Drone Light Show Pilot

JOB DESCRIPTION

Location:

Hybrid / Alexandria, VA - Remote

Title:

Drone Pilot

Reports to:

Director of Operations

WHAT WE’RE ABOUT:

Pixis Drones crafts awe-inspiring aerial experiences by marrying artistry, engineering, and storytelling. We design and deliver large-scale drone light shows for brands, live events, and cultural moments around the globe. We’re a nimble, innovative, and entrepreneurial team passionate about precision, creativity, and pushing the boundaries of aerial entertainment.

THE ROLE:

You will serve as a flight lead (Pilot in Command or Co‑Pilot as assigned), responsible for the safe execution of drone light shows across an expansive scale—from small 100‑to-1,500 drone swarm operations—to translating artistic vision into safe, repeatable, high‑impact aerial performances.

FULL

JOB DESCRIPTION & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Flight Operations & Safety

• Act as RPIC / Co‑Pilot for test flights, rehearsals, and live shows; maintain command/control of the swarm.

• Lead comprehensive pre‑mission planning: site survey, grid/coordinate design, pad layout, margin offsets, termination zones, redundancy, and emergency procedures.

• Ensure full regulatory compliance: FAA Part 107, Remote , airspace authorizations (via LAANC / Drone Zone), night operations, and over‑people rules when applicable.

• Confirm night‑ops readiness: anti‑collision lighting, observer coverage, comms plan, geofence containment.

• Conduct on‑site safety briefings and risk reviews with your field crew, clients, and local stakeholders.

Systems, Software & Data

• Configure and validate RTK GNSS / ground station systems, redundancy, firmware, and containment logic pre‑flight.

• Load, simulate, validate, and monitor show files; manage change control and version history.

• Operate or integrate with drone show control software / flight stacks (UGCS, Pix Hawk derivatives, vendor show platforms).

• Monitor the health of battery systems (cycle counts, voltage curves), maintain flight & maintenance logs, and enforce charging discipline.

Field Leadership & Client Collaboration

• Lead, coordinate, and mentor a field crew (2–6 persons, scalable by show size) in setup, launch pad deployment, payload staging, and teardown.

• Act as the technical ambassador on site—interface with clients, venue staff, and regulatory/venue authorities.

• Troubleshoot live system anomalies, assess go / no‑go decisions, and abort show segments when necessary to protect safety and reputation.

Maintenance & Operational Readiness

• Conduct field inspections, minor repairs, and triage RMA processes; support keeping the drone fleet in show‑ready condition.

• Update, refine, and enforce SOPs, checklists, and safety protocols; train newer pilots/crew on best practices and risk management.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate in good standing.

• Demonstrated experience with multi‑rotor sUAS, preprogrammed formation/waypoint missions, and swarm control (show experience strongly preferred).

• Proficiency with airspace systems (LAANC / Drone Zone authorizations) and Remote .

• Working knowledge of RTK GNSS, geofencing, redundancy, ground control stations, and radio links.

• Experience with one or more UAV / show software systems (UGCS, Pix Hawk, or equivalent).

• Strong discipline with documentation, checklists, logs, and standard operating procedures.

• Flexible schedule: ability to travel heavily (50%‑75%), work nights, weekends, holidays and in varied weather conditions.

Preferred

• Proven experience in drone light show operations of 100+ drones — ideally up to swarm sizes in hundreds or more.

• Field leadership experience, including directing team operations and safety briefings.

• Familiarity with show tech ecosystems (timecode sync, audio/visual integration, communication chains).

• Background in military, robotics, entertainment technology, or aerial systems.

HOW WE WORK

At Pixis Drones, precision meets creative spectacle. We engineer safety into every show—from redundancy in hardware/software to procedural discipline and real‑time decision frameworks. Our creative edge is rooted in reliability and operational rigor. We welcome people from diverse domains—aviation, robotics, events,…