Program Specialist I (Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Pilot - Drones), Grade 18
Salary
$64,104.00 - $101,124.00 Annually
Location
100 Edison Park Dr Gaithersburg MD 20878 USA
Job Type
Permanent
Job Number
2026-00596
Department
Department of Police
Division
POL 47 SOB OID Strategic Initiatives - Aerial Support
Opening Date
10/06/2026
Closing Date
10/13/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
FLSA
Exempt
About the Position
Please note: The salary range above represents this position's earning potential. The anticipated hiring range for this position will be $64,104 to $94,007.00, based on the candidate's qualifications and experience.
WHO WE ARE
The Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) is made up of approximately 1,200 sworn officers and approximately 800 support personnel. The Police Department was established in 1922 and today is responsible for providing service to a County with a population of over one million people.
WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR
The Department of Police is looking for trained and experienced UAS pilots to support Montgomery County Police Drone operations, particularly within our award-winning Drone as First Responder program (DFR). We are looking for licensed pilots with at least 20 logged flight hours, including at least 15 verified flight hours flown under Part 107. Preferably, we are looking for pilots who have proficiency operating drones in real-time information gathering with familiarity in Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations.
What Youll Be Doing
Montgomery County UAS pilots operate UAS (Drones) to support law enforcement activities including supporting patrol calls for service (especially via our DFR Program), search and rescue, and traffic accident investigation. Using FAA-certified skills and law enforcement training, these pilots deploy drones to provide real-time aerial imagery that enhances situational awareness and officer safety. They assist with responding to emergency calls for service, mapping crime scenes, documenting evidence, and helping tactical teams assess risks from a remote vantage point. The pilots responsibilities include maintaining proficiency in flight operations, adhering to department policy, and using drone technology to improve both response times and investigative accuracy. You will also be assisting our Real Time Intelligence Center (RTIC) personnel, by providing real time intelligence to Department employees.
Minimum Qualifications
Experience: One (1) year of professional experience in UAS pilot (drones) with a minimum of 20 logged flight hours and a logbook with 15 or more Part 107 flight hours.
Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree.
Equivalency: An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.
License: Possession and maintenance at all times of a valid Class "C" (or equivalent) driver's license from the applicant's start of residence when required for job-related duties and has current FAA 107 Drone Pilots License.
Preferred Criteria, Interview Preferences
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
The Office of Human Resources (OHR) reviews the minimum qualifications of all applicants, irrespective of whether the candidate has previously been found to have met the minimum requirements for the job or been temporarily promoted to the same position. This evaluation is based solely on the information contained in the application/resume submitted for this specific position.
Montgomery County Government(MCG) is an equal opportunity employer, committed to workforce diversity. Accordingly, as it relates to employment opportunities, the County will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, in accordance with the law. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should email OHR at Hiring@montgomerycountymd.gov. Individual determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made in accordance with all applicable laws.
MCG also provides hiring preference to certain categories of veterans and veterans/persons with a disability. For more information and to claim employment preference, refer to the Careers webpage on Hiring Preference.
All applicants will respond to a series of questions related to their education, relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities required to minimally perform the job. The applicants responses in conjunction with their resume and all other information provided in the employment application process will be evaluated to determine the minimum qualifications and preferred criteria or interview preference status. Based on the results, the highest qualified applicants will be placed on an Eligible List and may be considered for an interview. Employees meeting minimum qualifications who are the same grade will be placed on the Eligible List as a "Lateral Transfer" candidate and may be considered for an interview.
This will establish an Eligible List that may be used to fill both current and future vacancies.
If selected for consideration for this position, you may be required to provide evidence that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities indicated on your resume.
Montgomery County Ethics Law: Except as provided by law or regulation, the Countys "Public Employees" (which does not include employees of the Sheriffs office) are subject to the Countys ethics law including the requirements to obtain advanced approval of any outside employment and the prohibitions on certain outside employment. The outside employment requirements of the ethics law can be found at 19A-12 of the County Code. Additional information about outside employment can be obtained from the Ethics Commission website.
Leave Benefits
Our generous leave package starts with non-MLS permanent and term employees earning 15 days of sick leave and 15 days of annual leave in their first year, as well as up to three additional personal days each calendar year. Positions in MLS earn 35 days of paid time off each year. In addition, we offer all employees 10 paid holidays. Our leave policies adhere to the Family Medical Leave Act of 1993, and we provide six weeks of paid parental leave for new parents.
Retirement Benefits
All permanent and term positions are eligible for robust retirement plans. Public safety positions are eligible for a defined benefit pension plan in which they are vested after only five years. Employees in non-public safety positions can participate in retirement plans that contribute up to 12 percent of their annual salary. All employees can also participate in a supplemental retirement plan, the 457 Deferred Compensation Plan, to contribute even more to their retirement goals.
Tuition Assistance & Student Loan Forgiveness
Montgomery County employees are eligible to participate in the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Participants who meet all requirements may qualify for forgiveness on the remaining balance on their Direct Loans after making 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time in a qualifying public service position. To learn more about PSLF, please visit the Student Loan Repayment Benefits page. Our tuition assistance program allows you to receive up to $2,130 annually in tuition assistance to help you achieve a degree that supports your career path.
Free Mass Transit Benefit
County employees are entitled to use the RideOn Bus service for free with a valid County-employee ID. This benefit can be used any time of the day or evening, including weekends. We also offer a pre-tax flexible spending account to reduce the cost of other mass-transit options such as MARC trains and Metro.
Reduced Child and Health Care Costs
Working for Montgomery County also entitles permanent and term employees to participate in healthcare and childcare Flexible Spending Accounts. These plans allow eligible employees to save on a pretax basis for healthcare and dependent care costs incurred during the plan year.
Employee Wellbeing
We deeply care about your holistic wellness. Our award-winning wellness program, LiveWell, will support you in improving and maintaining your physical, mental, financial, social, and intellectual well-being.
Learn more about our wonderful benefits available to you once you join our team. Montgomery County Benefits
Employer Montgomery County (MD)
Address 101 Monroe Street
7th Floor
Rockville, Maryland, 20850
Phone 240-777-5000
| Location | Gaithersburg, MD |
| Salary | $64,104–$94,007 Per Year |
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