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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Unmanned Aircraft Specialist

💰 $ - $

AviationUnmanned SystemsAerospaceDefense

🎯 Role Definition

An Unmanned Aircraft Specialist (UAS Specialist) is responsible for planning, executing, maintaining, troubleshooting, and optimizing unmanned aerial system (UAS) missions across civil, commercial, and defense environments. The role requires demonstrated expertise in flight operations (VLOS and BVLOS), regulatory compliance (FAA Part 107, waivers, COA/LOA), sensor and payload integration, airspace authorizations, safety management, maintenance and repairs, telemetry and data link management, and cross‑functional stakeholder communication. This position frequently supports multi‑disciplinary programs (mapping, inspection, ISR, environmental monitoring) and works closely with engineering, operations, maintenance, and program management teams.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • UAS Operator / Remote Pilot (Part 107)
  • Avionics Technician or Aircraft Maintenance Technician with UAS exposure
  • Field Technician or Sensor Operator supporting aerial data collection

Advancement To:

  • Lead Unmanned Aircraft Specialist / Senior UAS Pilot
  • UAS Operations Manager / Flight Standards Officer
  • Systems Integration Engineer (UAS payloads and avionics)

Lateral Moves:

  • Mission Planner / Flight Test Engineer
  • UAS Safety Manager / Safety Management Systems (SMS) Analyst

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Plan, coordinate, and lead complex unmanned aircraft missions end‑to‑end, including mission objectives, route planning, altitude profiles, contingency plans, weather and NOTAM analysis, and stakeholder briefings to ensure safe, efficient, and compliant operations.
  • Serve as the designated remote pilot‑in‑command (RPIC) for small and medium UAS platforms, exercising operational control during preflight, launch, in‑flight, and recovery phases while meeting company SOPs and regulatory standards.
  • Prepare, submit, and manage airspace authorizations, waivers, COAs, LOAs, and NOTAM requests with national aviation authorities (e.g., FAA), ensuring all documentation supports VLOS, BVLOS, night operations, over‑people permissions, and special use airspace access as required.
  • Develop and maintain detailed preflight and postflight checklists, maintenance logs, and flight records; preserve traceability for all sorties, components, firmware versions, and corrective actions per quality management and audit readiness standards.
  • Integrate, configure, and test mission payloads (EO/IR cameras, LiDAR, multispectral sensors, SAR, SIGINT, communications relays) and ensure sensor calibration, gimbal stabilization, and data capture settings align with mission requirements and deliverable formats.
  • Perform routine and advanced maintenance, diagnostics, repairs, and upgrades on UAS hardware and support equipment, including airframes, power systems, autopilots (PX4, ArduPilot), GCS radios, telemetry modems, ADS‑B, and ground power and battery systems.
  • Execute system‑level troubleshooting of avionics, flight control software, data links, and RF comms; analyze flight logs and telemetry to identify root causes and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
  • Manage launch and recovery site selection and logistics, establishing secure landing zones, NOTAM coordination, range safety, and ground support requirements while mitigating hazards and ensuring safe operations in mixed‑use airspace.
  • Lead BVLOS mission workflows including detect‑and‑avoid integration, communications architecture, redundant link planning, and contingency transition procedures to VLOS or emergency recovery based on risk assessments.
  • Design and implement safety risk assessments (SORA, FRAT, or organizational equivalents), operational risk mitigation plans, and emergency response procedures; maintain Safety Management System (SMS) documentation and training records.
  • Coordinate cross‑functional teams (engineering, maintenance, intelligence, GIS, program management, and external stakeholders) to translate operational needs into technical requirements, acceptance criteria, and deployment plans.
  • Conduct flight test programs for new UAS platforms and payloads, author test plans, collect performance data, document test results, and produce technical reports that inform product maturation and certification efforts.
  • Provide hands‑on training, mentoring, and evaluation of new UAS operators and sensor operators; develop training curriculum, checkrides, proficiency standards, and operator competency matrices to uphold operational readiness.
  • Oversee inventory, spare parts management, and life‑cycle tracking for aircraft components, batteries, sensors, and critical ground equipment to minimize downtime and support rapid deployment.
  • Maintain rigorous cybersecurity and data protection practices for telemetry, payload data, command‑and‑control links, and storage systems, coordinating with IT and security teams to apply encryption, access controls, and secure data transfer protocols.
  • Implement and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs), technical orders, and maintenance manuals aligned with manufacturer guidance and regulatory obligations; update documentation after incident reviews or process improvements.
  • Analyze meteorological data, wind models, and environmental conditions to make operational go/no‑go decisions and to plan fuel/battery consumption, payload performance, and sensor capture timing.
  • Execute precision flight operations such as structure inspections, powerline and pipeline patrols, agricultural mapping, photogrammetry surveys, and reconnaissance missions, ensuring data quality and geospatial accuracy meet client deliverables.
  • Act as the primary point of contact for regulatory audits, safety inspections, and incident investigations; compile required evidence, timelines, and corrective action plans and liaise with oversight agencies and insurance providers.
  • Support mission data lifecycle management: ingest, validate, georeference, pre‑process, and deliver imagery, LiDAR point clouds, and telemetry in client‑required formats, coordinating with downstream analysts or cloud platforms to meet SLAs.
  • Conduct after‑action reviews (AARs) and mission debriefs to capture lessons learned, document anomalies, update risk registers, and recommend operational or technical improvements to increase mission success rates.
  • Evaluate new UAS technologies, suppliers, and third‑party services; write technical specification comparisons, cost‑benefit analyses, and procurement recommendations to support capability upgrades.
  • Supervise contracted UAS vendors and subcontractors during joint operations, ensure compliance with organizational policies and contractual requirements, and verify contractor personnel certifications and insurance documentation.
  • Implement continuous improvement initiatives for flight operations, maintenance throughput, and data processing pipelines; use metrics and KPIs to measure performance, reliability, and on‑time delivery of mission outcomes.

Secondary Functions

  • Support proposal development and technical writing for new UAS programs, including statements of work, capability descriptions, and risk mitigation strategies.
  • Participate in cross‑departmental planning sessions to align UAS capabilities with business objectives and product roadmaps.
  • Assist in the configuration and maintenance of mission planning software and cloud platforms (e.g., Mission Planner, UgCS, DroneBase platforms, DroneDeploy, Pix4D, Airdata) to streamline operations.
  • Provide on‑call support for time‑critical missions and incident response, including emergency reconnaissance and rapid deployment of sensor packages.
  • Maintain public and stakeholder communications regarding scheduled operations, safety briefings, and community outreach as part of operational transparency.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • FAA Remote Pilot Certificate (Part 107) or equivalent national UAS pilot certification; experience obtaining waivers, COAs, LOAs, and other regulatory approvals.
  • Proven UAS flight operations experience on multi‑rotor and fixed‑wing platforms, including night operations, BVLOS, and beyond‑line‑of‑sight mission execution.
  • Mission planning and flight control systems proficiency (Ground Control Stations such as Mission Planner, QGroundControl, UgCS, DJI Pilot, and proprietary GCSs).
  • LiDAR, photogrammetry, multispectral and thermal imaging sensor integration, calibration, and data acquisition best practices.
  • Experience with UAS autopilot systems and firmware (PX4, ArduPilot, DJI A3, CubePilot) and flight controller configuration and tuning.
  • Telemetry, RF link, and comms architecture knowledge (2.4/5.8 GHz, LTE/5G, SATCOM, redundant links) and ADS‑B/FLARM integration for detect‑and‑avoid.
  • Flight data analysis, log retrieval and interpretation (black box/flight logs), and use of diagnostic tools to troubleshoot in‑flight anomalies.
  • Battery systems and power management expertise including lithium battery charging, storage, transport compliance, and in‑field battery diagnostics.
  • Maintenance and hardware repair skills: soldering, avionics replacement, gimbal mechanics, and airframe structural inspection and repair.
  • Airspace and regulatory compliance knowledge (airworthiness directives, maintenance records, audit readiness) and experience working with civil aviation authorities.
  • Safety risk assessment and mitigation frameworks (SORA, FRAT or equivalent), Safety Management Systems (SMS) implementation, and incident investigation.
  • Proficiency with geospatial and data processing tools (Pix4D, Agisoft Metashape, QGIS, ArcGIS, Cloud processing pipelines) for delivering survey and mapping products.
  • Experience with mission test plan development, structured test execution, and technical reporting for validation and verification activities.
  • Strong IT and cybersecurity fundamentals relevant to UAS operations: secure C2 links, encryption, access control, and secure data handling.
  • Vendor evaluation and procurement skills for UAS hardware, spares, and sensor payloads; technical sourcing and life‑cycle cost analysis.

Soft Skills

  • Exceptional situational awareness and decision‑making under pressure; consistently demonstrates calm and logical problem solving during live operations.
  • Clear, concise verbal and written communication tailored to technical, regulatory, and non‑technical stakeholders.
  • Strong leadership and mentorship capabilities; able to train new pilots and lead multi‑disciplinary operational teams.
  • Detail‑oriented with an emphasis on accurate record keeping, SOP adherence, and audit readiness.
  • Collaborative team player who builds productive relationships across engineering, operations, and client teams.
  • Time management and operational planning skills to coordinate simultaneous sorties, deployments, and maintenance cycles.
  • Adaptability to rapidly changing operational environments and evolving regulations and technologies.
  • Customer focus with ability to translate mission requirements into executable plans and deliverables.
  • Analytical mindset for extracting actionable insights from telemetry and sensor data to improve performance.
  • Ethical and safety‑first orientation, including respect for privacy, regulatory compliance, and environmental considerations.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High school diploma or equivalent plus relevant UAS certifications and aviation experience.

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Avionics, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Geomatics, Geography, or related STEM field.
  • Additional certifications in aviation safety, maintenance (A&P or equivalent), or project management (PMP) are advantageous.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Avionics / Electrical Engineering
  • Geomatics / Surveying / GIS
  • Computer Science / Robotics
  • Mechanical Engineering

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 2–7 years of applicable UAS operational and technical experience for mid‑level roles; entry‑level roles may start at 0–2 years with strong certifications and field training.

Preferred:

  • 5+ years of progressive unmanned aircraft experience including BVLOS operations, payload integration, and program support in civilian, commercial, or defense sectors.
  • Proven record of leading flight test campaigns, managing airspace authorizations, and supporting audit‑grade maintenance and safety documentation.

Keywords: Unmanned Aircraft Specialist, UAS Specialist, UAV Pilot, Remote Pilot, Part 107, BVLOS, detect‑and‑avoid, mission planning, payload integration, flight operations, airspace authorization, LiDAR, photogrammetry, UAV maintenance, telemetry, safety management system, UAS flight test.

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