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Suas Pilot Jobs in Arizona (NOW HIRING)

Live Effects Trainer

Glendale, AZ · On-site

$52K - $108K/yr

Ability to obtain an FAA Part 107 - sUAS Remote Pilot Certification within 12 months of hire date * Ability to obtain Joint Knowledge Online: Basic UAS Qualification Level I and Level II ...

Suas Pilot information

See Arizona salary details

$46.1K

$122K

$187.3K

How much do suas pilot jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 2, 2026, the average yearly pay for suas pilot in Arizona is $121,999.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $93,200.00 and $144,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a Suas pilot?

A SUAS (Small Unmanned Aerial System) Pilot operates drones for various applications, such as aerial photography, surveying, inspections, or security. They ensure safe and legal drone flights by following FAA regulations and company protocols. SUAS pilots may work in industries like construction, agriculture, public safety, or film production. Responsibilities often include mission planning, equipment maintenance, and data collection.

What are the typical daily responsibilities of a Suas pilot?

As a SUAS Pilot, your daily responsibilities often include pre-flight planning and equipment inspection, operating drones for specific missions such as aerial surveying or inspections, and post-flight data management. You may work closely with teams in fields like construction, agriculture, or public safety to ensure mission objectives are clearly understood and achieved. Maintaining flight logs and adhering to aviation regulations are also ongoing tasks. The role can involve both independent fieldwork and close collaboration with project managers and analysts, offering a dynamic and varied work environment.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Suas pilot position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a SUAS (Small Unmanned Aerial Systems) Pilot, you need a comprehensive understanding of drone operation, strong spatial awareness, and typically a relevant FAA Part 107 certification or other required licensure. Experience with flight planning software, GPS navigation, and familiarity with maintenance and troubleshooting of SUAS hardware is often essential. Attention to detail, effective communication, and quick decision-making set outstanding SUAS Pilots apart. These abilities ensure legal compliance and safety while delivering accurate data collection or aerial services across various industries.

What are the most commonly searched types of Suas Pilot jobs in Arizona?

The most popular types of Suas Pilot jobs in Arizona are:

Infographic showing various Suas Pilot job openings in Arizona as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $121,999 per year, or $58.7 per hour.

UAS/sUAS (Unmanned Aircraft System) Flight Instructor - 15X - NO MEDICAL NEEDED!

Akima, LLC

Sierra Vista, AZ • On-site

$50.01/hr

Full-time

Retirement

Re-posted 27 days ago


Akima rating

6.8

Company rating: 6.8 out of 10

Based on 35 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

376th of 451 rated engineering


Job description

Pinnacle Solutions, an Akima company, is looking for TUAS/sUAS (Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System/Small Unmanned Aircraft System) Flight Instructors to work in Sierra Vista, Arizona, in support of TUAS/sUAS instruction conducted at the 2-13th Aviation Regiment on Fort Huachuca. The candidate will provide instruction and train Army personnel in the operation of Army sUAS and future TUAS Army aircraft TUAS/sUAS. Training includes aviation academics, flight simulation and live flight operations, to include maintenance fundamentals. To join our team of outstanding professionals, apply today!
FAA Class II or Class III Medical Certificate is preferred.
This is an SCA position with an hourly rate of $50.01.
Responsibilities
  • Procedures for takeoff, landing, and tactical employment of Group 1-3 UAS.
  • Fundamentals and application of Army Air Crew Coordination.
  • Capabilities, emergency procedures, limitations, and system logic of the TUAS/sUAS and it's payloads.
  • Fundamentals and conduct of TUAS/sUAS Missions with emphasis on route, zone, and area reconnaissance; aerial surveillance; security operations; and employment of the TUAS/sUAS in attack missions.
  • Fundamentals of Mission Planning and approval Process to include the METTTC; Risk Assessment; and Performance Planning.
  • Concepts and application of Army reporting formats to include SALUTE, SALTW, and BDA reports.
  • Familiarity with National Airspace-- restricted areas and class D airspace-- and Air Traffic Control (ATC) phraseology.
  • Configuration of system radios for flight operations and communications relay.
  • Application of map reading techniques for UAS Operations.
  • Fundamentals of laser safety, different types of lasers on UAS, employment, capabilities, detractors, and effective utilization of lasers during UAS missions.
  • Fundamentals of Combat Vehicle Identification and familiarity with major US, Allied, and Threat equipment.
  • Concepts and application of military Symbology.
  • Fratricide and how to prevent it as a UAS operator through positive identification of targets and situational awareness.
  • Familiarity with Joint procedures for Call for Indirect Fire and Laser Designation for a Hellfire missile.
  • Familiarity and application of AR 95-1 (Flight Regulations), TC 3-04.61 (UAS Commander's Guide and ATM - Shadow 200), TC 3-04.3 (Combat Aviation Gunnery), AR 40-8 (Exogenous Factors), and TC 3-04.93 (Aeromedical Training).
  • Familiarity with and application of DA PAM 738-751 (TAMMS) and maintenance logbook software.
  • Concepts of Decisive Action and how a UAS operates in offensive, defensive, stability, and defense support of civil authorities' operations.
  • Concepts and participants in the Operational Environment (OE). The eight operational variables.
  • Fundamentals of the Intelligence Preparation for the Battlefield (IPB) process as a UAS operator.
  • Will support the commander's tactical decision-making by providing information that enhances situational awareness of the operational environment.

Qualifications
  • Documented graduates of a US Military UAS qualification course (Qualified in Groups 3-5). * Remote Pilot Certificates will not be accepted as SUAS Operator qualification.
  • Aircraft Commander Designation with 50 hours as AC or 25 sorties.
  • Ability to Obtain Public Trust Clearance.

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Four years' operational flying experience in Groups 3-5 UAS.
  • 200 hours cumulative live flight and simulator on Groups 3-5 UAS.
  • IO/IP Course Graduate for UAS and/or manned aircraft.
  • Additional SUAS Qualifications / Experience.
  • FAA Class II or Class III Medical Certificate is preferred.

Must be able to satisfactorily complete all evaluations per AR 95-20 to include:
  • Instructor evaluations.
  • Oral academic evaluations.
  • No-notice evaluations.
  • Directorate of Evaluation and Standardization (DES) evaluations.
  • Proficiency Flight evaluations (PFEs).
  • Standardization Flight Evaluations (SFE).

Job ID
2026-23694
Work Type
On-Site
Company Description
Work Where it Matters
Pinnacle Solutions, an Akima company, is not just another federal contractor. As an Alaska Native Corporation (ANC), our mission and purpose extend beyond our exciting federal projects as we support our shareholder communities in Alaska.
At Pinnacle Solutions, the work you do every day makes a difference in the lives of our 15,000 Iñupiat shareholders, a group of Alaska natives from one of the most remote and harshest environments in the United States.
For our shareholders, Pinnacle Solutions provides support and employment opportunities and contributes to the survival of a culture that has thrived above the Arctic Circle for more than 10,000 years.
For our government customers, Pinnacle Solutions delivers comprehensive services for general construction and renovation, as well as civil and marine construction.
As a Pinnacle Solutions employee, you will be surrounded by a challenging, yet supportive work environment that is committed to innovation and diversity, two of our most important values. You will also have access to our comprehensive benefits and competitive pay in addition to growth opportunities and excellent retirement options.

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About Akima

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

As an Alaska Native Corporation headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, Akima is dedicated to delivering superior outcomes for our customers’ missions while simultaneously creating a long-lived asset for our Iñupiat shareholders. Akima maintains a portfolio of small businesses, 8(a) companies, and operating companies that deliver simplified and accelerated access to the products and services agencies need to ensure mission success.

Industry

Specialty trade contractors

Company size

5,001 - 10,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Herndon, VA, US

Year founded

1995

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