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Remote Drone Pilot Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

Remote Drone Pilot information

See Reston, VA salary details

$51.5K

$136.2K

$209.1K

How much do remote drone pilot jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 5, 2026, the average yearly pay for remote drone pilot in Reston, VA is $136,199.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $104,000.00 and $161,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

Is there a high demand for remote drone pilots?

Remote drone pilots are in increasing demand across industries such as agriculture, construction, and media, driven by the need for aerial data collection and inspections. Job opportunities are growing as companies adopt drone technology and seek certified pilots with skills in operating remotely and using relevant software. However, demand can vary by region and industry, and obtaining proper certifications can enhance employability.

What does a remote drone pilot do?

A typical day as a Remote Drone Pilot involves preparing and checking drone equipment, reviewing flight plans and weather conditions, conducting missions to gather aerial footage or data, and performing post-flight checks and data processing. You'll often work independently but may collaborate with teams such as surveyors, photographers, or project managers to meet specific client objectives. Communication with clients to understand their requirements and provide updates is an important aspect of the role. Time management and adaptability are key, as project needs and flight schedules can change on short notice. Depending on the employer, you may also contribute to equipment maintenance, regulatory compliance documentation, or training new pilots.

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

To thrive as a Remote Drone Pilot, you need strong piloting skills, a solid understanding of aviation regulations, and typically a Part 107 (or relevant) drone operator certification. Familiarity with drone flight software, GPS systems, mapping applications, and camera equipment is essential. Attention to detail, excellent problem-solving abilities, and clear communication skills help a pilot effectively manage operations and coordinate with team members or clients remotely. These skills ensure safe, compliant, and efficient aerial data collection or imagery for commercial projects.

What is a remote drone pilot?

A Remote Drone Pilot operates drones to capture aerial images, videos, or data for various industries, such as filmmaking, agriculture, construction, and inspections. They follow flight plans, adhere to safety regulations, and may analyze collected data. Some pilots work freelance, while others are employed by companies needing aerial surveillance or imagery. Certification and licensing requirements vary by country.

What job categories do people searching Remote Drone Pilot jobs in Reston, VA look for? The top searched job categories for Remote Drone Pilot jobs in Reston, VA are:
What cities near Reston, VA are hiring for Remote Drone Pilot jobs? Cities near Reston, VA with the most Remote Drone Pilot job openings:
Infographic showing various Remote Drone Pilot job openings in Reston, VA as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 81% Full Time, 7% Part Time, and 12% Contract. Highlights an 100% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $136,199 per year, or $65.5 per hour.

Sales Engineer II - Dedrone (Federal)

Axon

Washington, DC • On-site, Remote

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted yesterday

New


Axon rating

8.8

Company rating: 8.8 out of 10

Based on 15 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

14th of 156 rated electronics manufacturers


Job description

Your Impact

 Dedrone, by Axon is the world's most trusted smart airspace security company. Hundreds of commercial, government and military customers around the world rely on Dedrone's comprehensive, command and control (C2) solution to protect against the persistent and escalating threat from drones while enabling "good" drones to fly. By leveraging AI/ML, Dedrone is the only solution that provides continuous, autonomous interrogation and verification of drones that enables both multi-sensor and multi-mitigation options onto a single fused "pane-of-glass". Whether on-premise / air-gapped or in the cloud, Dedrone customers can easily detect, track, identify, analyze, and mitigate drone threats.

What You'll Do

Location: Remote- travel up to 50% of time

Reports to: Director - Program Management 

  • Achieve mastery of all Dedrone technology
  • Use exceptional written and oral communication skills to lead business and technical presentations effectively
  • Have technical conversations with IT departments, including CIOs, as well as channel partner leadership and technical stakeholders
  • Set and manage expectations with customers and team members
  • Provide 1st-level technical support throughout the pre-sales cycle for opportunities
  • Remain organized and focused on removing sales obstacles through creativity and adaptation to rapidly changes circumstances
  • Develop relationships with key partners for growth within their customer base
  • Provide professional responses to customer RFPs / RFIs
  • Effectively position the technology against competitive offerings
  • Be responsible for representing the products, company values, and brand to customers and at field events such as industry and user conferences, tech summits, etc.
  • Take ownership of the POC/Pilot process: Coordinate logistics across all stakeholders, assess customer requirements/objectives, and tailor POC tests and findings, accordingly, assist prospects with initial configuration and orientation
  • Where possible, improve or develop technical documentation to ease understanding and customer or channel usage of our products and services
  • Capture requested features and provide feedback to Product Management, Sales, Development, Support, Engineering and Marketing teams
  • Develop Statements of Work (SOW) for Professional Services necessary for binding quote
  • Perform other duties and projects as assigned

What You Bring

  • Willingness to travel up to 50%
  • Good understanding of Networking (IP/ Arp/ DNS/ Dhcp/SNMP/ PoE/ Ethernet/ IEEE802.11), Linux
  • Basic understanding of Physical Security, IP-Camera Placement and technology.
  • Basic understanding of Drone technology, desirable experience in flying
  • Educational background:
    • Associates degree in Engineering or Computer Science (or equivalent field), or 5+ years relevant experience.
  • Professional background:
    • 3-5 years customer facing pre-sales or consulting background required
    • Experience selling SaaS based solutions
  • Must have intellectual curiosity, humility, accountability and positive approach
  • Basic knowledge or curiosity of security, IPsec, InfoSec, hacking and exploitation tools and methodologies.
  • Basic knowledge of computer hardware, operating systems, and storage devices.
  • Ability to work independently with substantial latitude for action and decision making while maintaining focus on achieving optimal outcomes as part of a collaborative development effort.
  • Requires the ability to work independently with substantial latitude for action and decision making while maintaining focus on achieving optimal outcomes as part of a collaborative development effort.
  • Strong presentation skills and presence, technical acumen, ability to simplify the complex, ability to work cross-functionally.
  • Experience developing Statements of Work (SOW) or similar documents
Benefits that Benefit You
  • Competitive salary and 401k with employer match
  • Discretionary paid time off
  • Paid parental leave for all
  • Medical, Dental, Vision plans
  • Fitness Programs
  • Emotional & Mental Wellness support
  • Learning & Development programs
  • Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)
  • And yes, we have snacks in our offices

Benefits listed herein may vary depending on the nature of your employment and the location where you work.


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