1

Telecom Drone Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Skydio is the leading US drone company and the world leader in autonomous flight, the key ... Develop and implement our strategy for engaging with telecom carriers that both deepens our ...

New

Utility Locator

Spring, TX · On-site

$14.75 - $18.50/hr

... drone LiDAR, and subsurface utility locating for a variety of transportation, flood control ... water, sewer, and telecom lines to ensure safe excavation and construction activities.

Utility Locator

Spring, TX · On-site

$14.75 - $18.50/hr

... drone LiDAR, and subsurface utility locating for a variety of transportation, flood control ... water, sewer, and telecom lines to ensure safe excavation and construction activities.

Utility Locator

Spring, TX · On-site

$14.75 - $18.50/hr

... drone LiDAR, and subsurface utility locating for a variety of transportation, flood control ... water, sewer, and telecom lines to ensure safe excavation and construction activities.

next page

Showing results 1-20

Telecom Drone information

See salary details

$17

$35

$61

How much do telecom drone jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 4, 2026, the average hourly pay for telecom drone in the United States is $35.87, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $28.12 and $43.03 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a telecom drone?

Telecom drones are unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with specialized technology to support telecommunications operations. They are commonly used for tasks such as inspecting cell towers, conducting site surveys, and deploying or maintaining wireless communication networks. By using drones, telecom companies can enhance safety, reduce operational costs, and quickly access hard-to-reach areas. These drones are often equipped with high-resolution cameras, sensors, and sometimes even small cellular equipment to facilitate their tasks.

What does a telecom drone operator do?

As a Telecom Drone Operator, your primary duties include conducting aerial inspections of telecom towers, capturing high-resolution imagery, and collecting data to assess equipment condition. You'll regularly plan and execute flight missions, ensuring compliance with safety protocols and airspace regulations. Collaboration with engineering and maintenance teams is common, as the data you gather helps inform maintenance schedules and network upgrades. The role requires attention to detail, technical proficiency with drone hardware and software, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a field team.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a telecom drone operator?

To excel as a Telecom Drone Operator, you need proficiency in drone piloting, understanding of telecom infrastructure, and typically a Remote Pilot Certificate or similar UAV licensing. Familiarity with drone control software, GPS mapping systems, and data collection tools is essential. Attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication are valuable soft skills for ensuring safe and precise operations. These competencies are critical for performing accurate inspections, maintaining compliance, and supporting reliable telecommunications services.

What is the difference between Telecom Drone vs Tower Technician?

AspectTelecom DroneTower Technician
Required CertificationsFAA drone pilot license, technical certificationsOSHA safety training, tower climbing certifications
Work EnvironmentRemote, aerial inspections, data collectionClimbing towers, on-site maintenance
Industry UsageSurveying, inspections, data gathering in telecomInstalling, repairing, maintaining telecom towers

Both Telecom Drones and Tower Technicians work in the telecom industry, but Telecom Drones focus on aerial inspections and data collection using unmanned aircraft, while Tower Technicians perform hands-on maintenance and repairs on physical towers. Certifications and safety protocols differ, with drones requiring FAA licenses and tower techs needing climbing safety certifications. Understanding these differences helps job seekers identify the right career path in telecom infrastructure.

More about Telecom Drone jobs

What cities are hiring for Telecom Drone jobs?

Cities with the most Telecom Drone job openings:

What states have the most Telecom Drone jobs?

States with the most job openings for Telecom Drone jobs include:

Infographic showing various Telecom Drone job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 90% Full Time, and 10% Contract. Highlights an 81% In-person, and 19% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $74,618 per year, or $35.9 per hour.

Strategic Telecom Alliance Manager

Skydio, Inc

San Mateo, CA • On-site

$230K - $285K/yr

Full-time

Posted 9 days ago


Job description

Skydio is the leading US drone company and the world leader in autonomous flight, the key technology for the future of drones and aerial mobility. The Skydio team combines deep expertise in artificial intelligence, best-in-class hardware and software product development, operational excellence, and customer obsession to empower a broader, more diverse audience of drone users, from utility inspectors to first responders, soldiers in battlefield scenarios, and beyond.
Our customers depend on our drones to protect lives and serve their communities. Every minute of every day, our drones are dispatched to deliver urgently needed data. Getting that data from the scene to our users depends on having "always on" connectivity. We're seeking a technical partnership manager to spearhead collaborations with leading telecom providers, ensuring that our drones can operate wherever our customers need them to.
Location: This is an office-based position that requires 5 days/week onsite at our HQ in San Mateo, CA.
How you'll make an impact:
  • Develop and implement our strategy for engaging with telecom carriers that both deepens our existing relationships and expands our ecosystem to new partners within the US, North America, and internationally over time.
  • Understand our customers' needs and negotiate agreements with telecom carriers that serve those needs by enabling network access, providing sufficient data connectivity, and building sustainable business partnerships.
  • Understanding and advocating for our customers in-flight data connectivity by providing simple and easy-to-use connectivity options from the first boot of a drone after it is taken out of the box.
  • Build the business models that support in-flight data access, and monitor usage and costs to validate those models in practice.
  • Set regulatory and telecom carrier certification priorities to ensure that our drones meet certification standards for both regulators and telecom operators.
  • Build field relationships between telecom partners and Skydio's field team to support major events such as sports games, parades, and other major public gatherings.
  • Assist Skydio mission success in supporting customers and major incidents.

What makes you a good fit:
  • You have a demonstrated track record of translating customer needs into priorities and driving implementation. This can take many forms, including working with complex implementation projects directly with customers, building products from scratch, or building complex business relationships.
  • You face complexity without fear. When given a goal and a complex process with lots of moving parts, you can break down the challenge into meaningful steps, and clearly communicate how each of them moves the ball forward - whether the process is a technical program like device certification, or a business process like negotiating a telecom contract
  • You bring strong analytical skills to problems, and once you develop a plan, you can communicate it throughout both Skydio and our partner organizations. Working with multiple complex projects and overlapping deadlines does not scare you.
  • You have a technical background, demonstrated by either an engineering or technical degree (such as computer science, telecommunications, or a scientific field), and/or work experience managing complex technical requirements.

Nice-to-haves:
  • Prior work at a growth-stage start-up. Skydio is growing fast enough that you'll need to know when to use an existing rule book, as well as when you should burn the existing rule book and write a new one.
  • Interest or experience in wireless communication. You don't need to be an expert with a patent portfolio, but you will need to be familiar with bit rates, quality of service, and large-scale network operations. If you don't come in with this knowledge, you just need to demonstrate that you can learn it quickly.
  • Experience with telecommunications. We are flexible about what this means. You might have worked directly at a telecom company (AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile), or at one of its major suppliers (like Cisco, Nokia, or Ericsson). What's important is that you're interested in carrier network infrastructure and protocols, and how to apply them to new solutions.
  • Familiarity or interest in how to apply new 5G features, such as dynamic slicing, high-reliability and low-latency communications, and radio resource management, for airborne devices.

Compensation Range: The annual base salary range for this position is $230,000 - $285,000*. Compensation will vary based on factors, including skill level, proficiencies, transferable knowledge, and experience. In addition to base salary, Skydio full-time employees are eligible to enroll in our benefit plans and take advantage of a variety of incentives and stipends. For some positions the pay may be dependent upon the individual's regional location.
At Skydio we believe that diversity drives innovation. We have created a multidisciplinary environment that embraces the power of diverse perspectives to create elegant solutions for complex problems. We are committed to growing our network of people, programs, and resources to nurture an inclusive culture.
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by federal, state or local anti-discrimination laws.
For positions located in the United States of America, Skydio, Inc. uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit https://www.e-verify.gov/