, CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Drone jobs in Riverside, CA look for? The top searched job categories for Drone jobs in Riverside, CA are:
What cities near Riverside, CA are hiring for Drone jobs? Cities near Riverside, CA with the most Drone job openings:
Infographic showing various Drone job openings in Riverside, CA as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 90% Full Time, and 10% Part Time. Highlights an 80% In-person, and 20% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $45,034 per year, or $21.7 per hour.
Sr Solutions Architect Defense UAV Drones

Sr Solutions Architect Defense UAV Drones

LANTRONIX

Irvine, CA • On-site

$140K - $170K/yr

Full-time

Posted 18 days ago


Job description

Position Title: Sr. Solutions Architect - Defense UAV (Drones) & Unmanned Platforms

Organizational Summary
Lantronix Inc. is a global leader in Edge AI and Industrial IoT solutions, delivering intelligent computing, secure connectivity, and remote management for mission-critical applications across defense, industrial, and enterprise environments. Our expanding platform—spanning embedded compute, AI-enabled networking, PoE infrastructure, and edge software—enables real-time data processing and autonomous decision-making at the network edge. We power next-generation applications including robotics, smart cities, intelligent security, and NDAA-compliant unmanned systems.

Role Description:
Lantronix Compute is a high-growth business unit within Lantronix, delivering embedded compute and Edge AI platforms that power next-generation unmanned systems, including Group 1–3 UAS, unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), and maritime platforms for defense, public safety, and government customers. Our portfolio of System-on-Modules (SOMs) enables real-time perception, autonomy, and secure mission processing for applications such as ISR, force protection, perimeter security, and contested-environment operations.

We are seeking a Senior Solutions Architect with deep, hands-on experience in defense and UAV platforms, not just component sales. This role is for someone who has worked directly with drone OEMs, defense primes, payload suppliers, and system integrators, understands how unmanned systems are architected end-to-end, and can credibly engage at both the engineering and program level.

This role is highly collaborative, requiring you to partner closely with Sales to build and qualify a robust opportunity pipeline across defense primes, drone OEMs, payload vendors and system integrators. You will scope technical solutions and proofofconcept projects that integrate Lantronix SOMs, sensor payloads (EO/IR, RGB, LiDAR, radar), flightcontrol stacks (e.g., Pixhawk/PX4), ground control systems into customer platforms. You will also play a key role in guiding internal product strategy based on real customer requirements from defense and government programs.

This is a field-facing, technically rigorous role that sits at the intersection of sales, product, and engineering and is tightly aligned with revenue growth in the UAV and unmanned systems market.

Responsibilities:

  • Identify, qualify and nurture new OEM, Tier1/2 integrators, and defense prime customers to expand our design win pipeline and grow revenue in the drone and defense market, with a focus on AI enabled UAVs and mission critical unmanned systems.
  • Act as the first technical and business point of contact for key drone accounts; build multilevel relationships (engineering, product, program and procurement) and uncover opportunities to increase Lantronix compute content per platform.
  • Architect and scope end-to-end unmanned system solutions, including:
  • Edge compute / AI SOMs
  • Sensor payloads (EO/IR, RGB, LiDAR, radar, SIGINT where applicable)
  • Flight controllers and autonomy stacks (PX4/Pixhawk,ArduPilot, custom RTOS/Linux stacks)
  • Onboard networking, storage, and secure communications
  • Perform market, product and technology research across UAV, edge compute modules, payloadecosystemsand competing drone compute platforms; conduct competitive analysis to inform our compute roadmap andidentifydifferentiated solutions (e.g., NDAA/TAAalignedstacks,lowSWaPEdge AI, secureondeviceprocessing) that increase market penetration.
  • Translate customer and program requirements into clear product requirements, reference architectures, and solution briefs for internal engineering and product teams.
  • Support marketing and business development efforts, including:
  • Technical input for UAV-focused product launches
  • Participation in defense and UAV industry events
  • Development of technical collateral, demos, and customer success narratives tied to real platforms and deployments
  • Drivecrossfunctionalcollaboration with marketing,salesand engineering to continuously improve technical collateral for the drone market (reference designs,DevKitdocumentation, integration guides for flight controllers and payloads, performance benchmarks for ISR and inspection workloads, product web pages, etc.)

Qualifications:

  • 8+ years of experience in the Defense/Drone space in either a technical or sales role
  • Demonstrated experience working with drone OEMs, defense primes, or system integrators on deployed or program-of-record platforms
  • Strong technical understanding of UAV system architecture, including onboardcompute, sensors, flight control, and ground control integration
  • Experience supporting design-ins or platform selections for embedded compute,SoMs, or related technologies
  • Ability to credibly engage with engineering teams and defense customers on architecture, trade-offs, and performance constraints
  • Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, computer science, aerospace engineering, or a related technical field


This position remote in the U.S.A. and will require U.S. citizenship

Salary range will vary depending on location of hire and experience, ranging from $130,000 to $200,000 annually