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Remote Ground Control Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Booz Allen Hamilton

Ground System Engineer

Aurora, CO · On-site +1

$99K - $225K/yr

If this sounds like you, come join Booz Allen's new Remote Sensing Systems Engineering and ... command and control and data processing * Experience with the development of technical ...

Blackrock Strategy LLC

UAS Operator

Huntsville, AL · Remote

Troubleshoot aircraft systems, RF links, payloads, and ground control stations * Coordinate with ... FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate * Experience with ArduPilot ecosystems, Mission Planner, or ...

Hikinex

REMOTE OR HYBRID IS POSSIBLE FOR THE RIGHT CANDIDATE. Open for candidates in Canada as well as the ... Familiarity with satellite telemetry ground systems (e.g., mission control software, or flight ...

NV5

Remote Sensing Technician

Sheboygan Falls, WI · Remote

When collecting control on the ground, the RST will work in a solo environment in remote locations. Examples of collection areas would be urban roads, deep forest, mountainous, agriculture, and ...

New

Ditto

$223K - $259K/yr

Whether you're in a stadium, airplane, or remote military base, Ditto's peer-to-peer sync engine ... PX4, ArduPilot) and ground control stations. * Familiarity with motion planning concepts and ...

Go Altus

Senior Satellite/Ground System Engineer

Chantilly, VA · On-site +1

$108K - $147K/yr

Required experience in the missile warning and/or remote overhead sensing community. * Preferred ... Control mission area. * Experience with contemporary software development processes, such as ...

Muon Space

Software Engineer, Ground Software

San Jose, CA · On-site +1

$156K - $186K/yr

Build a world class Mission Planning & Control System in the cloud, using tools like Docker and ... Build the APIs and tooling to integrate our cloud with remote antenna ground station networks

Titan Echelon, LLC

UAS Pilot

Blackstone, VA · Remote

Conduct flight demonstrations and mission briefings for customers in remote and field environments * Troubleshoot aircraft systems and ground control equipment to maintain operational readiness

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Remote Ground Control information

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How much do remote ground control jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 20, 2026, the average hourly pay for remote ground control in the United States is $24.98, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $18.27 and $28.37 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by Remote Ground Control operators, and how can they be addressed?

Remote Ground Control operators often face challenges such as maintaining effective communication with on-site teams, managing multiple systems or drones simultaneously, and troubleshooting technical issues from a distance. To overcome these challenges, operators should develop strong problem-solving skills, stay up-to-date with the latest remote monitoring technologies, and establish clear protocols for escalation and support. Regular training and collaboration with both technical and field teams can also help ensure smooth operations and quick resolution of issues.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Remote Ground Control Operator, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Remote Ground Control Operator, you need strong technical knowledge of unmanned systems, situational awareness, and often a background in engineering or aviation. Familiarity with ground control software, remote piloting systems, and relevant certifications such as Part 107 (for drones) are typically required. Exceptional communication, problem-solving abilities, and attention to detail help operators respond effectively to dynamic situations. These skills ensure safe, efficient, and precise control of remote operations, which is critical for mission success and safety.

What is the difference between Remote Ground Control vs Drone Pilot?

AspectRemote Ground ControlDrone Pilot
CertificationsFAA Part 107, Remote Pilot CertificateFAA Part 107, Remote Pilot Certificate
Work EnvironmentGround-based, remote operationsIn-flight, remote or on-site
Industry UsageSurveying, mapping, inspectionsFilmmaking, photography, inspections

Remote Ground Control and Drone Pilot roles both require FAA Part 107 certification and involve remote operation of drones. However, Remote Ground Control typically focuses on managing drone missions from a ground station, often in a remote setting, while Drone Pilots operate the drone directly, either in-flight or on-site. Both roles are essential in industries like surveying, inspection, and media production, but they differ mainly in operational scope and on-site presence.

What is a Remote Ground Control operator?

A Remote Ground Control operator is responsible for monitoring and managing unmanned vehicles or systems, such as drones or remote sensors, from a distance using specialized software and equipment. These professionals ensure safe operation, gather data, and may respond to emergencies or unexpected situations. They typically work in industries like aviation, agriculture, defense, or surveying, and require strong technical and communication skills. Their tasks often include mission planning, system troubleshooting, and real-time data analysis.
What cities are hiring for Remote Ground Control jobs? Cities with the most Remote Ground Control job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Ground Control jobs? The most popular types of Ground Control jobs are:
What states have the most Remote Ground Control jobs? States with the most job openings for Remote Ground Control jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Remote Ground Control jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Remote Ground Control jobs are:
Remote Ground Control jobs near you
Infographic showing various Remote Ground Control job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 69% Full Time, 25% Part Time, and 6% Temporary. Highlights an 94% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $51,962 per year, or $25 per hour.

Senior Software Engineer, Ground & Control Services

BlackSky

Seattle, WA • On-site, Remote

$139K - $183K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 29 days ago

Job description

Senior Software Engineer, Ground & Control Services
About Us:
BlackSky is a real-time intelligence company. We own and operate the world's most advanced space-based intelligence platform and provide customers satellite imagery, automated analytics and high-frequency monitoring of strategic locations, economic assets and events from around the globe. BlackSky is trusted by the most demanding allied military and intelligence organizations and commercial companies to deliver foresight into critical matters that affect national security and the economy. BlackSky's data enables governments and businesses to see, understand and anticipate change as it happens, giving them the ultimate strategic advantage so they can act quickly. Our global team works with cutting-edge technology to make a difference around the world and prides itself on being people-first, customer-focused and fun.
The Ground & Control team is looking for a passionate and driven Software Engineer to join our team, the group responsible for building the autonomous software that controls and monitors BlackSky's satellite constellation. This includes high-speed tasking, ground and space telemetry, health monitoring, and low-latency communication with ground stations worldwide. In this role, you'll develop software that bridges the gap between hardware-level interfaces and cloud-deployed microservices. You'll contribute to mission-critical systems that keep our satellites safe, responsive, and efficient; operating 24/7 with minimal human intervention.
Success in this role means having a strong sense of initiative and ownership, a deep curiosity for how complex systems work, and the discipline to trace and validate requirements while thoughtfully challenging them when needed. You understand the importance of safety, precision, and testability, especially in autonomous systems where small errors can have big consequences. You're comfortable applying modern software development practices and navigating both low-level and cloud-based technologies. Most importantly, you know how to collaborate in a team environment, communicate clearly, and contribute to a shared mission with humility and focus. While the locations listed in the job posting are ideal, we would love candidates near Seattle, WA office. We may also consider remote candidates in certain states.
Responsibilities:
  • Design, implement, and maintain software that enables autonomous satellite operations and real-time tasking.
  • Develop and integrate services that interface with ground station infrastructure and satellite communication protocols.
  • Build software solutions to support satellite tasking and monitoring.
  • Collaborate with operations, communication engineers, flight software engineers, mission planning engineers, and other software teams to understand and refine technical requirements.
  • Write clean, maintainable code with strong emphasis on safety, test coverage, and reliability.
  • Participate in design reviews, code reviews, and team planning discussions.
  • Support on-call rotations and troubleshooting of live system operations as needed.
  • Anticipated 10-15% travel required to customer site.
  • Other job-related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.
  • A minimum of six (6) years of professional software development experience.
  • Proficiency in one or more programming languages (e.g. Go, Python, C++).
  • Experience developing and deploying microservices in both cloud environments (e.g. AWS, GCS, Azure) and on-premise Kubernetes-based environments.
  • Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, and modern version control systems (e.g. Git).
  • Strong problem-solving skills and an ability to understand complex systems end to end.
  • Excellent communication and collaboration skills in a cross-functional team environment.
  • Some of the programs this role supports may require being a US-citizen.

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Master's degree (or higher) in a related technical field.
  • At least eight years of professional software development experience.
  • Exposure to infrastructure-as-code tools (e.g. Terraform, Ansible) and container orchestration (e.g. Kubernetes, Nomad).
  • Understanding of system safety, fault tolerance, and recovery strategies.
  • Comfort working in high-availability, mission-critical software environments.
  • Prior experience with satellite operations, ground stations, or others aerospace-related domains (e.g. X-Band, UHF, or telemetry).
  • Active secret or higher U.S. security clearance.

Life at BlackSky for full-time benefits-eligible employees includes:
  • Medical, dental, vision, disability, group term life and AD&D, voluntary life and AD&D insurance
    • BlackSky pays 100% of employee-only premiums for medical, dental and vision and contributes $100/month for out-of-pocket expenses!
  • 15 days of PTO, 11 Company holidays, four Floating Holidays (pro-rated based on hire date), one day of paid volunteerism leave per year, parental leave and more
  • 401(k) pre-tax and Roth deferral options with employer match
  • Flexible Spending Accounts
  • Employee Stock Purchase Program
  • Employee Assistance and Travel Assistance Programs
  • Employer matching donations
  • Professional development
  • Mac or PC? Your choice!
  • Awesome swag

The anticipated salary range for candidates in Seattle, WA is $140,000-160,000 per year. The final compensation package offered to a successful candidate will be dependent on specific background and education. BlackSky is a multi-state employer, and this pay scale may not reflect salary ranges in other states or locations outside of Seattle, WA.
BlackSky is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer All Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.
To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.
EEO/AAP/ Pay Transparency Statements: https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf
https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/OFCCP_EEO_Supplement_Final_JRF_QA_508c.pdf

About BlackSky

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Industry

Guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing

Company size

11 - 50 Employees

Headquarters location

Herndon, VA, US

Year founded

2013

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