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Rc Pilot Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Navi AI

Intern - Device Build

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$19.75 - $25.50/hr

Navi captures everything a pilot sees and hears and turns it into automated debrief intelligence ... You've built physical things - personal projects, robotics teams, Formula SAE, RC aircraft, drones ...

New

Virginia Tech

UAS Test Site Research Operator

Blacksburg, VA · On-site

$16 - $19.75/hr

... pilot and/or manual fixed wing RC flying skills Experience in public and civil UAS applications Experience in test planning, flight test, and/or conducting research Overtime Status Exempt: Not ...

Pivotal

Flight Test Operator I

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

$80K - $90K/yr

Private Pilots License a plus * A&P Mechanic a plus * Interest in RC planes, quadcopters, or aviation Personal Attributes * Thrive in a fast-moving, stimulating, and collaborative team environment

Pivotal

Flight Test Operator I

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

$80K - $90K/yr

Private Pilots License a plus * A&P Mechanic a plus * Interest in RC planes, quadcopters, or aviation Personal Attributes * Thrive in a fast-moving, stimulating, and collaborative team environment

Pivotal

Flight Test Operator I

Palo Alto, CA

$80K - $90K/yr

Private Pilots License a plus * A&P Mechanic a plus * Interest in RC planes, quadcopters, or aviation Personal Attributes * Thrive in a fast-moving, stimulating, and collaborative team environment

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Rc Pilot information

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$49.5K

$130.9K

$201K

How much do rc pilot jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 22, 2026, the average yearly pay for rc pilot in the United States is $130,916.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $100,000.00 and $155,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an RC pilot?

An RC (Remote Control) Pilot operates unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones for various applications, including aerial photography, surveying, search and rescue, and hobbyist flying. RC Pilots may work in industries like agriculture, defense, filmmaking, and inspections. Their responsibilities include safely maneuvering the drone, maintaining equipment, and following aviation regulations. Some RC Pilots require certification depending on the country and type of operations.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an RC pilot?

To thrive as an RC Pilot, you need excellent hand-eye coordination, spatial awareness, and a thorough understanding of remote-control systems; experience with model aircraft or drones is typically required. Familiarity with radio transmitters, flight simulators, and, in some cases, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Remote Pilot Certificate for drones is essential. Attention to detail, adaptability, and effective communication skills help RC Pilots succeed in fast-paced environments and work well with teams. These skills enable RC Pilots to operate vehicles safely and efficiently, meet technical requirements, and coordinate with clients or team members.

What are some typical challenges RC pilots face on the job?

RC Pilots often encounter challenges related to changing weather conditions, equipment malfunctions, and navigating complex or unfamiliar terrain. Staying updated on local regulations and safety protocols is also critical, as compliance affects both operation and job security. Effective problem-solving and quick decision-making are essential when responding to unexpected flight issues or client requests during assignments. Collaborating with technicians and team members helps address these challenges and ensures smooth operations during events or commercial projects.

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What states have the most Rc Pilot jobs?

States with the most job openings for Rc Pilot jobs include:

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Rc Pilot jobs near you
Infographic showing various Rc Pilot job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% As Needed, 89% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $130,916 per year, or $62.9 per hour.

Intern - Device Build

Navi AI

San Francisco, CA • On-site

$19.75 - $25.50/hr

Full-time

Posted 2 days ago

New

Job description

Navi captures everything a pilot sees and hears and turns it into automated debrief intelligence - sortie-level awareness that has never existed before. None of it works without the hardware in the aircraft. That's what you'll build.
About the role
This is a hands-on hardware internship. You'll build, test, and ship the devices that fly in real aircraft at university flight schools and military squadrons. Every unit you assemble ends up in a cockpit, capturing data a pilot and instructor will sit down and review that same day. Nothing here is a prototype exercise. Navi is already live at leading flight schools.
You'll work directly with our hardware and engineering teams, and you'll see the consequences of your work fast - if a unit fails, you'll hear about it, and you'll be part of fixing it.
What you'll do
  • Assemble, wire, and bench-test Navi devices - audio capture, mounting hardware, cable harnesses, enclosures
  • Diagnose failures on returned or field-reported units and feed what you learn back into the build
  • Help improve the build itself - fixturing, assembly documentation, anything that makes the next hundred units faster and more reliable than the last hundred
  • Track inventory, components, and BOMs so we never stall a deployment waiting on a part
  • Assist in preparing shipments, and willing to learn and assist in other tasks too
  • Work alongside engineers across hardware, firmware, and software to close the loop between what we build and what pilots actually experience
About you
  • Currently pursuing a degree in engineering, or equivalent hands-on experience - we care more about what you've built than where you're enrolled
  • Comfortable with hand tools, wiring and basic electronics debugging
  • Careful and consistent. Hardware that flies has to be built the same way every time, and you take that seriously
  • You've built physical things - personal projects, robotics teams, Formula SAE, RC aircraft, drones, a workshop in your garage. Tell us about them
  • Willing to do the unglamorous work. Some days are assembly and testing, and those units still have to be perfect
  • Curious about why things fail and persistent enough to find out
  • Comfortable in ambiguity - processes here are still being written, and you'll help write them
Nice to have
  • You know how to fly. A private pilot certificate, student pilot time, or any flight training is a real bonus. Pilots understand the cockpit environment these devices live in, and we'll lean on you for more than device build - flight testing, data collection, ride-alongs, and translating what actually happens in the aircraft back to the engineering team
  • Familiarity with aviation systems, avionics, or general aviation aircraft
  • CAD, 3D printing, or fabrication experience
  • Basic scripting for test automation or data validation
Why this role matters
Pilots trust their lives to the systems in front of them. The device you build is the first link in that chain - if it doesn't capture clean data, nothing downstream works. Interns here own real units going to real customers, not side projects.
What you'll get
  • Hardware that ships - your work flies in aircraft at flight schools, airlines, and the U.S. Air Force
  • Direct access to the founding team and every part of the stack, from hardware to AI
  • A path to a full-time role for interns who prove they can own the build
How we work
  • Find a way. We don't wait for permission or perfect information. Ideas come from anywhere regardless of title. Figure it out, ship it, iterate.
  • Creativity over control. First principles over process. We'd rather have a creative solution that's 80% right today than a perfect one next quarter.
  • Update fast. Come in with a hypothesis, throw it away when the data says otherwise. Ego has no place here.
  • Intensity with focus. We work hard because the mission demands it. Clarity on what matters is how we make that sustainable.

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