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Temporary Drone Pilot Jobs (NOW HIRING)

TRC Companies, Inc.

Survey Data Technician

Houston, TX · On-site

$20 - $35/hr

Candidates with Remote Sensing experience such as SUAV/Drone Part 107 Pilots, Laser Scanning and/or ... temporary). TRC offers jurisdiction specific benefit packages for International and Puerto Rico ...

TRC Companies, Inc.

Survey Data Technician

Pittsburgh, PA · On-site

$25 - $36.23/hr

Candidates with Remote Sensing experience such as SUAV/Drone Part 107 Pilots, Laser Scanning and/or ... temporary). TRC offers jurisdiction specific benefit packages for International and Puerto Rico ...

TEGNA Inc.

Photojournalist

Seattle, WA · On-site

$35.86 - $40.76/hr

FAA Part 107 Pilot's license with experience operating a drone for newsgathering * Proficiency with ... Our 401(k) program offers full, part-time and temporary employees the opportunity to contribute ...

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Temporary Drone Pilot information

See salary details

$49.5K

$130.9K

$201K

How much do temporary drone pilot jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for temporary drone pilot in the United States is $130,916.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $100,000.00 and $155,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Temporary Drone Pilot vs Part-Time Drone Operator?

AspectTemporary Drone PilotPart-Time Drone Operator
CredentialsFAA drone certification, basic piloting skillsFAA drone certification, basic piloting skills
Work EnvironmentOn-site, project-based, short-term assignmentsOn-site or remote, flexible hours, ongoing or sporadic work
Employer & Industry UsageConstruction, film, real estate, agricultureMedia, inspections, events, surveying

Both roles require FAA drone certification and similar piloting skills. Temporary Drone Pilots typically work on short-term projects in specific industries, while Part-Time Drone Operators often have flexible schedules and may work across various sectors. The main difference lies in the employment duration and scheduling flexibility.

Can I get a job as a temporary drone pilot?

A temporary drone pilot position involves operating drones for specific projects or short-term assignments, often requiring a drone pilot certification and knowledge of FAA regulations. These roles are typically available in industries like photography, surveying, or inspection and may require skills in remote control operation and safety procedures.

Is there a demand for temporary drone pilots?

Yes, there is a growing demand for temporary drone pilots across industries such as real estate, construction, and media production. These roles often require certification and proficiency with drone operation and editing software, and demand can fluctuate based on project needs and industry trends.
More about Temporary Drone Pilot jobs
What cities are hiring for Temporary Drone Pilot jobs? Cities with the most Temporary Drone Pilot job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Drone Pilot jobs? The most popular types of Drone Pilot jobs are:
What states have the most Temporary Drone Pilot jobs? States with the most job openings for Temporary Drone Pilot jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Temporary Drone Pilot jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Temporary Drone Pilot jobs are:
Temporary Drone Pilot jobs near you
Infographic showing various Temporary Drone Pilot job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 90% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $130,916 per year, or $62.9 per hour.

Senior Engineer, State Estimation (R5165)

Shield AI

Dallas, TX

$160K - $240K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 9 days ago

Job description

Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube. 

Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed defense technology company whose mission is to protect service members and civilians with intelligent systems. In pursuit of this mission, Shield AI is building the world’s best AI pilot. Its AI pilot, Hivemind, has flown a fighter jet (F-16), a vertical takeoff and landing drone (X-BAT), and a quadcopter (Nova). The company has offices in San Diego, Dallas, Washington DC and abroad. Shield AI’s products and people are currently in the field actively supporting operations with the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. allies.  As a State Estimation Engineer, you will work on the GNC team to develop and optimize algorithms that process and fuse data from various sensors to provide accurate, reliable state estimates, enabling the X-BAT to operate autonomously in complex and contested environments. 
WHAT YOU’LL DO:
  • Develop and implement advanced sensor algorithms for processing data from IMUs, radar, cameras, GPS, and other sensors.  
  • Enhance state estimation algorithms by integrating multi-sensor data for improved accuracy and robustness. 
  • Design and implement real-time sensor data processing pipelines. 
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including software engineers, autonomy researchers, and hardware engineers, to ensure seamless integration of state estimation algorithms.  
  • Conduct experiments and field tests to validate the performance of state estimation algorithms in real-world scenarios.  
  • Stay updated with the latest advancements in sensor technologies and state estimation , applying them to our systems.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Typically requires a minimum of 5 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 4 years and a Master’s degree; or 2 years with a PhD; or equivalent work experience.
  • Experience developing and deploying real-time sensor processing algorithms, e.g. with cameras, radar, IMUs, GPS, etc.  
  • Solid understanding of state estimation techniques, such as Kalman filters, particle filters, etc.  
  • Experience with C++ 11 or newer  
  • Experience with Linux, command line tools, etc.  
  • Excellent communication skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and external stakeholders.  
  • Proven track record of successfully shipping products, showcasing the ability to navigate through development cycles, overcome obstacles, and deliver high-quality solutions to meet project deadlines and exceed expectations in a fast-paced environment.  
  • You have a demonstrated record of working hard, being a trustworthy teammate, holding yourself and others to high standards, and being kind to others.
  • Ability to obtain a S//SAR level security clearance desired.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Experience in implementing inertial navigation algorithms on real-time processing systems  
  • Knowledge of computer vision techniques  
  • Proficiency in optimizing algorithms for compute-constrained systems  
  • Experience with CUDA or other hardware acceleration technologies (e.g. FPGAs)  
  • Proven track record of transitioning from R&D to production
Full-time regular employee offer package:
Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity
 
Temporary employee offer package:
Pay within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment)
 
Salary compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, licenses and certifications, and specific work location. All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check. Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits. Please speak to your talent acquisition representative for more information.
 
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Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know. 

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.