Drone Operator

Drone Operator

Paso Robles, CA

The future of defense will be decided by those who field intelligent machines at scale. At Scout AI, we're developing Fury, the first robotic foundation model for defense, to give U.S. forces overwhelming, adaptable, and autonomous power across every domain. Fury enables human operators to command fleets of robots through natural language, and empowers those machines to sense, decide, and act together as one. This mission will ask everything of us: urgency, precision, and relentless work.

The Role

We're hiring a Drone Operator to join our Mission Operations team at our test site in Paso Robles, CA. You'll pilot and supervise uncrewed aerial systems during test flights, autonomy trials, and live mission rehearsals - operating both manually and in supervised-autonomy modes. This is a hands-on, field-based role for someone who is comfortable in the air, meticulous about safety, and energized by working at the frontier of defense robotics.

Responsibilities

• Plan, set up, and execute drone flight operations in support of autonomy testing and mission rehearsals.
• Pilot uncrewed aerial systems manually and supervise autonomous flight, intervening safely when needed.
• Conduct pre-flight inspections, perform routine maintenance, and troubleshoot hardware and payload issues in the field.
• Capture, log, and organize flight data, telemetry, and observations to feed our model training and engineering teams.
• Enforce airspace, range, and safety protocols, and help maintain compliance with FAA and site regulations.
• Provide clear, structured feedback to engineers on system performance, failure modes, and edge cases.
• Support field deployments, including equipment transport, staging, and recovery.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience operating drones / uncrewed aerial systems (commercial, military, or equivalent).
• FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate, or the ability to obtain one prior to start. Scout AI
• Strong situational awareness, sound judgment under pressure, and an uncompromising commitment to safety.
• Comfort working outdoors in varied conditions at a test range, with the ability to lift and transport equipment.
• Mechanical aptitude and basic troubleshooting skills with hardware, batteries, and payloads.
• Clear communicator who can document observations and collaborate closely with engineers.
• Must be a U.S. citizen (required for work on defense programs).

Why Join Scout

• Work on the world's most important frontier, ensuring U.S. dominance in the age of intelligent machines
• Be a core part of a team building the first defense-specific robotic foundation model
• Collaborate with some of the top engineers in autonomy, AI, and national security
• Help define the future of intelligent defense systems
• Backed by Draper Associates, Booz Allen Ventures, and other top investors

Benefits

• Competitive pay
• Meaningful equity
• Premium medical, dental, and vision plans with $0 paycheck contribution
• Competitive PTO and company holiday calendar
• Catered lunch daily and fully stocked kitchen
• Unlimited AI tokens
• EV charging

The stated salary range below represents an estimated base pay only and reflects consideration of multiple compensation factors. Final salary offers may differ depending on factors including, but not limited to, relevant experience or training background, specialized skills, and business needs. Most full-time positions also include highly competitive equity awards, which form part of Scout AI's overall compensation package. In addition, Scout AI provides comprehensive, top-tier benefits to full-time employees.

US Salary Range

$75,000 - $100,000 USD