Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Unmanned Aerial Systems Operator

🎯 Role Definition

The Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Operator is responsible for safe, compliant, and mission-focused operation of unmanned aircraft systems (drones) and their payloads. This role executes pre‑flight planning, mission execution, payload data capture (EO/IR, LiDAR, multispectral), post‑flight data management, routine maintenance and airspace coordination. The UAS Operator ensures regulatory compliance (FAA Part 107 or equivalent), adheres to safety management systems, supports clients and internal stakeholders with actionable aerial intelligence, and contributes to continuous improvement of flight procedures and data workflows.

Skills and keywords: Unmanned Aerial Systems, UAS Operator, drone pilot, remote pilot, Part 107, BVLOS, payload operation, photogrammetry, LiDAR, GIS, flight planning, mission execution, airspace coordination, safety compliance, data processing.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Drone or UAS Technician / Apprentice Drone Pilot
Field Technician (construction, surveying, public safety)
Military UAS enlisted operator or civilian flight tech

Advancement To:

Lead UAS Operator / Chief Remote Pilot
UAS Program Manager / Flight Operations Manager
Senior Systems Integrator / UAS Systems Engineer
Aerial Data Products Manager / Geospatial Analyst Lead

Lateral Moves:

Payload Specialist (EO/IR, LiDAR, multispectral)
GIS / Photogrammetry Specialist
Safety Manager / Airspace Coordination Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Plan, coordinate and execute UAS missions end-to-end, including site surveys, risk assessment, route and waypoint planning, and contingency planning to meet mission objectives safely and on schedule.
Serve as Remote Pilot in Command (RPIC) for manned/unmanned airspace operations, maintaining legal and regulatory compliance (e.g., FAA Part 107, waiver management, NOTAMs, local airspace restrictions) for each flight.
Conduct thorough pre‑flight inspections and system checks of airframes, propulsion, control systems, batteries, and payloads; document equipment status and sign off on flight clearance.
Operate and manage payloads during missions (electro‑optical/infrared cameras, zoom/gimbal systems, LiDAR sensors, multispectral imagers, thermal cameras) to collect imagery, point clouds, and sensor data to the required quality standards.
Execute BVLOS, VLOS, and night operations where authorized, including coordination with Safety Management Systems, waiver holders, and air traffic control where applicable.
Perform real-time flight control and tactical adjustments using ground control software (e.g., DJI Pilot, UgCS, Mission Planner, QGroundControl) and maintain situational awareness to avoid hazards and ensure mission success.
Implement and follow safety protocols, lost-link procedures, geofencing, and emergency procedures, including safe termination of flight and emergency landing/site recovery operations.
Manage battery lifecycle and power logistics: charge, rotate, maintain, and log battery usage and storage to ensure reliable flight operations and reduce risk of in-flight power loss.
Capture and verify mission data quality in the field (image overlap, ground sample distance, sensor calibration, RTK/PPK reference checks) and make mission-day adjustments to ensure usable deliverables.
Execute post‑flight procedures: secure UAS and payloads, download and back up raw sensor data, log flight records, prepare incident reports, and update maintenance logs and airworthiness records.
Process and pre‑process aerial data using photogrammetry and remote sensing tools (e.g., Pix4D, Agisoft Metashape, DroneDeploy, RealityCapture) to produce orthomosaics, DEMs, 3D models, thermal analysis, and georeferenced deliverables.
Perform routine maintenance and field repairs, troubleshoot avionics, radios, GNSS modules (RTK/PPK), gimbal systems, and sensors; coordinate with vendors for warranty and advanced repairs.
Integrate and calibrate sensors and payloads, manage sensor mounts and interfaces, and validate metadata (timestamps, geotags) to ensure downstream GIS compatibility and data integrity.
Maintain detailed flight logs, mission reports, safety checklists, and client deliverables; ensure chain-of-custody and secure handling of sensitive imagery/data when required.
Coordinate with internal teams, clients, and third parties (ATC, landowners, public safety agencies) to secure permissions, site access, airspace briefings, and to align mission objectives and deliverables.
Train and mentor junior UAS operators and field staff on flight operations, payload handling, safety procedures, and regulatory compliance; contribute to development of training materials and SOPs.
Support mission planning and intelligence workflows by interpreting client requirements, recommending sensor suites and flight parameters, and estimating flight time and data yield for proposals.
Participate in safety reviews, after-action reports, and continuous improvement initiatives to update SOPs, maintenance schedules, and risk assessments.
Assist with procurement, inventory management, and lifecycle planning for UAS fleets, spare parts, batteries, and payload accessories to sustain operational readiness.
Execute quality assurance on deliverables: perform QA/QC checks on imagery, orthomosaics, point clouds and analytics, and iterate capture plans if re-flights are needed to meet contractual standards.
Maintain situational awareness of new UAS technologies, regulatory changes, and best practices; evaluate new platforms/payloads for mission suitability and operational impact.
Support multi-vehicle / coordinated UAS operations (swarm or multi-rotor coordination) and integrate with manned assets where applicable, following established deconfliction procedures.
Ensure cybersecurity and data protection measures are followed for onboard, ground station, and cloud-based systems; manage user access and secure transfer of sensitive datasets.
Provide technical support to cross-functional teams (engineering, GIS, intelligence, site ops) by translating aerial data into actionable insights and recommending follow-up collection strategies.

Secondary Functions

Develop and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs), checklists and training materials for UAS operations and payload handling.
Support client briefings and deliverable handoffs including visualizations, annotated maps, and technical documentation.
Coordinate with procurement and logistics to schedule scheduled maintenance, firmware updates, and spare parts replacement.
Contribute to research projects and pilot programs to evaluate new sensors, autonomy features, and operational concepts.
Assist in budgeting and mission cost estimation by providing flight time, equipment usage, and consumables forecasting.
Participate in cross-training and certification programs to maintain currency for specialized missions (e.g., public safety, inspection, defense).

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate (or equivalent national regulatory certification) and proven RPIC experience.
Demonstrated experience with flight planning software and GCS platforms (DJI Pilot, UgCS, Mission Planner, QGroundControl, Autopilot systems).
Hands-on operation and tuning of payloads: EO/IR gimbals, thermal cameras, high-resolution RGB cameras, LiDAR sensors, multispectral imagers.
Photogrammetry and remote sensing workflows: mission design for orthomosaic, DSM/DTM, 3D model capture; software like Pix4D, Agisoft Metashape, DroneDeploy, RealityCapture.
RTK/PPK GNSS systems knowledge and best‑practice use for centimeter-level georeferencing; base station setup and processing.
Proficiency with GIS and mapping tools (ArcGIS, QGIS) to validate geospatial outputs and integrate aerial products.
Experience with data processing pipelines, large dataset management, metadata standards, and deliverable QA/QC.
Familiarity with BVLOS operations, waiver processes, and coordination with ATC and safety teams.
Maintenance and troubleshooting skills for multirotor, fixed-wing UAS, flight controllers, telemetry radios, and battery systems.
Understanding of aviation regulations, airspace classification, NOTAMs, and air traffic coordination procedures.
Competence with common scripting or automation tools (Python, batch processing) for processing and QA efficiency is a plus.
Experience with cloud storage, secure data transfer, and basic cybersecurity hygiene for sensor and mission data.

Soft Skills

Strong situational awareness and risk assessment capability; decisive under pressure during flight anomalies or changing conditions.
Excellent written communication for mission reports, SOPs, incident documentation and client deliverables.
Effective interpersonal skills for client-facing briefing, cross-functional collaboration, and stakeholder coordination.
Attention to detail for checklist compliance, data quality assurance, and maintenance records.
Problem-solving mindset to troubleshoot field faults and adapt mission plans to dynamic environments.
Time management and organization to plan, execute, and deliver multiple concurrent missions on schedule.
Training and mentoring ability to upskill junior pilots and field staff.
Customer-service orientation with ability to translate technical outputs into actionable insights for non-technical clients.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or equivalent plus documented flight experience and relevant certifications (e.g., FAA Part 107).

Preferred Education:

Associate or Bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Science, Unmanned Systems, Engineering, Geospatial Science (GIS/Remote Sensing), Computer Science, Environmental Science, or related technical field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Unmanned Aerial Systems / Aviation Technology
Geospatial Science / GIS / Remote Sensing
Electrical / Mechanical / Aerospace Engineering
Computer Science / Data Science / Photogrammetry

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 2–5 years of professional UAS operations; field experience with multi‑platform missions, payload operation and data processing.

Preferred: 3–7+ years with documented flight hours, experience as RPIC on commercial/mission-critical operations, BVLOS/night operations experience, and proficiency with photogrammetry, LiDAR workflows, or public-safety/defense mission profiles.