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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Unmanned Vehicle Specialist

💰 $ - $

AerospaceUnmanned SystemsRoboticsDefenseMaritimeAutonomous Vehicles

🎯 Role Definition

The Unmanned Vehicle Specialist is an operational and technical expert responsible for safe, compliant, and effective deployment of unmanned systems (UAVs, UAS, USVs, UGVs). This role blends mission planning, vehicle maintenance, sensor and payload integration, autonomy tuning, data capture, and cross-functional coordination with engineering, operations, safety, and customers. The specialist ensures mission success through hands-on operation, troubleshooting, SOP creation, and continuous improvement of systems and processes.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Junior UAS Operator / Remote Pilot
  • Technician – Avionics, Marine Systems or Robotics
  • Field Service Technician for sensors or remote platforms

Advancement To:

  • Lead Unmanned Systems Operator / Supervisor
  • Autonomy Engineer or Systems Integration Lead
  • Program Manager — Unmanned Systems Operations

Lateral Moves:

  • Sensor Integration Engineer
  • Mission Systems Analyst
  • Safety & Compliance Specialist (UAS/USV)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Plan, coordinate, and execute unmanned vehicle missions (UAV/UAS/USV/UGV) end-to-end, including route design, flight/operation plans, contingency planning, and post-mission debriefs to meet project objectives and safety requirements.
  • Operate unmanned vehicles safely in controlled and contested environments, performing remote piloting, real-time mission adjustments, emergency procedures, and crew resource management to achieve mission goals.
  • Conduct comprehensive pre- and post-mission inspections and checklists for airframe, propulsion, battery systems, sensors, payloads, and ground control stations; document findings and initiate corrective actions.
  • Integrate, configure, and test payloads and sensors (EO/IR, LiDAR, multispectral, SAR, sonar, magnetometers, environmental sensors); ensure correct power, data interface, and calibration for mission accuracy.
  • Troubleshoot and repair avionics, propulsion, gimbals, telemetry radios, GNSS/INS systems, and embedded controllers; perform bench-level diagnostics and field repairs under time constraints.
  • Maintain and update vehicle firmware, flight control software, autopilot parameters, and ground station configurations; validate software updates in simulation and staged flight tests before field deployment.
  • Implement and tune autonomy algorithms and waypoint-following behaviors; collaborate with autonomy engineers to test path-planning, obstacle avoidance, and failover behaviors in simulation and live trials.
  • Configure and maintain communication links (RF telemetry, SATCOM, ADS-B, encrypted channels), perform link budget analysis, and remediate interference, latency, and packet loss issues for robust data delivery.
  • Operate and validate GNSS/INS integration and RTK/PPK workflows to ensure centimeter-to-meter-level geolocation accuracy required for mapping, inspection, or payload operations.
  • Design and execute test plans and acceptance test procedures (ATP) for new platforms, payloads, or software releases; capture test evidence, produce anomaly reports, and drive remediation with engineering teams.
  • Perform mission data capture, initial processing, and quality control for imagery, LiDAR point clouds, sonar, and telemetry; prepare datasets for downstream analysis or client delivery following data governance and retention policies.
  • Lead risk assessments, safety of flight/operation briefings, and develop emergency response plans; enforce safety protocols, airspace/maritime deconfliction, and no-fly/no-go zone compliance.
  • Maintain regulatory compliance with applicable authorities (FAA Part 107, FAA waivers, local aviation authorities, maritime regulations, environmental permits), prepare flight/activity notifications (NOTAMs), and secure required waivers or permissions.
  • Create, update, and enforce standard operating procedures (SOPs), maintenance schedules, checklists, and training materials to improve reliability, reduce mission risk, and standardize operations across teams.
  • Manage batteries, payload power systems, and logistics for field deployments, including safe charging, transport, storage, and lifecycle tracking to prevent in-field failures and maintain regulatory compliance.
  • Coordinate and lead field deployments including staging, site surveys, weather and environmental assessment, liaising with customers or stakeholders, and ensuring mission deliverables are met on schedule and budget.
  • Supervise contractor or junior operator teams during operations, provide on-the-job training, mentorship, and performance feedback to build operator competency and mission readiness.
  • Support procurement, configuration, and lifecycle management of spares, consumables, and avionics components; interface with vendors for warranty support and technical escalations.
  • Implement and adhere to cybersecurity best practices for unmanned systems, including secure boot, encrypted telemetry, firmware signing, network segmentation, and incident reporting procedures.
  • Document mission reports, incident/accident reports, anomaly tracking, and lessons learned; translate operational feedback into requirements for engineering and product teams for continuous improvement.
  • Execute hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) and simulation-based validation of control laws, sensor fusion algorithms, and mission workflows to reduce risk prior to live deployment.
  • Conduct environmental impact assessments and follow mitigation measures for sensitive areas when planning and executing missions, especially for marine and wildlife-sensitive operations.
  • Collaborate with data scientists, GIS analysts, and customers to refine data collection parameters (resolution, overlap, sensor settings) to meet mapping, inspection, and analytics requirements.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and initial exploratory data validation to ensure collected datasets meet analytical needs and metadata standards.
  • Contribute to the organization's long-term unmanned systems strategy, roadmap, and capability planning by providing operational insights and lessons learned from deployments.
  • Collaborate with procurement and inventory teams to forecast spare parts demand and establish critical component lead times for continuous operational readiness.
  • Participate in cross-functional agile ceremonies when integrating new autonomy or payload features, offering operational acceptance criteria and input on test cases.
  • Provide training sessions and certification prep for new operators, and maintain training records and competency matrices for team readiness.
  • Assist business development with technical scoping, capability briefings, and customer-facing demonstrations to support proposals and grow mission pipelines.
  • Maintain continuity plans and readiness drills for degraded operations, including loss-of-link, GNSS-denied navigation, and severe weather contingencies.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Licensed remote pilot experience (FAA Part 107 or equivalent) and demonstrated ability to secure waivers and coordinate airspace authorizations.
  • Hands-on operation and deployment of multiple platform types: fixed-wing VTOL, multirotor, unmanned surface vessels (USV), and ground robots.
  • Autonomy software and frameworks knowledge (ROS/ROS2, PX4, Ardupilot) and experience integrating autonomy modules into production systems.
  • Proficiency in mission planning and ground control software (QGroundControl, Mission Planner, UgCS, MAVProxy) and creating automated mission scripts.
  • Strong software/scripting skills: Python for automation/data processing, C/C++ for embedded/flight control tuning, and Git-based version control workflows.
  • Sensor integration and calibration expertise: LiDAR, EO/IR cameras, multispectral sensors, SAR, acoustic sensors, and environmental payloads.
  • GNSS/INS, RTK/PPK, and sensor fusion knowledge to achieve precise geolocation and robust navigation in challenging environments.
  • Embedded systems, avionics, and communication protocols experience (CAN, UART, SPI, I2C, MAVLink) and troubleshooting of avionics stacks.
  • RF communications and telemetry expertise, including frequency planning, antenna selection, and SATCOM or long-range radio setups.
  • Test engineering skills: design and execution of field tests, HIL simulation, data validation, and creation of acceptance test plans (ATPs).
  • Battery systems knowledge: LiPo/Li-ion management, charging safety, cell balancing, battery health diagnostics, and storage protocols.
  • Experience with GIS, photogrammetry, and remote sensing workflows (Pix4D, Agisoft Metashape, QGIS) for mission data processing and deliverables.
  • Familiarity with cybersecurity controls for operational technology (OT) — secure firmware, access control, encrypted comms, and vulnerability reporting.
  • Maintenance and repair skills for mechanical systems, brushless motors, gimbals, and sensor mounts; use of multimeters, oscilloscopes, and soldering for field repair.
  • Experience producing detailed technical documentation, SOPs, maintenance logs, and incident reports using standard templates and CM systems.

Soft Skills

  • Clear oral and written communication for briefing crews, customers, regulators, and engineering teams.
  • Strong analytical problem-solving and root-cause analysis under operational time pressure.
  • Detail-oriented with rigorous adherence to safety checklists, regulations, and quality standards.
  • Team leadership, mentorship, and ability to train and upskill junior operators.
  • Adaptability and calm decision-making in dynamic field environments and contingency situations.
  • Project and time management to coordinate multi-day deployments, transport logistics, and cross-functional milestones.
  • Customer-facing professionalism and ability to translate technical constraints into mission outcomes for non-technical stakeholders.
  • Collaborative mindset for working with engineering, data, and program teams to close the loop on operational feedback.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Associate degree or relevant technical diploma (Avionics, Electronics, Marine Technology, Robotics) with demonstrable field experience and certifications.

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical/Electronics Engineering, Robotics, Computer Science, Marine Engineering, or related STEM field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Robotics / Mechatronics
  • Electrical / Electronics Engineering
  • Computer Science / Software Engineering
  • Marine Engineering / Naval Architecture
  • Geomatics / Remote Sensing / GIS

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 2–7 years of hands-on experience operating, maintaining, and deploying unmanned systems; experience ranges vary by platform complexity.

Preferred:

  • 5+ years of progressive experience across multiple unmanned platforms with leadership or lead-operator responsibilities, demonstrable track record of complex mission planning, sensor integration, and cross-functional collaboration. Security clearance or experience supporting defense/government contracts is a plus.
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