Employers
The majority of drone pilots are employed by the U.S. military (especially the Air Force, but also the Army and other branches), intelligence agencies (such as the Central Intelligence Agency), defense contractors (such as General Atomics, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Raytheon, an RTX business), law enforcement agencies, U.S. Customs & Border Protection, and companies that provide aerial monitoring services to farmers. In addition, drone pilots work in many other industries, including utilities, film and television, security, shipping, construction, insurance, real estate, and energy. Some drone pilots launch their own businesses to provide services to a wide range of customers.
Starting Out
Many colleges and drone pilot training schools provide students with job-search assistance. Drone pilots with the requisite experience and training often contact potential employers directly to learn about job openings. The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems offers job listings on its Web site, https://www.auvsi.org/resources/careers/career-center. Those interested in working as a UAS pilot in the military should contact their local recruiter and visit http://todaysmilitary.com for more information.
- Aeronautical and Aerospace Technicians
- Aerospace Engineers
- Aerospace Medicine Physicians
- Aircraft Mechanics
- Astronauts
- Astronomers
- Astrophysicists
- Avionics Engineers
- Avionics Technicians
- Bodyguards
- Drone Engineers
- Drone Manufacturing Workers
- Drone Repair Technicians
- Electrical Engineering Technologists
- Electrical Engineers
- Electronics Engineering Technicians
- Electronics Engineers
- Engineers
- Flight Instructors
- Hypersonics Engineers
- Hypersonics Technicians
- Industrial Engineers
- Intelligence Officers
- Interpreters
- Manufacturing Engineering Technologists
- Manufacturing Engineers
- Mechanical Engineers
- Military Pilots
- Military Police
- Military Recruiters
- Military Workers, Enlisted
- Military Workers, Officers
- Non-Destructive Testing Specialists
- Physicists
- Pilots
- Robotics Engineers
- Robotics Technicians
- Security Consultants
- Security Guards
- Space Lawyers
- Space Pilots
- Space Tourism Managers
- Spacecraft Test Technicians
- Translators