UAV Technician III

Zone 5 Technologies; Paso Robles (CA); On-site; USD 58,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision, life

401k with company-match

3 weeks of paid time off

12 annual company holidays

40 hours of sick time

Job summary

Zone 5 Technologies is seeking a senior UAV Technician III to diagnose complex UAV system issues, support flight operations, and ensure reliability across multiple UAV platforms. The role involves collaborating with engineers, production technicians, and operations teams on several programs and value streams.

The position covers Level II and Level I responsibilities, including inspections, troubleshooting, LRUs, and calibration, with a strong emphasis on safety and compliance in defense

Qualifications

• Associate’s degree or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of UAV or aerospace systems maintenance experience.
• Demonstrated judgment in flight-critical situations.
• Experience supporting operational or field environments.
• Clear technical communication under pressure.
• Consistent execution in high-tempo operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead troubleshooting of complex UAV system failures.
• Diagnose cross-system issues involving avionics, comms, propulsion, and controls.
• Perform advanced system testing, calibration, and validation.
• Support flight operations, ground tests, and field deployments.
• Investigate discrepancies, anomalies, and mission aborts.
• Support root cause analysis and corrective action implementation.
• Review maintenance and discrepancy documentation for accuracy.
• Partner with engineering on system reliability improvements.
• Independently perform UAV inspections and maintenance actions.
• Diagnose and resolve common avionics, electrical, and control system faults.
• Remove, replace, and configure LRUs and verify system functionality.
• Execute ground tests, BIT checks, and functional verification procedures.
• Perform software and firmware updates under configuration control.
• Support flight readiness reviews and operational checkouts.
• Identify recurring system issues and elevate as needed.
• Maintain accurate maintenance, configuration, and discrepancy records.
• Coordinate with engineering, quality, and flight operations.

Skills

Clear technical communication

High-tempo operations

Education

Associate’s degree or equivalent experience

Job description

At Zone 5 Technologies, we're redefining what's possible in precision weapons and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). Our team of engineers and innovators are developing cutting-edge autonomous solutions to deliver affordable and scalable precision weapons, interceptors, and UAS.

We're building the next generation of munitions and unmanned systems for the United States and its allies. If you're driven by hard problems, energized by rapid innovation, and ready to make an impact on defense technology, you belong here.

The UAV Technician III serves as a senior technical resource responsible for diagnosing complex system issues, supporting flight operations, and ensuring system reliability across UAV platforms. Tasks and responsibilities expected for this role include those captured by lower role specific levels.

This role involves working closely with engineers, production technicians, and operations teams to support multiple programs and value streams.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead troubleshooting of complex or intermittent UAV system failures
• Diagnose cross-system issues involving avionics, comms, propulsion, and controls
• Perform advanced system testing, calibration, and validation
• Support flight operations, ground tests, and field deployments
• Investigate discrepancies, anomalies, and mission aborts
• Support root cause analysis and corrective action implementation
• Review maintenance and discrepancy documentation for accuracy
• Partner with engineering on system reliability improvements

Responsibilities (Level II):

• Independently perform UAV inspections and maintenance actions
• Diagnose and resolve common avionics, electrical, and control system faults
• Remove, replace, and configure LRUs and verify system functionality
• Execute ground tests, BIT checks, and functional verification procedures
• Perform software and firmware updates under configuration control
• Support flight readiness reviews and operational checkouts
• Identify recurring system issues and elevate as needed
• Maintain accurate maintenance, configuration, and discrepancy records
• Coordinate with engineering, quality, and flight operations

Responsibilities (Level I):

• Perform routine UAV inspections using approved checklists and procedures
• Assist with removal and replacement of line-replaceable units (LRUs)
• Conduct visual inspections of wiring, connectors, antennas, and hardware
• Perform basic electrical checks (continuity, resistance, power presence)
• Support pre-flight and post-flight inspections under supervision
• Execute basic functional checks and built-in test (BIT) procedures
• Accurately document maintenance actions and discrepancies
• Follow FOD, ESD, safety, and configuration control requirements
• Support senior technicians during troubleshooting and ops events

Qualifications:

• Associate’s degree or equivalent experience
• 5+ years of UAV or aerospace systems maintenance experience
• Demonstrated judgment in flight-critical situations
• Experience supporting operational or field environments

Demonstrated Competencies

• Clear technical communication under pressure
• Consistent execution in high-tempo operations

Pay range for this role

$42.13 - $48.97 USD

What's in it for you:

• Comprehensive benefit package options include medical, dental, vision, life, and more.
• 401k with company-match
• 3 weeks of paid time off each year
• 40 hours of sick time
• 12 annual company holidays

Why Join Zone 5 Technologies?

• Innovative Environment: Work on cutting-edge technology that is shaping the future of defense and aerospace.
• Collaborative Culture: Join a team of passionate professionals dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.
• Career Growth: Opportunities for professional development and career advancement.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

Zone 5 Technologies is a federal contractor and participates in E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility. As required by law, we will verify the identity and employment authorization of all new employees using the E-Verify system. Learn more about your rights and responsibilities under E-Verify: https://www.e-verify.gov .

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in Zone 5 Technologies’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.