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Full Time Drone Controller Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Wing

Senior Reliability Engineer

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

$196K - $208K/yr

... drone avionics, power electronics, motor controllers, communications, and sensing systems from ... The US base salary range for this full-time position is the salary range below + bonus + equity ...

SAIC

MIA Remote Pilot Operator

Miami, FL · Remote

This is NOT a UAS, UAV, RPV, or DRONE pilot position. We are looking for Full-time, Remote Pilot Operator (RPO) candidates to join the SAIC Controller Training Solutions (CTS) team at the Miami ATCT ...

SAIC

ZOA Remote Pilot Operator

Fremont, CA · Remote

$40K - $80K/yr

This is NOT a UAS / UAV / RPV / DRONE pilot position. We are looking for a Full-time, Remote Pilot Operator (RPO) candidate to join the SAIC Controller Training Solutions (CTS) team at the Oakland ...

SAIC

ZMP Remote Pilot Operator

Farmington, MN · Remote

$40K - $80K/yr

This is NOT a UAS, UAV, RPV, or DRONE pilot position. We are looking for Full-time, Remote Pilot Operator (RPO) candidates to join the SAIC Controller Training Solutions (CTS) team at the Minneapolis ...

SAIC

PHL ATCT Remote Pilot Operator

Philadelphia, PA · Remote

This is NOT a UAS, UAV, RPV, or DRONE pilot position. We are looking for Full-time, Remote Pilot Operator (RPO) candidates to join the SAIC Controller Training Solutions (CTS) team at the ...

SAIC

FAI Remote Pilot Operator

Fairbanks, AK · Remote

This is NOT a UAS, UAV, RPV, or DRONE pilot position. We are looking for Full time, Remote Pilot Operator (RPO) candidates to join the SAIC Controller Training Solutions (CTS) team at the Fairbanks ...

SAIC

ZID Remote Pilot Operator

Indianapolis, IN · Remote

This is NOT a UAS, UAV, RPV, or DRONE pilot position. We are looking for Full-time, Remote Pilot Operator (RPO) candidates to join the SAIC Controller Training Solutions (CTS) team at the ...

SAIC

EWR Remote Pilot Operator

Newark, NJ · Remote

$40K - $80K/yr

This is NOT a UAS / UAV / RPV / DRONE pilot position. We are looking for Part-time, Remote Pilot Operator (RPO) candidates to join the SAIC Controller Training Solutions (CTS) team at the Newark ATCT ...

SAIC

MIA Remote Pilot Operator

Miami, FL · Remote

This is NOT a UAS, UAV, RPV, or DRONE pilot position. We are looking for Full-time, Remote Pilot Operator (RPO) candidates to join the SAIC Controller Training Solutions (CTS) team at the Miami ATCT ...

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All JobsFull Time Drone Controller Jobs

Full Time Drone Controller information

See salary details

$55K

$119.5K

$175.5K

How much do full time drone controller jobs pay per year?

As of May 30, 2026, the average yearly pay for full time drone controller in the United States is $119,497.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $97,000.00 and $138,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Full Time Drone Controller vs Part Time Drone Operator?

AspectFull Time Drone ControllerPart Time Drone Operator
CredentialsFAA drone certification, relevant licensesFAA drone certification, may be optional for limited hours
Work EnvironmentOffice, field, or remote settings, regular hoursFlexible hours, project-based or occasional
Employer & IndustryCompanies in media, agriculture, constructionFreelance, part-time roles in similar industries
Search & Comparison IntentSeeking stable employment with benefitsLooking for flexible, short-term work

Full Time Drone Controllers typically work regular hours with stable employment, requiring certifications and often benefits. Part Time Drone Operators usually work on a flexible basis, may have similar certifications, but focus on short-term or project-based tasks. The choice depends on your desired work schedule and career stability.

More about Full Time Drone Controller jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Drone Controller jobs? The most popular types of Drone Controller jobs are:
What job categories do people searching Full Time Drone Controller jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Full Time Drone Controller jobs are:
Full Time Drone Controller jobs near you
Infographic showing various Full Time Drone Controller job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 1% Full Time, 93% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 11% Hybrid, and 89% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $119,497 per year, or $57.5 per hour.
Director of Product Management, Drone as First Responder (DFR)

Director of Product Management, Drone as First Responder (DFR)

Skydio, Inc

San Mateo, CA • On-site

$226K - $285K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Posted 23 days ago

Job description

Skydio is the leading US drone company and the world leader in autonomous flight, the key technology for the future of drones and aerial mobility. The Skydio team combines deep expertise in artificial intelligence, best-in-class hardware and software product development, operational excellence, and customer obsession to empower a broader, more diverse audience of drone users, from utility inspectors to first responders, soldiers in battlefield scenarios, and beyond.
About the role: As the Director of Product Management for Skydio's Drone as First Responder (DFR) offering, you will own the end-to-end software features spanning Skydio's vehicle, controller and cloud platforms, that enable Public Safety and Emergency Responder customers to perform scaled remote drone operations. Skydio's DFR product provides real-time visibility to those on the frontline of emergencies and public safety scenarios. Imagine if every police patrol car had a smart drone in the trunk; Every city had drones docked in strategic locations to respond to emergencies anywhere within seconds; and every command center had operators ready to fly drones remotely. Skydio's DFR product team is leading the way to make this a reality.
Location: This position is based onsite 5 days/week at our HQ in San Mateo, CA, with ~50% travel. We offer relocation assistance if needed.
How you'll make an impact:
  • Own the business of our end-to-end DFR offering, meeting company financial and market growth goals in partnership with GTM and Engineering
  • Actively meet with customers and internal stakeholders to build expertise in critical DFR use cases and pain points to solve
  • Leverage strong technical understanding of cloud connected devices and enterprise-level management to ideate and deliver high-value products and features
  • Define the full end-to-end DFR customer experience spanning cloud admin management, real time drone operations, flight experience, logging and media offload
  • Collaborate with Platform PMs to prioritize and drive the DFR roadmap, product requirements and key performance metrics
  • Enable GTM and lead successful launches for DFR products, features, and improvements
  • Lead cross functional teams to address in-market issues, to ensure Skydio's DFR platform is world-leading in reliability and meeting customer core needs

What makes you a good fit:
  • 10+ years defining and launching complex enterprise-grade solutions, with backend admin controls as well as end-user UI and experiences
  • Engineering or other technical educational background that makes you at home in deep discussions with engineers on complex technical challenges and tradeoffs
  • Customer-driven with examples leaning in and working directly with customers to solve for their workflows and problems
  • Excellent communicator, experienced in sharing out complex information in an understandable delivery for executive-level customers, external partners and internal stakeholders
  • Ability to utilize experience doing market analysis to drive efficient data-driven decisions
  • This role will be driving the development of products for federal government customers, and is subject to government contracts that require Skydio to limit this position to candidates with US Citizenship. We welcome every qualified candidate who is eligible to work in the United States to apply. However, at this time, Skydio does not currently offer employment-based visa or permanent residency sponsorship for this role
  • Ability to obtain FAA Part 107 certification within 60 days of employment start

Bonus points for:
  • Professional background in drones, flight interfaces, Drone Management and/or DFR software offerings
  • Professional background in real-time crime center (RTCCs) or Real-Time Operations software solutions
  • Professional background in Public Safety as a career, or developed deep expertise working closely with them as customers
  • Professional background in using drones for ISR for Federal agencies, or equivalent experience working closely with them as customers
  • Expertise in the enterprise drone market and DFR offerings specifically
  • Experience flying drones professionally or in crewed flight

Compensation Range: At Skydio, our compensation packages for regular, full-time employees include competitive base salaries, equity in the form of stock options, and comprehensive benefits packages. Compensation will vary based on factors, including skill level, proficiencies, transferable knowledge, and experience. Relocation assistance may also be provided for eligible roles. The annual base salary range for this position is $226,000 - $285,000*. Fundamentally, we believe that equity is the key to long-term financial growth, and we ensure all regular, full-time employees have the opportunity to significantly benefit from the company's success. Regular, full-time employees are eligible to enroll in the Company's group health insurance plans. Regular, full-time employees are eligible to receive the following benefits: Paid vacation time, sick leave, holiday pay and 401K savings plan. This position and all associated benefits are subject to applicable federal, state, and local laws, as well as the Company's policies and eligibility criteria.
*For some positions the pay may be dependent upon the individual's regional location.
#LI-RQ1
At Skydio we believe that diversity drives innovation. We have created a multidisciplinary environment that embraces the power of diverse perspectives to create elegant solutions for complex problems. We are committed to growing our network of people, programs, and resources to nurture an inclusive culture.
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by federal, state or local anti-discrimination laws.
For positions located in the United States of America, Skydio, Inc. uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit https://www.e-verify.gov/

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