Aerial Test Pilot & Field Drone Operator

Aston Carter; Bay Point (CA); On-site; USD 53,040 - 71,760; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Retirement Plan

HSA

Transportation benefits

Time Off/Leave

Job summary

Aston Carter is seeking a Part 107 drone test operator for a 12‑month contract in Bay Point, CA, with occasional travel to Oakland. The role is full-time, 40 hours/week, with a standard Monday–Friday schedule.

You will operate test flights, coordinate with the flight test lead and engineering team, and ensure safety through pre/post-flight checks. Qualified candidates have FAA Part 107 with 100+ hours, experience with quad/hexacopters, and proficiency in mission planning and ground control

Qualifications

• FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate with 100+ hours of UAS flight time is required.
• Hands-on experience flying quad- and hexacopter platforms.
• Proficient in Stabilized Mode and manual maneuvers.
• Strong knowledge of Mission Planning and pre/post-flight inspections.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work outdoors in varied weather and stay on your feet.
• Familiarity with PX4, ArduPilot, Auterion, and/or Herelink systems is highly preferred.
• Experience with ground control software: QGroundControl or Mission Planner.
• Experience contributing to drone development or robotic testing programs.

Responsibilities

• Execute and adapt to multiple test flights daily, adjusting profiles and parameters.
• Communicate with flight test lead and engineering team during and after flights.
• Conduct pre-flight and post-flight checks for safety and readiness.
• Manage airspace and coordinate with stakeholders during operations.
• Support logbook maintenance, site setup, and drone transport.
• Identify off-nominal behaviors and provide feedback for diagnostics.
• Work independently across Bay Point and Oakland test sites.

Skills

FAA Part 107 Certificate

UAS flight experience

Quad/Hexacopter piloting

Stabilized mode flying

Mission planning

Strong communication

Team player

Tools

QGroundControl

Mission Planner

PX4

ArduPilot

Herelink

Google Docs/Sheets

Jira

Confluence

Slack

Job description

Aston Carter is seeking a Part 107 drone test operator for a 12‑month contract in Bay Point, CA, with occasional travel to Oakland. The role is full-time, 40 hours/week, with a standard Monday–Friday schedule.

You will operate test flights, coordinate with the flight test lead and engineering team, and ensure safety through pre/post-flight checks. Qualified candidates have FAA Part 107 with 100+ hours, experience with quad/hexacopters, and proficiency in mission planning and ground control