Drone Jobs in Virginia
Virginia is the defence drone capital of the US. Northern Virginia’s proximity to the Pentagon and federal agencies concentrates UAS engineering, programme management and business development roles, while delivery operations and manufacturing add to the mix. The listings below cover Virginia employers hiring now.
- Roles open
- 182
No state is more tightly bound to defence drone work than Virginia. Northern Virginia’s proximity to the Pentagon, federal agencies and the intelligence community means leading UAS manufacturers and government contractors base headquarters, programme offices and business development teams here, hiring engagement and programme managers, systems and software engineers and regulatory specialists, often with a security clearance attached.
It is not only defence. Virginia is a launch market for drone delivery, with regulatory affairs and area manager roles appearing alongside the engineering, and the Shenandoah Valley hosts composite and assembly manufacturing for unmanned aircraft. Commercial piloting across the state, as everywhere in the US, requires an FAA Part 107 certificate.
Explore drone engineer jobs and drone software jobs, or see all drone jobs in the US.
Questions, answered
- Why does Virginia have so many drone jobs?
- Northern Virginia hosts the headquarters and programme offices of major defence UAS makers and government contractors, so engineering, programme and business development roles cluster here.
- Do I need a Part 107 licence for drone jobs in Virginia?
- For commercial piloting and delivery operations, yes. Many Virginia roles are engineering, programme management or business development and do not require it, though a security clearance often is.
- Do drone jobs in Virginia require a security clearance?
- Many defence-facing roles do, or prefer candidates eligible for one. Commercial, delivery and manufacturing roles generally do not.
- Where in Virginia are the drone jobs?
- Mostly Northern Virginia: the Dulles corridor around Ashburn and Sterling, plus Alexandria, Arlington, Tysons, Centreville and Manassas. Winchester and the Shenandoah Valley add manufacturing.