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Temporary Aerial Sensor Operator Jobs in Virginia

Vantor

Solutions Engineer - New Products

Herndon, VA · On-site

$109K - $176K/yr

Vantor is forging the new frontier of spatial intelligence, helping decision makers and operators ... Raptor is a vision-based software suite designed to enable Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to ...

Parsons

Operations Section Lead

Alexandria, VA

... operating locations. The preponderance of work will be conducted within the US. A qualified ... Serve as the primary manager to support deployed operations (e.g., temporary relief of deployed ...

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Temporary Aerial Sensor Operator information

What are some common challenges faced by temporary aerial sensor operators during field assignments?

Temporary Aerial Sensor Operators often encounter challenges such as rapidly changing weather conditions, irregular work hours, and operating sensitive equipment in remote locations. Adapting quickly to new flight crews and learning the specifics of different aircraft or sensor systems is essential. Strong communication skills are crucial, as operators must coordinate closely with pilots and ground teams to ensure data accuracy and mission success. Flexibility and attention to detail help overcome these challenges and contribute to a safe and productive work environment.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a temporary aerial sensor operator?

To thrive as a Temporary Aerial Sensor Operator, you generally need knowledge of aerial data collection, experience in operating imaging sensors, and a background in aviation or remote sensing. Familiarity with GPS systems, GIS software, mapping tools, and sometimes FAA Part 107 certification for drone operations are typically required. Attention to detail, situational awareness, and strong communication skills help operators ensure data accuracy and manage coordination with flight or ground teams. These skills and qualifications are crucial for gathering precise aerial data safely and efficiently in time-sensitive environments.

What is a temporary aerial sensor operator?

Temporary Aerial Sensor Operators are professionals who operate specialized sensors and equipment aboard aircraft for a set period, often during specific projects or seasons. They are responsible for collecting aerial data such as images, videos, or measurements for purposes like mapping, research, surveillance, or environmental monitoring. These operators ensure the equipment functions correctly and that data is accurately recorded and reported. The role typically requires technical expertise with sensor technology, attention to detail, and the ability to work in dynamic aerial environments. Temporary positions may be project-based or seasonal, depending on the employer's needs.

What is the difference between Temporary Aerial Sensor Operator vs Drone Pilot?

AspectTemporary Aerial Sensor OperatorDrone Pilot
CertificationsFAA Part 107 or equivalent, sensor operation trainingFAA Part 107 or equivalent, drone flying certification
Work EnvironmentConstruction sites, survey areas, industrial sitesOpen outdoor areas, urban environments, remote locations
Industry UsageSurveying, mapping, inspection, environmental monitoringAerial photography, videography, inspection, surveying

Both roles require FAA Part 107 certification and involve outdoor work, but the Temporary Aerial Sensor Operator primarily focuses on operating sensors for data collection, while the Drone Pilot mainly controls the drone for capturing images or videos. Their skills often overlap, but their specific tasks and equipment differ based on industry needs.

What are popular job titles related to Temporary Aerial Sensor Operator jobs in Virginia? For Temporary Aerial Sensor Operator jobs in Virginia, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Temporary Aerial Sensor Operator jobs in Virginia look for? The top searched job categories for Temporary Aerial Sensor Operator jobs in Virginia are:
What cities in Virginia are hiring for Temporary Aerial Sensor Operator jobs? Cities in Virginia with the most Temporary Aerial Sensor Operator job openings:
Temporary Aerial Sensor Operator jobs near you
Infographic showing various Temporary Aerial Sensor Operator job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 82% Full Time, 9% Temporary, and 9% Contract. Highlights an 91% In-person, and 9% Remote job distribution.

Solutions Engineer - New Products

Vantor

Herndon, VA • On-site

$109K - $176K/yr

Full-time

Retirement

Posted 5 days ago

Job description

Vantor is forging the new frontier of spatial intelligence, helping decision makers and operators navigate what’s happening now and shape what’s coming next.  Vantor is a place for problem solvers, changemakers, and go-getters—where people are working together to help our customers see the world differently, and in doing so, be seen differently. Come be part of a mission, not just a job, where you can: Shape your own future, build the next big thing, and change the world.

To be eligible for this position, you must be a U.S. Person, defined as a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, Asylee, or Refugee.

Export Control/ITAR: Certain roles may be subject to U.S. export control laws, requiring U.S. person status as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).

Please review the job details below.

Vantor is seeking a Solution Engineer working within our product development team for the Raptor family of products (Guide, Sync, and Ace).  Raptor is a vision-based software suite designed to enable Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to navigate and operate in GPS-denied or contested environments. Based in Herndon, VA, this role is focused on advancing Raptor product software by providing direct development contributions as well as working with external customers and Vantor Go-To-Market (GTM) Engineering teams to characterize product performance in the field and capture requirements for product improvements.  

The ideal candidate is a mission-oriented software engineer who thrives in fast-paced, customer-facing environments; is energized in the face of problems; and likes to push code. This role is defined as a “solution” engineer because it requires creative thinking, convincing communications, a problem-solving mindset, and a commitment to teamwork. To be successful in this role, a person must think at a systems level, have familiarity with embedded edge platforms, and have experience with sensor data flows, navigation solutions, and mission-critical applications. 

As a Solution Engineer, you will participate in systems-level technical and engineering engagements with UAV OEMs, defense integrators, and mission focused customers. Your focus during these sessions will be on evaluating customer adoption of our products and converting customer experiences into tangible technical requirements.  On occasion, you may be asked to help customers evaluate, integrate, and deploy our products, system components and early-stage solutions, into a variety of edge compute systems that process positioning and navigation signals. This position is ideal for a technically strong, hands-on engineer who can bridge the gap between software algorithms, OEM systems and field testing, and who thrives in dynamic, cross-functional environments. 

The 3D Engineering team at Vantor is a dynamic, results-oriented engineering product development team consisting of subject matter experts (SMEs), software engineers, systems engineers, and solution architects. This Solution Engineer will be a member of this team helping our customers bring our solutions to life in their systems, accelerating customer adoption, and driving real-world impact. Our business is fueled by delivering tangible value to our customers, and we need new team members partner who want to drive making that happen. 

Responsibilities: A day in the life/What the position will be doing: 

  • Interface with existing Vantor Raptor customers worldwide to coordinate on integration of Raptor software into their systems architecture.  Provide advice and guidance based on rigorous product knowledge and institutional experience base from past integrations. 

  • Travel to customer sites to deliver technical product expertise. 

  • Characterize product software performance of customer implementations and derive/capture technical requirements for feature improvements or additions. 

  • Assist customers with field integration testing, including configuration of Jetson and raspberry Pi series companion computers, autopilot stacks (PX4, ArduPilot) and analysis of telemetry, imagery, and positioning data. 

  • Assist in generating engineering technical designs involving the use of satellite imagery and full motion video to accomplish UAS visual positioning, odometry, and navigation. 

  • Develop, document and convey technical and system requirements to product engineering team. 

  • Work within product engineering team development process to make code contributions. 

  • Communicate and collaborate across product, engineering, and GTM/sales teams to define and validate interfaces and data flows between Raptor products and OEM systems. 

Minimum Qualifications: 

  • Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline (e.g., Aerospace, Computer Science, Electrical or Mechanical Engineering, Math) or equivalent practical experience. 

  • Experience supporting ISR, UAS, aerospace, or defense system integrations 

  • Strong programming skills in C, C++, Python, shell scripting 

  • Experience with cross-compilation and toolchains 

  • Good understanding of embedded systems, SoCs, and SBCs 

  • Hands-on experience with low-level Linux (troubleshooting, configuration, e.g., kernel device drivers, library dependencies) 

  • Experience in system design across hardware and software 

  • Knowledge of networking and communication protocols (e.g., serial, TCP/IP, Wi-Fi) 

  • Experience in customer-facing roles, support, and solution design 

  • Strong communication skills and sound judgment in customer communication 

Preferred Qualifications: 

  • Master’s degree in engineering, Computer Vision, Software Engineering or a related technical field 

  • Video formats and streaming protocols (e.g., MPEG-TS, MP4, RTSP) 

  • Experience with multimedia frameworks (e.g., FFmpeg, GStreamer) 

  • Experience with GIS systems, use cases, and software tools 

  • Image processing and computer vision 

  • Practical exposure to cameras and optics (e.g., lens models, calibration, distortion) 

  • Understanding of aerial navigation (e.g., filtering, control theory, 3D spatial math) 

  • Experience with UAS/UAV hardware and software (e.g., electromechanics, PX4, ArduPilot) 

  • Experience with embedded Linux / edge compute platforms (e.g., NVIDIA Jetson, Qualcomm-based SoCs, Raspberry Pi) 

  • Strategic and business-aware mindset 

  • Structured and pedagogical mindset 

Pay Transparency: To support pay transparency, Vantor includes salary ranges in all U.S. job postings. Starting pay for this role will fall within the listed range and will be based on factors such as experience, qualifications, skills, location, and market conditions. Candidates who meet the minimum requirements for the role should not expect to receive compensation at the top of the range. The listed range reflects the expected pay for this position, and final offers will be determined based on each candidate’s experience, expertise, and alignment with the role.

● The base pay for this position within Colorado is: $109,000.00 - $145,000.00 - $159,500.00 annually. ● The base pay for this position within the Washington, DC metropolitan area is: $120,000.00 - $160,000.00 - $176,000.00 annually.

For all other states, we use geographic cost of labor as an input to develop market-driven ranges for our roles, and as such, each location where we hire may have a different range.

Benefits: Vantor offers a competitive total rewards package that goes beyond the standard, including a robust 401(k) with company match, mental health resources, and unique perks like student loan repayment assistance, adoption reimbursement and pet insurance to support all aspects of your life. You can find more information on our benefits at: https://www.Vantor.com/careers

Additionally, this position is incentive eligible with a target based on contribution, company performance, and/or individual results achieved; the specific incentive plan and target amount will be determined based on the role and breadth of contributions.

The application window is three days from the date the job is posted and will remain posted until a qualified candidate has been identified for hire.  If the job is reposted regardless of reason, it will remain posted three days from the date the job is reposted and will remain reposted until a qualified candidate has been identified for hire. 

The date of posting can be found on Vantor's Career page at the top of each job posting.

To apply, submit your application via Vantor's Career page.

EEO Policy: Vantor is an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive workplace. We believe in fostering an environment where all team members feel respected, valued, and encouraged to share their ideas. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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