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Ground Control Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Joby Aviation

Mission Control Center Lead

Concord, CA · On-site

As a Staff/Principal Mission Control Center (MCC) Lead, you will serve as the technical authority for the end-to-end architecture of our ground-based command and control ecosystem - the nervous ...

LGSTX Services

Control Tower Operator

Wilmington, OH

The Control Tower Operator is responsible to manage the safe, orderly and expeditious flow of air ... This will require working local, ground or both positions simultaneously. * Coordinate emergency ...

Sibanye Stillwater

Engineer - Rock Mechanics

Nye, MT · On-site

$78K/yr

At Sibanye-Stillwater, the Rock Mechanic Engineer is responsible for carrying out ground control assessments and providing ground control and ground quality recommendations for existing and future ...

Lonmin

Engineer - Rock Mechanics

Nye, MT

At Sibanye-Stillwater, the Rock Mechanic Engineer is responsible for carrying out ground control assessments and providing ground control and ground quality recommendations for existing and future ...

The Aerospace Corporation

Define and develop mission-critical interfaces (organizational, physical, functional, hardware/software, operational) for space ground control systems. * Define and manage tasking to a team of ...

The Aerospace Corporation

Define and develop mission-critical interfaces (organizational, physical, functional, hardware/software, operational) for space ground control systems. * Define and manage tasking to a team of ...

Sibanye Stillwater

Engineer - Rock Mechanics

MT · On-site

$78K/yr

At Sibanye-Stillwater, the Rock Mechanic Engineer is responsible for carrying out ground control assessments and providing ground control and ground quality recommendations for existing and future ...

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How much do ground control jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 29, 2026, the average hourly pay for ground control in the United States is $24.44, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $18.03 and $30.53 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How much does ground control get paid?

Ground control positions, such as air traffic controllers or ground operations staff, typically earn between $50,000 and $130,000 annually depending on experience, location, and specific role. Certification and training are often required, and the job may involve shift work and high-stress situations.

What are the typical responsibilities of a Ground Control professional during a shift?

As a Ground Control professional, your main responsibilities include coordinating the movement of aircraft between gates, taxiways, and runways to ensure safe and orderly ground traffic. You will communicate closely with airline personnel, pilots, ramp agents, and other air traffic controllers to manage arrivals, departures, and any unexpected events such as weather disruptions or technical issues. A typical shift involves constant monitoring of ground operations, using radio and computer systems, and quick decision-making to resolve conflicts. This role is often performed as part of a larger team within an airport control tower or operations center, where strong collaboration and attention to protocol are key to maintaining safety and efficiency.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Ground Control position, and why are they important?

To thrive as Ground Control, you need strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and a solid understanding of aviation operations, typically supported by relevant training or certification in air traffic or ground operations. Familiarity with communication systems, radar technology, flight tracking software, and adherence to safety protocols is crucial. Effective teamwork, clear communication, and the ability to remain calm under pressure are vital soft skills for this role. These competencies ensure safe and efficient coordination of aircraft movements on the ground and minimize any risk of accidents or delays.

What jobs pay 10,000 a month without a degree?

Ground control roles in industries like aviation, aerospace, or satellite operations can pay around $10,000 per month without requiring a college degree, often emphasizing technical skills, certifications, and experience. High-paying positions in sales, real estate, or entrepreneurship may also reach this income level without formal education, but typically demand strong skills, networking, and dedication.

Why is Gen Z struggling to get jobs?

Ground Control or similar entry-level roles often require specific skills, certifications, or experience that Gen Z job seekers may lack due to limited work history or training opportunities. Additionally, competition from more experienced candidates and economic factors can make it challenging for younger applicants to secure these positions.

What jobs pay 2000 a day?

Ground Control roles in the aerospace or aviation industries can sometimes pay around $2,000 a day, especially for experienced professionals such as senior air traffic controllers or specialized ground operations managers. These positions often require advanced certifications, extensive experience, and work in high-pressure environments. Compensation varies based on industry, location, and level of expertise.

What is a Ground Control job?

A Ground Control job involves monitoring and managing ground-based operations to ensure communication, safety, and efficiency. Responsibilities may include overseeing air or space traffic, coordinating logistics, and maintaining communication between teams. Ground Control personnel work in industries such as aviation, space exploration, and military operations. They play a critical role in ensuring smooth and safe operations by responding to incidents, analyzing data, and following protocols. This role requires strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work in high-pressure environments.

More about Ground Control jobs
What cities are hiring for Ground Control jobs? Cities with the most Ground Control job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Ground Control jobs? The most popular types of Ground Control jobs are:
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Ground Control jobs near you
Infographic showing various Ground Control job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 96% Full Time, 2% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 95% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $50,826 per year, or $24.4 per hour.
Mission Control Center Lead

Mission Control Center Lead

Joby Aviation

Concord, CA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 19 days ago

Job description

Company Overview
Joby Flight Research designs, develops, and flight-tests novel aircraft using a software-first autonomy approach. We build and deploy autonomy, perception, planning, and radar systems across conventional, electric, and hydrogen-electric aircraft in both CTOL and VTOL configurations.
Overview
We are building the infrastructure that will safely operate the next generation of autonomous aircraft at scale. As a Staff/Principal Mission Control Center (MCC) Lead, you will serve as the technical authority for the end-to-end architecture of our ground-based command and control ecosystem - the nervous system that connects operators to autonomous aircraft in real time.
This is a deeply cross-functional, high-leverage role. You will define system architectures, drive FAA approval strategy, and solve the hardest problems in distributed autonomy: how do you reliably operate many aircraft with a small number of pilots while maintaining safety, regulatory compliance, and resilience to failure? You will work closely with avionics, software, operations, and regulatory teams, and your decisions will shape how our aircraft and ground systems interact for years to come.
Responsibilities
  • SYSTEMS ARCHITECTURE & REDUNDANCY
    • Architect the end-to-end Mission Control Center system, including ground control stations, communication links, data infrastructure, and failover strategies.
    • Define and drive redundancy and fault-tolerance requirements across hardware, software, and network layers - from single points of failure to multi-region resilience.
    • Develop system-level models and safety analyses (FHA, FMEA, FTA) to validate that MCC architecture meets airworthiness and operational safety targets.
    • Establish performance and availability SLAs for the MCC platform and lead design reviews to enforce architectural standards.
    • Collaborate with avionics and vehicle teams to define the interface between aircraft and ground systems, including command latency, telemetry bandwidth, and degraded-mode behavior.

  • FAA REGULATORY APPROVALS
    • Lead MCC-related regulatory strategy and submissions, including working with the FAA on ground control station certification, BVLOS operational approvals, and DAA (Detect and Avoid) integration requirements.
    • Develop and maintain compliance documentation including Means of Compliance (MOC), System Safety Assessments, and Operational Safety Cases.
    • Serve as technical lead in interactions with the FAA or other regulatory bodies - translating between engineering reality and regulatory language.
    • Monitor evolving UAS rulemaking and proactively adjust MCC architecture and procedures to anticipate regulatory changes.

  • M:N PILOT OPERATIONS & HMI DESIGN
    • Define the conceptual and technical framework for m:n pilot operations - how a small number of remote pilots safely supervise a large fleet of autonomous aircraft simultaneously.
    • Drive requirements for Human-Machine Interface (HMI) design, including alert prioritization, workload management, and decision-support tooling.
    • Partner with human factors engineers and operations teams to validate that MCC interfaces meet cognitive load and situational awareness requirements.
    • Develop contingency frameworks for edge cases: communication loss, simultaneous off-nominal events, emergency handoffs, and operator incapacitation.
    • Define pilot certification and training requirements for MCC operators in coordination with the Director of Flight Operations.

  • CYBERSECURITY
    • Define MCC cybersecurity architecture aligned with NIST SP 800-82, DO-326A, and relevant aviation security standards.
    • Establish threat modeling practices for ground-to-air communication links, MCC infrastructure, and operator authentication systems.
    • Collaborate with the security team to implement intrusion detection, secure boot, and data integrity controls across MCC systems.
    • Ensure cybersecurity posture is integrated into FAA safety assessments and operational approval packages.

Required
  • 10+ years of experience in systems engineering, with at least 5 years in aviation, aerospace, UAV/UAS, or safety-critical embedded systems.
  • BS in Aerospace or related field
  • Deep expertise in system architecture and safety analysis methods (FHA, FMEA, FTA, STPA) for complex, distributed systems.
  • Direct experience with FAA certification processes - preferably including Part 135, Part 23/25, or UAS-specific approvals (BVLOS waivers, exemptions).
  • Demonstrated ability to author and own system safety assessments, compliance artifacts, and interface control documents.
  • Strong understanding of ground-to-air communication systems (C2 links, RF, satellite, LTE) and their availability/integrity tradeoffs.
  • Experience working across hardware, software, and operations disciplines; ability to drive alignment without direct authority.
  • Exceptional written and verbal communication - able to engage regulators, executives, and engineers with equal effectiveness.

This position must meet US export control compliance requirements, therefore a candidate must qualify as a "US Person" as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.15. "US Person" includes US Citizens, lawful permanent residents, refugees, or asylees.
Desired
  • Experience designing or operating real-world UAS/UAM Mission Control Centers or ground control stations.
  • Familiarity with m:n remote piloting concepts, RPAS regulations (ICAO Annex 2/11), or Air Traffic Management integration.
  • Knowledge of aviation cybersecurity standards: DO-326A/ED-202A, DO-356A/ED-203A, NIST 800-82.
  • Background in human factors engineering or HMI design for aviation or other safety-critical domains.
  • Experience with DAA systems, UTM/USS integration, or BVLOS operations.
  • FAA commercial or remote pilot certificate is a plus.

Compensation at Joby is a combination of base pay and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs). The target base pay for this position is $198,100 - $309,000/yr. The compensation package will be determined by job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.
Joby also offers a comprehensive benefits package, including paid time off, healthcare benefits, a 401(k) plan with a company match, an employee stock purchase plan (ESPP), short-term and long-term disability coverage, life insurance, and more.
Additional Information
Joby Aviation is an equal opportunity employer.

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