UAS Operations Specialist - Ground Support

DoorDash, Inc.; Bay Point (CA); On-site; USD 33,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) plan with employer matching

Paid parental leave

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

Paid time off

Job summary

DoorDash, Inc. is hiring a UAS Operations Ground Support Specialist to join Flight Operations as a qualified Commercial Ground Support for Part 135 UAS delivery.

You will undergo FAA-approved training before independently performing duties and will work with RPICs, maintenance, and engineering to ensure aircraft readiness and safe mission execution. Responsibilities include supporting aircraft prep, payload handling, and ground procedures, maintaining documentation, and participating in Part 107

Qualifications

• Valid Part 107 certificate
• Completion of FAA-approved training program
• Experience in UAS/ground operations and safety
• Ability to follow SOPs, checklists and operating limitations
• Strong communication with RPICs and cross-functional teams
• Detail-oriented with record-keeping discipline

Responsibilities

• Serve as qualified Commercial Ground Support for Part 135 UAS operations after training
• Complete FAA-approved training and competency evaluations
• Maintain qualifications and recurrent training
• Support aircraft preparation, payload handling, and battery management
• Verify readiness of aircraft, payload, equipment and operating areas
• Coordinate with RPIC and operations staff for mission readiness
• Report hazards, discrepancies, and deviations through safety channels
• Maintain training, qualification, and equipment records

Skills

UAS operations

Ground operations

Safety culture

FAA training

Communication

Education

Part 107 certificate

Job description

About the Role

As a UAS Operations Ground Support Specialist, you’ll join Flight Operations in a qualified Commercial Ground Support position supporting safe, compliant UAS delivery operations under Part 135. All hires complete required training and qualification under the company’s FAA-approved training program before independently performing assigned duties.

You’ll work alongside Remote Pilots in Command (RPICs), Flight Operations leadership, and Maintenance to support aircraft readiness, safe ground operations, and mission execution through disciplined procedures and clear communication.

You’ll also work cross-functionally with Flight Test, Engineering, and other teams to support Part 107 testing, developmental operations, and system validation within applicable authorizations and established safety controls.

What You’ll Do

• Serve as qualified Commercial Ground Support within Flight Operations for Part 135 UAS operations once trained, qualified, and authorized.
• Complete training delivered by a qualified Ground Instructor under the company’s FAA-approved training program and required competency evaluations. Initial-cadre members complete the applicable FAA qualification and evaluation process.
• Maintain required qualifications, recurrent training, proficiency, and standardization requirements.
• Support aircraft preparation, staging, payload handling, battery management, equipment setup, launch and recovery, and aircraft turnaround within assigned responsibilities.
• Verify aircraft, payload, equipment, and operating-area readiness in accordance with assigned Ground Support procedures and checklists.
• Apply applicable Part 135 requirements, company manuals, SOPs, checklists, Operations Specifications, exemptions, waivers, and operating limitations relevant to assigned duties.
• Coordinate with the RPIC and operational personnel throughout missions, maintaining situational awareness and timely communication of ground conditions and aircraft readiness.
• Pause unsafe ground activities and promptly escape concerns through established channels. Flight command authority remains with the RPIC.
• Identify and report hazards, aircraft discrepancies, equipment damage, and procedural deviations through established safety and maintenance channels.
• Maintain accurate training, qualification, operational, and equipment records required for assigned activities.
• Support abnormal and emergency operations within defined Ground Support responsibilities, including required drills and emergency procedure training.
• Work cross‑functionally with Flight Test, Engineering, and other teams to support Part 107 testing, developmental operations, demonstrations, and validation within assigned duties and applicable authorizations.
• Provide structured operational feedback and contribute to improvements in ground procedures, SOPs, checklists, equipment, and training materials.
• When qualified and designated, qualify additional Ground Support crew members under the FAA‑approved training program. Training duties require separate qualification and designation as a Ground Instructor.
• Work outdoors with extended standing, equipment handling, and varying weather conditions while following company safety practices and operating limits.
• Maintain schedule flexibility for commercial operations, training, and testing, including day, evening, and weekend assignments as required.
• Participate in the company’s FAA/DOT drug and alcohol testing program when assigned duties are covered under 14 CFR Part 120, including pre‑employment drug testing and applicable ongoing testing under 49 CFR Part 40.

You’re Excited About This Opportunity Because You Will…

• Hold a qualified operational position supporting commercial Part 135 UAS delivery.
• Develop through an FAA‑approved training program with defined qualification and proficiency standards.
• Work alongside pilots and Maintenance to support aircraft readiness and safe mission execution.
• Collaborate with technical teams during Part 107 flight testing and system validation.
• Be considered for additional qualification responsibilities as your proficiency and program needs develop.
• Contribute directly to safe, standardized, and scalable drone delivery operations.

We’re Excited About You Because…

• You Have Relevant Operational Experience:Experience in UAS, aviation ground operations, logistics, maintenance, or another safety-critical environment is preferred.
• You Meet and Maintain Qualification Standards: You hold a valid Part 107 certificate and you can complete required training, competency evaluations, recurrent training, and standardization requirements and maintain eligibility for assigned duties.
• You’re Safety-Minded and Procedurally Disciplined: You consistently follow manuals, SOPs, checklists, and operating limitations, recognize hazards, and pause or escape activities when conditions are unsafe.
• You’re Hands‑On and Detail‑Oriented: You’re comfortable handling aircraft, batteries, payloads, and support equipment, and can identify incorrect configurations, discrepancies, and abnormal conditions.
• You Communicate and Collaborate Clearly: You provide timely, accurate operational callouts and work effectively with pilots, Maintenance, Flight Test, and cross‑functional teams within defined responsibilities.
• You Document with Discipline: You maintain accurate training, qualification, operational, and equipment records and report observations clearly to support traceability, compliance, and continuous improvement.
• You’re Prepared for Additional Responsibility: Additional qualification or Ground Instructor responsibilities require applicable training, evaluation, and company designation. Selection depends on demonstrated proficiency and program needs, with FAA approval where required.

Applications for this position are accepted on an ongoing basis

Compensation

Actual compensation within the pay range listed below will be decided based on factors including, but not limited to, skills, prior relevant experience, and specific work location. Base salary is localized according to employee work location.

DoorDash cares about you and your overall well-being. That’s why we offer a comprehensive benefits package to all regular employees, which includes a 401(k) plan with employer matching, 16 weeks of paid parental leave, wellness benefits, commuter benefits match, paid time off and paid sick leave in compliance with applicable laws (e.g. Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act). DoorDash also offers medical, dental, and vision benefits, 11 paid holidays, disability and basic life insurance, family-forming assistance, and a mental health program, among others.

To learn more about our benefits, visit our careers page here.

See below for paid time off details:

• For salaried roles: flexible paid time off/vacation, plus 80 hours of paid sick time per year.
• For hourly roles: vacation accrued at about 1 hour for every 25.97 hours worked (e.g. about 6.7 hours/month if working 40 hours/week; about 3.4 hours/month if working 20 hours/week), and paid sick time accrued at 1 hour for every 30 hours worked (e.g. about 5.8 hours/month if working 40 hours/week; about 2.9 hours/month if working 20 hours/week).

The national base pay range for this position within the United States, including Illinois and Colorado.

$23.70 — $34.80 USD

About DoorDash

At DoorDash, our mission to empower local economies shapes how our team members move quickly, learn, and reiterate in order to make impactful decisions that display empathy for our range of users—from Dashers to merchant partners to consumers. We are a technology and logistics company that started by enabling door-to-door delivery, and we are looking for team members who can help us go from a company that is known as the place you order food to a company that people turn to for any and all goods.
DoorDash is growing rapidly and changing constantly, which gives our team members the opportunity to share their unique perspectives, solve new challenges, and own their careers. We're committed to supporting employees’ happiness, healthiness, and overall well-being by providing comprehensive benefits and perks including premium healthcare, wellness expense reimbursement, paid parental leave and more.

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

We’re committed to growing and empowering a more inclusive community within our company, industry, and cities. That’s why we hire and cultivate diverse teams of people from all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We believe that true innovation happens when everyone has room at the table and the tools, resources, and opportunity to excel.

Statement of Non-Discrimination: In keeping with our beliefs and goals, no employee or applicant will face discrimination or harassment based on: race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, age, gender, marital/domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability status, or veteran status. Above and beyond discrimination and harassment based on “protected categories,” we also strive to prevent other subtler forms of inappropriate behavior (i.e., stereotyping) from ever gaining a foothold in our office. Whether blatant or hidden, barriers to success have no place at DoorDash. We value a diverse workforce – people who identify as women, non‑binary or gender non‑conforming, LGBTQIA+, American Indian or Native Alaskan, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latinx, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, differently‑abled, caretakers and parents, and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. Thank you to the Level Playing Field Institute for this statement of non-discrimination.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and any other state or local hiring regulations, we will consider for employment any qualified applicant, including those with arrest and conviction records, in a manner consistent with the applicable regulation.

If you need any accommodations, please inform your recruiting contact upon initial connection.