Drone Manufacturing Workers

Learn more about drones by asking someone who owns one if they can show you how it works. Watch videos about drones to see how they operate and find out more about the types of jobs available in the drone field. You might also consider trying to build a basic drone by using web tutorials or receiving instruction from your shop teacher. If there is a manufacturing facility near you that has a drone manufacturing division, see if you can schedule a tour of the facility. Speaking with someone who works in drone manufacturing is another good way to find out about the day-to-day work life and if this type of work suits you. Ask your school's career service office for assistance in finding a drone manufacturing worker who is interested is discussing their career. Perhaps you could even job-shadow a drone manufacturing worker.

Take shop classes with a focus on computers, electronics, and machinery while you're in school. Visit the Web sites of drone manufacturing companies to keep up with news and developments in their products and services and to find job opportunities.

Join STEM student organizations, such as the Technology Student Association (https://tsaweb.org). The TSA offers a Drone Challenge competition for high school students who must "design, build, assemble, document, and test fly an open-source unmanned aerial vehicle according to the stated annual theme/problem specifications." Participants also must create and present a documentation portfolio (which includes a photographic log, wiring schematics, and a description of the programming software that was utilized to design and build the drone), as well as participate in an interview (semifinalists only).