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Local Drone Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Slater Consult

Marketing Specialist

Reston, VA · On-site

$85K - $100K/yr

At MyDefence, we develop world-leading counter-drone technology that helps protect military ... You'll help ensure global marketing initiatives are successfully adapted for the local market and ...

Amazon

Prime Air Ops Manager, Prime Air

Suffolk, VA · On-site

Key job responsibilities Prime Air is seeking an experienced Drone Operations Manager to own the ... local sites up to 25% of the time - Direct management experience, including leading in a ...

Heven AeroTech

Chief UAS Pilot

Sterling, VA · On-site

This role involves overseeing all drone operations, training programs, and compliance with ... Practical experience working with the DoD or law enforcement (federal, state or local) with the ...

Heven AeroTech

Chief UAS Pilot

Sterling, VA · On-site

This role involves overseeing all drone operations, training programs, and compliance with ... Practical experience working with the DoD or law enforcement (federal, state or local) with the ...

Droneshield

Field Service Engineer (USA)

Warrenton, VA · On-site

$90K - $120K/yr

S.-focused R&D, sales, and customer support, and working closely with American defense and security stakeholders to deliver mission-critical counter-drone solutions tailored to local operational ...

Heven AeroTech

Chief UAS Pilot

Sterling, VA · On-site

This role involves overseeing all drone operations, training programs, and compliance with ... Practical experience working with the DoD or law enforcement (federal, state or local) with the ...

Droneshield

Proposal Specialist (US)

Warrenton, VA · On-site

$100K - $140K/yr

At DroneShield, employees work at the leading edge of counter-drone innovation, helping to address ... Skilled at working cross-functionally with local and remote technical and non-technical teams.

Zetier

Cyber Engineering Intern

Arlington, VA · On-site

$95K - $120K/yr

Development on embedded platforms (uBoot, drone firmware, IOT) * Familiar reading assembly ... local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting ...

Zetier

Cyber Engineering Intern

Arlington, VA · On-site

$19.25 - $25/hr

Development on embedded platforms (uBoot, drone firmware, IOT) * Familiar reading assembly ... local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting ...

Leonardo DRS

Buyer-Germantown, Maryland

Ashburn, VA

$69K - $89K/yr

... drone applications, critical infrastructure protection, and border surveillance. Job ... local or other applicable market conditions, and internal equity. Other factors include the ...

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All JobsLocal Drone JobsLocal Drone Jobs in Virginia

Local Drone information

See Virginia salary details

$32

$72

$100

How much do local drone jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 4, 2026, the average hourly pay for local drone in Virginia is $72.88, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $46.25 and $90.34 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a local drone?

Local drones are unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) operated within a specific geographical area, often for purposes like aerial photography, surveying, inspections, search and rescue, and delivery services. They are used by businesses, government agencies, and hobbyists to perform tasks that are difficult, dangerous, or time-consuming for humans. Local drone operators are typically responsible for piloting the drone, ensuring safety and regulatory compliance, and maintaining the equipment. The increasing accessibility and affordability of drones have expanded their use across various industries and communities.

What does a local drone operator do?

As a Local Drone Operator, you can expect to work on a variety of projects including aerial photography for real estate, infrastructure inspections, agricultural monitoring, and event coverage. Your daily tasks often involve planning flight paths, conducting pre-flight equipment checks, capturing high-quality footage or data, and processing or delivering results to clients. Collaboration with team members such as data analysts, project managers, or marketing professionals is common, depending on the project's scope. Adapting to different environments and adhering to local regulations are key aspects of the role.

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

To thrive as a Drone Operator, you need strong piloting skills, knowledge of aviation regulations, and typically a remote pilot certification such as the FAA Part 107 license. Familiarity with drone flight control systems, mapping software, and camera equipment is essential for effective operations. Attention to detail, problem-solving ability, and strong communication help operators adapt to various environments and client needs. These skills ensure legal compliance, safety, and high-quality results in aerial photography, surveying, or inspection tasks.

What is the difference between Local Drone vs Local Photographer?

AspectLocal DroneLocal Photographer
Required CredentialsDrone pilot certification, FAA Part 107 licensePhotography experience, portfolio, possibly certification
Work EnvironmentOutdoor, aerial filming, on-location shootsIndoor/outdoor, studio or on-site photography
Industry UsageReal estate, construction, events, inspectionsEvents, portraits, commercial, artistic projects
Common Search/ComparisonYesYes

While both roles involve visual content creation, Local Drone operators focus on aerial footage using drones and require specific certifications. Local Photographers typically work with traditional cameras and may not need drone licenses. The work environments and industry applications differ, but both are essential for visual media services.

How do I get a job flying drones?

To get a job flying drones, you should obtain a remote pilot certificate from the FAA or relevant authority, gain experience with drone operation and safety protocols, and develop skills in navigation, photography, or videography if applicable. Many employers also prefer candidates with technical knowledge of drone maintenance and relevant certifications or training programs.

What drone jobs are in demand?

In-demand drone jobs include aerial photography and videography for real estate, events, and media production, as well as inspection roles for infrastructure, agriculture, and construction. These positions often require knowledge of drone operation, relevant certifications, and the ability to interpret data collected by drones.

What are the most commonly searched types of Drone jobs in Virginia?

The most popular types of Drone jobs in Virginia are:

What are popular job titles related to Local Drone jobs in Virginia?

For Local Drone jobs in Virginia, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Local Drone jobs in Virginia look for?

The top searched job categories for Local Drone jobs in Virginia are:

What cities in Virginia are hiring for Local Drone jobs?

Cities in Virginia with the most Local Drone job openings:

Local Drone jobs near you
Infographic showing various Local Drone job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 68% Full Time, 27% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 95% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $151,580 per year, or $72.9 per hour.

Senior IT & Security Engineer (USA)

Droneshield

Warrenton, VA • On-site

$150K - $170K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 3 days ago

Job description

Work with cutting-edge AI technology, making the world a safer and more secure place. DroneShield (ASX:DRO) offers an opportunity to solve some of world's most challenging technical problems in the rapidly growing counter drone sector.
Our customers are some of the most demanding in the world, including militaries, government agencies, airports, critical infrastructure, law enforcement and many others. The counter drone sector is rapidly changing, with DroneShield being in an arms race against state-backed drone manufacturers globally.
DroneShield's American operations are headquartered in Washington DC / Northern VA area, home to a growing team of approximately 40 highly skilled professionals. This office plays a critical role in the company's global success, leading U.S.-focused R&D, sales, and customer support, and working closely with American defense and security stakeholders to deliver mission-critical counter drone solutions tailored to local operational needs.
As one of Australia's largest publicly listed defense companies and a member of the ASX200, DroneShield is experiencing sustained hypergrowth. Global revenue increased from approximately US$38 million in 2024 to over US$125 million in 2025, representing growth of more than 400% year over year, alongside record profitability and cash flow. The global counter-UAS market is estimated at approximately US$100 billion and remains at an early stage, positioning DroneShield as a global market leader and the only publicly listed pure-play counter drone company worldwide.
DroneShield has grown from just 11 employees in 2017 to more than 450 employees globally today, with continued expansion planned across the United States, Europe, and APAC. The company invests over US$33 million annually in R&D, maintains a global sales pipeline exceeding US$1.65 billion, and continues to scale manufacturing and deployment capacity to meet accelerating demand.
The Washington DC / Northern Virginia office is central to DroneShield's long-term U.S. strategy - bringing innovation closer to the customer, strengthening domestic capability, and supporting national security, public safety, and critical infrastructure protection outcomes across the United States
About the role
The Senior IT & Security Engineer is the primary local owner for the Warrenton office's IT operations and security engineering, with responsibility for supporting CMMC / NIST 800-171 control implementation and audit readiness. This role is hands-on and spans end-user support, identity and endpoint administration, network and security operations, local incident response, and compliance execution. The position works closely with DroneShield's global IT and Security teams in Sydney, which provide broader governance, shared services, and partnership on global initiatives.
This is a high-ownership, hands-on role requiring strong technical depth, sound judgment, clear prioritization, and the ability to operate across IT operations, security engineering, and compliance.
The anticipated salary range for this role is $150,000 - $170,000 per year. Actual salary varies due to factors that may include but not limited to relevant experience, skills, certifications and location. This hire will be eligible for discretionary bonus or incentive compensation. Variable compensation may depend on various factors, such as individual and organizational performance.
Responsibilities, Duties and Expectations
  • Partner with global IT and Security teams to deliver reliable, secure IT services for the U.S. office and support the company's broader security and compliance strategy.
  • Own local IT service delivery, including ticket intake, prioritization, escalation, user communication, and SLA performance. Provide hands-on support for hardware, software, collaboration tools, and access issues, and serve as the primary escalation point for complex local IT and security incidents.
  • Administer identity and access controls across users, devices, and applications using Microsoft Entra ID, including SSO, Conditional Access, MFA, and role-based access controls.
  • Integrate business applications into the identity and security stack using SSO, MFA, Conditional Access, and modern authentication mechanisms such as FIDO2 passwordless authentication.
  • Administer and continuously improve endpoint security controls, including device compliance, patching, system hardening, vulnerability remediation, encryption, and EDR / MDM tooling.
  • Support and manage network security, including firewall management, secure network integrations, VPNs, and segmentation.
  • In coordination with the Global Security Team, lead local incident triage and response activities for the U.S. office, including investigation, containment, remediation, evidence gathering, lessons learned, and post-incident reporting.
  • Partner with the Global Security Team, business stakeholders, vendors, and external assessors to support CMMC / NIST 800-171 readiness activities, including technical control implementation, evidence collection, remediation tracking, and audit support.
  • Help plan and manage the local IT and security budget, including tooling, hardware lifecycle, vendor services, and investment recommendations aligned to business and compliance priorities.

Qualifications, Experience and Skills
  • 7+ years of experience across IT infrastructure, service management, and security-conscious operational environments.
  • Hands-on experience in a security operations, systems security, or security engineering role, including incident response and control implementation.
  • Working knowledge of CMMC 2.0 / NIST SP 800-171 requirements, with practical experience supporting implementation, evidence collection, remediation, or assessment readiness activities.
  • Hands-on experience with security and device-management platforms such as EDR, SIEM, vulnerability management, and MDM / Intune.
  • Experience managing firewalls, VPNs, network security, and secure system integrations.
  • Proven hands-on experience with identity and access management using Microsoft Entra ID, including SSO, Conditional Access, MFA, group / role-based access, and application integration.
  • Strong background in endpoint security, patch management, and system hardening using Mobile Device Management (MDM) platforms such as Microsoft Intune.
  • Experience participating in or leading incident response, investigation, containment, and remediation activities.
  • Comfort working across both hands-on user support and higher-order security / compliance priorities in a small-team, high-accountability environment.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Experience
  • Experience updating policies, procedures, standards, and technical documentation to support audit readiness and operational consistency.
  • Experience working in the United States Defense Industrial Base.
  • Experience supporting organizations requiring facility clearances.
  • Experience with Microsoft Government Community Cloud (GCC) platforms.
  • Security or IT certifications (e.g., CISSP, CISM, Security+, CMMC-RP, ITIL).
  • Experience developing and maintaining IT and security budgets.
  • Practical understanding of governance, risk, and compliance concepts and how they translate into technical and operational controls.

Note for recruitment agencies: We do not accept unsolicited candidates from external recruiters unless specifically instructed.

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