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Trainee Uav Sensor Operator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Freedom Flight Works

Senior Electrical Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$114K - $148K/yr

Expertise in embedded systems, microcontrollers, and real-time operating systems. * In-depth ... Extensive experience with UAV flight control systems, autopilot integration, and sensor fusion.

Apply Early

Freedom Flight Works

Senior Electrical Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$114K - $148K/yr

Expertise in embedded systems, microcontrollers, and real-time operating systems. * In-depth ... Extensive experience with UAV flight control systems, autopilot integration, and sensor fusion.

Apply Early

Swarm Aero

Mechanical Engineer, Integration

Oxnard, CA · On-site

$150K - $200K/yr

... operators to achieve superhuman results. The team has created and exited multiple startups ... Swarm Aero UAV fleet, from power generation and distribution through sensor and data-bus ...

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All JobsTrainee Uav Sensor Operator Jobs

Trainee Uav Sensor Operator information

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$25.5K

$43.5K

$63.5K

How much do trainee uav sensor operator jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for trainee uav sensor operator in the United States is $43,530.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $33,000.00 and $51,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Trainee Uav Sensor Operator vs Uav Sensor Operator?

AspectTrainee Uav Sensor OperatorUav Sensor Operator
CertificationsBasic UAV operation and sensor training, entry-level certificationsAdvanced UAV operation, sensor management, and possibly additional certifications
Work EnvironmentTraining sites, supervised missions, learning-focused settingsOperational missions, field deployments, autonomous or semi-autonomous flights
Employer & Industry UsageTraining programs, military, or commercial drone companiesMilitary, surveillance, mapping, or industrial drone services

The main difference is that a Trainee Uav Sensor Operator is in training, focusing on learning sensor operation and UAV basics, while a Uav Sensor Operator is fully qualified, performing operational drone missions independently or under supervision.

More about Trainee Uav Sensor Operator jobs
What cities are hiring for Trainee Uav Sensor Operator jobs? Cities with the most Trainee Uav Sensor Operator job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Uav Sensor Operator jobs? The most popular types of Uav Sensor Operator jobs are:
What states have the most Trainee Uav Sensor Operator jobs? States with the most job openings for Trainee Uav Sensor Operator jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Trainee Uav Sensor Operator jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Trainee Uav Sensor Operator jobs are:
Trainee Uav Sensor Operator jobs near you
Infographic showing various Trainee Uav Sensor Operator job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 6% As Needed, 17% Full Time, 11% Part Time, and 66% Contract. Highlights an 98% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $43,530 per year, or $20.9 per hour.
Software Engineering Manager - Embedded Software

Software Engineering Manager - Embedded Software

Zone 5 Technologies

San Luis Obispo, CA • On-site

$141K - $186K/yr

Other

Posted 4 days ago

Job description

We're looking for a people-first Software Engineering manager to oversee the development, integration, and maintenance of software systems for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). This role involves leading a team of software engineers, collaborating with cross-functional teams (hardware, systems, and flight operations), and ensuring that all software complies with safety, performance, and regulatory requirements. The candidate will be responsible for the entire software development lifecycle, from requirements gathering through design, implementation, and validation. 

Software Engineering Manager - Embedded Software (UAV Systems) 

Responsibilities 

  • Team Leadership & Management: Build, mentor, and manage a high-performing software engineering team developing mission-critical embedded software for UAV flight control, communications, mission planning, and data processing. 
  • Technical Direction & Architecture Oversight: Provide technical leadership and architectural guidance for embedded software systems, ensuring scalability, safety, reliability, and regulatory compliance. 
  • Project & Execution Coordination: Coordinate with product and program managers to define project scope, allocate resources, set priorities, and manage software development schedules for flight control, mission management, and payload software programs. 
  • Systems Integration & Delivery: Collaborate with cross-functional engineering groups to ensure seamless integration of software with hardware, sensors, communication systems, and ground control systems. 
  • Quality Assurance & Safety: Oversee verification and validation activities, including unit testing, simulation, hardware-in-the-loop (HITL), and flight testing to ensure performance, robustness, and safety of delivered software. 
  • Compliance & Certification Leadership: Ensure development follows certification frameworks and safety standards such as DO-178C, ARP4754, and other UAV regulatory requirements. 
  • Innovation & Technology Strategy: Evaluate emerging technologies and drive adoption into product roadmaps, supporting advancement in autonomy, communications, and mission capabilities. 
  • Process Improvement: Help refine development best practices, coding standards, test methodologies, and documentation processes to support scalability and efficiency. 
  • Stakeholder Collaboration: Align software engineering goals with product, business, and operational requirements by coordinating closely with program and product management, systems engineering, hardware engineering, and flight operations teams. 
  • Documentation Oversight: Ensure creation and maintenance of high-quality documentation including design artifacts, test plans, certification documentation, and user manuals. 

Qualifications 

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field (Master's degree preferred). 
  • Minimum of 7+ years of software engineering experience, including at least 3 years in a leadership, management, or team-lead role. 
  • Strong background in embedded or aerospace software development, with experience in UAV systems strongly preferred. 
  • Familiarity with programming languages and modeling tools used in embedded and control systems (e.g., C, C++, C#, Python, MATLAB, Simulink). 
  • Understanding of real-time operating systems (RTOS), flight control systems, and communication protocols (e.g., STANAG-4586, ARINC-825, MAVLink). 
  • Experience with network protocols (UDP, TCP, DNS, DHCP) and working with networked embedded devices. 
  • Knowledge of software development lifecycle tools and workflow systems (Git, GitHub, JIRA, CI/CD). 
  • Demonstrated ability to lead diverse technical teams, communicate effectively, and drive results in a fast-paced engineering environment. 
  • Familiarity with safety-critical systems and certification standards such as DO-178C and ARP4754. 

Preferred Qualifications 

  • Experience with autonomy-enabling technologies such as machine learning, computer vision, or advanced sensor fusion. 
  • Knowledge of satellite or long-range communication technologies relevant to UAV platforms. 
  • Prior involvement in scaling engineering teams or multi-program software organizations. 

Apply