Drone Test Operator at Aston Carter Bay Point, CA

Aston Carter; Pittsburg (CA); On-site; USD 34,095 - 48,560; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Retirement Plan

Life Insurance

Short and long‑term disability

HSA

Transportation benefits

Time off / PTO

Job summary

Aston Carter is seeking a Drone Test Operator to join a dedicated flight test team supporting in-house drone development. You’ll conduct daily test flights, capture flight data, and ensure safe operations across two sites, Bay Point and Oakland.

This role is embedded in field operations, not passive piloting, and you’ll adapt to dynamic test conditions. You’ll work with engineering teams to validate aerial autonomy and hardware, execute test profiles, communicate findings, adjust flight

Qualifications

• Hold a valid FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate with 100+ hours of UAS flight time.
• Experienced in both quad and hexacopter platforms.
• Hands-on skill flying in Stabilized Mode and performing manual maneuvers.
• Understand national airspace and FAA rules, and apply them in the field.
• Tech-capable with Google Docs, Sheets, Jira, Confluence, and Slack.
• Reliable team player, comfortable adapting in fast-paced environments.
• Comfortable working outdoors in varied weather, lifting up to 50 lbs, and working on your feet.
• Mobile and flexible—capable of shifting between locations and adjusting to variable hours.

Responsibilities

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

Skills

FAA Part 107

100+ flight hours

Quad/Hexacopter

Manual maneuvers

Airspace rules

GDocs/Jira/Confluence/Slack

Outdoor endurance

Flexible hours

Tools

QGroundControl

Mission Planner

PX4

ArduPilot

Auterion

Herelink

Job description

About the Role

Join a dedicated and agile flight test team supporting in‑house drone development. As a Drone Test Operator, you’ll conduct daily test flights, capture detailed flight data, and ensure smooth and safe drone operations across two active sites. This is not a passive piloting job—you’ll be embedded in field operations, adapting to dynamic test conditions and collaborating closely with engineering teams to push the envelope of aerial autonomy and hardware validation. You’ll be expected to execute test profiles, communicate findings, and adjust flight parameters on the fly, while helping develop safer, smarter, and more robust drone systems.

Responsibilities

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

Qualifications

• Hold a valid FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate with 100+ hours of UAS flight time.
• Experienced in both quad and hexacopter platforms.
• Hands‑on skill flying in Stabilized Mode and performing manual maneuvers.
• Understand national airspace and FAA rules, and apply them in the field.
• Tech‑capable with Google Docs, Sheets, Jira, Confluence, and Slack.
• Reliable team player, comfortable adapting in fast‑paced environments.
• Comfortable working outdoors in varied weather, lifting up to 50 lbs, and working on your feet.
• Mobile and flexible—capable of shifting between locations and adjusting to variable hours.

Preferred Qualifications

• Worked with PX4, ArduPilot, Auterion, or Herelink‑based systems.
• Familiar with ground control software like QGroundControl or Mission Planner.
• Contributed to drone development, aerospace, or robotic testing programs.
• Brings operational discipline and field testing experience.

Working Conditions

• On‑site role across Bay Point and Oakland.
• Testing takes place outdoors in various weather conditions (sun, wind, heat, etc.).
• Field operations involve standing for extended periods and repetitive drone handling.
• Must be available for early mornings and variable hours.

Pay and Benefits

Pay range: $30.00 – $30.00 per hour. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on job classification and length of employment. Benefits for this temporary role may include:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan (pre‑tax and Roth post‑tax contributions available)
• Life Insurance (voluntary life & AD&D for employee and dependents)
• Short and long‑term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time off/leave (PTO, vacation or sick leave)

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 23, 2025.

We are an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law. If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as a modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail].