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Senior Drone Developer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Teledyne FLIR LLC

Sr. Drone Controls Engineer

Orem, UT · On-site

$84K - $111K/yr

We are seeking an Sr. Drone Controls Engineer to develop and implement precision aircraft flight control and payload pointing algorithms for small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS). Job Duties ...

Teledyne

Sr. Drone Controls Engineer

Orem, UT · On-site

$84K - $111K/yr

We are seeking an Sr. Drone Controls Engineerto develop and implement precision aircraft flight control and payload pointing algorithms for small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS). Job Duties ...

XTEND

Senior Drone Lab Technician

Tampa, FL · On-site

As a Senior Lab Technician , you will be a key enabler of XTEND's engineering and operations teams ... You will support engineering teams during development cycles, help lead daily lab operations, and ...

Parsons Corporation

Senior Engineer

Aberdeen, MD · On-site

$112K - $154K/yr

Parsons is seeking an Senior Engineer to support our cutting-edge Drone Armor counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) program. This role provides professional engineering with emphasis on electronic ...

Parsons Corporation

Senior Software Developer

Aberdeen, MD · On-site

$58.50 - $77.50/hr

Parsons is seeking a Senior Software Developer to support our cutting-edge Drone Armor counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) program. The Senior Developer will design and implement logical ...

GliaCell Technologies

Senior DevOps Engineer

Annapolis, MD · On-site

$170K - $260K/yr

Are you a Senior DevOps Engineer who is ready for a new challenge that will launch your career to ... Tired of being treated like a company drone? * Tired of promised adventures during the hiring phase ...

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$25K

$80.3K

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How much do senior drone developer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior drone developer in the United States is $80,287.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $41,500.00 and $103,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Senior Drone Developer vs Drone Software Engineer?

AspectSenior Drone DeveloperDrone Software Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's or higher in Computer Science, Engineering; experience in drone techSimilar credentials, often with specialized software development skills
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, tech companies, drone manufacturing firmsTech firms, startups, aerospace companies
Industry UsageDesigning, developing, and testing drone systemsDeveloping drone software applications and algorithms
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding senior roles in drone software developmentEntry to mid-level drone software development roles

The main difference between a Senior Drone Developer and a Drone Software Engineer lies in experience level and scope. Senior Drone Developers typically lead projects, oversee design, and have extensive industry experience, while Drone Software Engineers focus on coding and software implementation. Both roles require similar credentials and work in related environments, but Senior Drone Developers hold more responsibility and strategic oversight.

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What cities are hiring for Senior Drone Developer jobs? Cities with the most Senior Drone Developer job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Drone Developer jobs? The most popular types of Drone Developer jobs are:
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Senior Drone Developer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Senior Drone Developer job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 90% Full Time, 5% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 85% In-person, 10% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $80,287 per year, or $38.6 per hour.
Sr. Drone Controls Engineer

Sr. Drone Controls Engineer

Teledyne FLIR LLC

Orem, UT • On-site

$84K - $111K/yr

Full-time

Posted 23 days ago

Job description

Be visionary
Teledyne Technologies Incorporated provides enabling technologies for industrial growth markets that require advanced technology and high reliability. These markets include aerospace and defense, factory automation, air and water quality environmental monitoring, electronics design and development, oceanographic research, deepwater oil and gas exploration and production, medical imaging and pharmaceutical research.
We are looking for individuals who thrive on making an impact and want the excitement of being on a team that wins.
Job Description
Job Summary:
We are a dynamic and innovative company specializing in military UAV systems, committed to developing cutting-edge technology for diverse applications. We are seeking an Sr. Drone Controls Engineer to develop and implement precision aircraft flight control and payload pointing algorithms for small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS).
Job Duties & Responsibilities:
  • Develop new and improve existing flight control and payload pointing algorithms.
  • Analyze performance of existing algorithms using data plotting and analysis tools.
  • Participate in root cause investigations associate with experimental and fielded drone systems.
  • Interface with and utilize data from a variety of sensors - cameras, laser range finders, IMU, GPS, magnetometer, etc.
  • Work on projects in C, C++, Matlab, and Python in a Linux-based environment.
  • Work on non-control related embedded software tasks (C, C++).
  • Investigate weak points and corner cases of existing algorithms using data analysis and simulation to improve and make robust drone flight control and precision guidance in all environments.
  • Work with Pixhawk based drone flight control systems.

Job Qualifications:
  • Bachelors or advanced degree in Computer Science, Electrical/Computer Engineering or related field .
  • 8+ years of experience working with complex robotic systems or equivalent industries.
  • 3+ years of experience developing algorithms for robotics or drones (Eg. Kalman filtering).
  • Strong software development expertise in C, C++, embedded, Linux, or similar systems.
  • Experience with feedback and control systems, including gain tuning.
  • Experience with PX4 drone autopilot highly desired.
  • Experience interfacing with externals devices and sensors desired.

Applicants must be either a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, legal permanent resident, asylee, refugee or must be eligible to apply for and obtain the appropriate export control license from the U.S. Departments of State or Commerce.
About Teledyne FLIR Defense
Join Teledyne FLIR Defense, where we're dedicated to supporting critical missions with an exciting range of cutting-edge technologies. Our products include advanced surveillance sensors, unmanned air and ground vehicles, sensing devices used to detect chemicals, biological agents, radiation and explosives, and a host of other solutions that help warfighters, first responders, and search-and-rescue teams do their jobs better.
We're looking for passionate innovators eager to shape the future of the Defense and Public Safety industries. If you're mission-driven to globally collaborate on solutions that can change the battlefield and save lives, we invite you to explore our current opportunities.
#AnyThreatAnywhere
Teledyne and all of our employees are committed to conducting business with the highest ethical standards. We require all employees to comply with all applicable laws, regulations, rules and regulatory orders. Our reputation for honesty, integrity and high ethics is as important to us as our reputation for making innovative sensing solutions.
Teledyne is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status, age, or any other characteristic or non-merit based factor made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws.

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