Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Unmanned Aircraft Supervisor
💰 $85,000 - $135,000
AviationAerospaceDefensePublic SafetyDrone Operations
🎯 Role Definition
The Unmanned Aircraft Supervisor is a senior operational and leadership role responsible for overseeing unmanned aerial system (UAS) operations, personnel, safety, compliance, and mission execution. This role ensures that drone programs operate efficiently, legally, and safely across commercial, governmental, defense, or public safety environments. The supervisor serves as the operational authority for UAV missions, integrating airspace coordination, regulatory compliance, crew management, and technical oversight.
📈 Career Progression
Typical Career Path
Entry Point From:
- UAS Pilot / Remote Pilot in Command (RPIC)
- Drone Operations Technician
- Aviation Operations Specialist
Advancement To:
- UAS Program Manager
- Director of Unmanned Systems
- Chief Pilot (Unmanned Aircraft)
Lateral Moves:
- Aviation Safety Manager
- Airspace Integration Specialist
Core Responsibilities
Primary Functions
- Supervise daily unmanned aircraft operations to ensure mission objectives, safety standards, and regulatory requirements are consistently met.
- Manage and schedule UAS pilots, sensor operators, visual observers, and support staff across multiple missions and operational environments.
- Enforce compliance with FAA, EASA, ICAO, and applicable national or regional aviation regulations governing unmanned aircraft operations.
- Serve as the primary authority for operational risk assessments, go/no-go decisions, and mission approvals.
- Develop, implement, and continuously improve standard operating procedures (SOPs), operational manuals, and safety management systems (SMS).
- Oversee pre-flight, in-flight, and post-flight procedures, ensuring accurate documentation, logbooks, and maintenance records.
- Coordinate airspace authorization, NOTAMs, waivers, COAs, and coordination with air traffic control and relevant authorities.
- Monitor and evaluate pilot performance, mission execution, and adherence to operational protocols.
- Lead incident, accident, and near-miss investigations, including root cause analysis and corrective action planning.
- Ensure unmanned aircraft, payloads, ground control stations, and support equipment are properly maintained and mission-ready.
- Collaborate with engineering and maintenance teams to track system reliability, updates, and airworthiness issues.
- Supervise training programs, certifications, currency tracking, and recurrent training for UAS personnel.
- Maintain operational readiness for complex missions including BVLOS, night operations, operations over people, and controlled airspace.
- Act as the liaison between operations, management, regulatory bodies, and external stakeholders.
- Support integration of new unmanned platforms, sensors, and software into existing operational frameworks.
- Oversee data collection, handling, security, and compliance with privacy and information governance policies.
- Manage operational budgets, resource allocation, and cost controls related to UAS activities.
- Ensure cybersecurity and command-and-control link integrity in coordination with IT and security teams.
- Provide operational input for strategic planning, capability development, and program expansion.
- Represent the organization during audits, inspections, demonstrations, and customer engagements related to unmanned aircraft operations.
Secondary Functions
- Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis.
- Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap.
- Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into engineering requirements.
- Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the data engineering team.
Required Skills & Competencies
Hard Skills (Technical)
- In-depth knowledge of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), flight operations, and aviation safety principles.
- Strong understanding of FAA Part 107, COA operations, and international UAS regulatory frameworks.
- Experience with mission planning software, ground control systems, and UAS fleet management tools.
- Ability to conduct operational risk assessments and safety analyses.
- Proficiency in airspace management, authorization processes, and ATC coordination.
- Familiarity with UAS maintenance practices, logbooks, and airworthiness standards.
- Knowledge of BVLOS operations, detect-and-avoid systems, and advanced payload integration.
- Competence in incident investigation, reporting, and corrective action implementation.
- Understanding of data security, privacy laws, and aerial data management best practices.
- Ability to interpret technical documentation, flight manuals, and engineering specifications.
Soft Skills
- Strong leadership and team management capabilities.
- Excellent decision-making skills under time-critical and high-risk conditions.
- Clear verbal and written communication with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- High attention to detail and commitment to safety and compliance.
- Problem-solving mindset with the ability to adapt to evolving operational environments.
- Professional judgment, accountability, and ethical decision-making.
Education & Experience
Educational Background
Minimum Education:
- Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience
Preferred Education:
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aviation, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field
Relevant Fields of Study:
- Aviation Management
- Aerospace Engineering
Experience Requirements
Typical Experience Range: 5–10 years in unmanned aircraft or aviation operations
Preferred:
- Prior experience supervising UAS teams or managing complex drone programs
- Active Remote Pilot Certificate and demonstrated leadership in regulated aviation environments