Part 107 Drone Test Operator at Aston Carter Bay Point, CA

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

Job Title

Part 107 Drone Test Operator

Location

Bay Point, CA (occasionally travel to Oakland, CA).

Job Type

12‑Month Contract (full‑time, 40 hours/week). Potential conversion to permanent.

Schedule

Standard Monday‑Friday morning shift, 40 hours per week.

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 the Bay Point and Oakland test sites.

Qualifications

• Valid FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate with 100+ hours of UAS flight time.
• Experience with quad and hexacopter platforms.
• Hands‑on skill flying in Stabilized Mode and performing manual maneuvers.
• Good understanding of Mission Planning (utilizing checklist) and conducting pre‑ and post‑flight inspection.
• Comfortable working outdoors in varied weather and working on your feet.
• Highly Preferred: Experience with PX4, ArduPilot, Auterion, and/or Herelink‑based systems.
• Highly Preferred: Familiarity with ground control software such as QGroundControl or Mission Planner.
• Highly Preferred: Experience contributing to drone development and/or robotic testing programs.
• Preferred: Experience with Google Docs, Sheets, Jira, Confluence, and/or Slack.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Reliable team player.

Employee Value Proposition

• Front lines of aerial innovation, directly contributing to development and validation of new drone systems.
• High‑impact, high‑autonomy role where field skills, judgment, and communication directly shape product safety, performance, and readiness.
• Meaningful work, fast iteration, and a chance to help define the future of drone logistics.

Benefits

• 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 the 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)

Compensation

$30.00 per hour (USD).

EEO Statement

The company is 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.

Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation may contact [e-mail].