Which Uncrewed Systems Career is Right For You?

So, you’re interested in a career in uncrewed systems (also called unmanned systems). Whether you have a specific area of the industry in mind or you’re exploring your options, there are many exciting paths you can take.

From agriculture and construction management to public safety and security, the number of career fields that utilize drones is constantly growing.

At Embry‑Riddle, our uncrewed systems degrees can prepare you for a successful future in whichever field best suits your unique interests and employment goals, whether in the air, on the ground or at sea.

Take a look at a sampling of the paths you can take with your uncrewed systems degree from Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University, whether at our residential Daytona Beach and Prescott campuses or our online Worldwide Campus.

Check Out a Handful of Your Opportunities:

Agriculture

Uncrewed systems are increasingly popular among farmworkers. From surveying crops and creating vegetation index maps to tracking turf management and studying the health of plants, drones are extremely valuable to farmers.

Construction

In construction, drones help companies conduct pre-building site inspections, monitor their operations and more. If you’re interested in keeping track of project progress, safety conditions and stockpile locations, this may be a good fit for you.

Energy

Drones are highly beneficial to energy companies, providing quicker and more cost-effective methods of inspecting power lines, solar panels, wind turbines and more. Whether you want to work as a freelancer or in-house, the outlook for uncrewed systems work in the energy industry is promising, with the FAA giving more companies BVLOS (beyond visual line of sight) waivers to inspect larger areas in shorter amounts of time.

Government

Many civilian agencies use uncrewed systems technology to help conduct their work. From the Department of Homeland Security to the Interior Department, drones help a range of government agencies in several types of missions. Working in government could be an excellent choice if you want to utilize uncrewed systems for mapping, imaging, disaster relief, search and rescue, and surveillance.

Public Safety

Uncrewed systems are used in a variety of ways in the public safety sector. In fire departments, drones are used for situational awareness during fires and creating orthomosaic maps of buildings. Law enforcement uses drones in similar ways, including creating maps of buildings to help evacuations in an emergency. Both use drones to locate people in need and survey damage after natural disasters. If you work well in high-pressure environments, this could be a great career path to pursue.

Science Surveys

Uncrewed system technology offers a significant benefit to science surveys, providing aerial data collection that allows for additional research to be completed. Whether archaeological, meteorological or environmental research, this uncrewed systems application provides an opportunity for enhanced research that will positively impact outcomes in the field.

Transportation

As seen in many industries, drones are helping reduce the time and cost of transportation inspections. Uncrewed systems are used to inspect critical infrastructure such as railroads, roads, bridges, monorails and more in the transportation sector. To excel in this field, you’ll need a basic understanding of the criteria to use during inspections to identify problem areas that need improvement.

Urban Air Mobility

Another growing area of this technology is known as Urban Air Mobility (UAM), a new approach to air transportation that will utilize uncrewed systems in urban and suburban environments. UAM will provide a way to help ease urban traffic congestion and offer alternative ways for both passengers and cargo to be transported.

Ready to learn more about earning an uncrewed systems degree at Embry‑Riddle? Discover your options today.