Uncrewed Vehicle Systems: Navigating New Frontiers
What does a career in Uncrewed Vehicle Systems look like?
Do you have a strong mechanical aptitude and a detail-oriented work ethic?
Do you enjoy building projects from the ground up and collaborating with others to achieve a common goal?
Are you passionate about leveraging technology to help solve real-world problems?
If so, a career in uncrewed vehicle systems (UVS) may be an excellent fit for you. UVS operators can work in an array of industries, including media arts, agriculture, real estate, national security, transportation, construction, engineering, surveying and mapping for government agencies, parcel delivery, and freelance gigs. Specialties include uncrewed aerial systems (UAS), uncrewed ground vehicles (UGV), and uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUV).
Your Pathway to Success
Read on for our comprehensive guide to Uncrewed Vehicle Systems (UVS) education and training in Montana. Whether you're seeking rapid training programs, certificates, or advanced degrees, you'll find diverse educational pathways to help you align your studies with your career goals.
Check out our Digital Technology Career Pathways page to explore in-demand UVS jobs in Montana and take the first step toward an exciting career in this emerging field.
Rapid Training, Certificates, and One- and Two-Year Programs
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Program Length: 3 days
Description: The Introduction to sUAS course is generally offered twice a year. This course will introduce students to the fundamental concepts of becoming a remote pilot. Course fee includes FAA study guide, simulator time, and training aircraft for actual flight time.
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Aviation Electronics Technology Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.)
Program Length: 2 years
Description: Students completing the two-year Aviation Electronics Technology (Avionics) program at Gallatin College MSU will learn the practical and technical applications of avionics within the aviation industry. Through hands-on training with aircraft electronics and associated electrical equipment, you will learn to test, troubleshoot, and repair components for communication, navigation, instrument, and control systems. Graduates will be prepared to earn industry recognized certifications and work as technicians in the aircraft electronics maintenance and repair field, earning high wages in an industry needing these highly demanded skills.
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Aviation Maintenance Technology Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.)
Program Length: 2 years
Description: The Aviation Maintenance Technology program at Helena College provides students with the basic skills common to all mechanics as well as the specialized requirements unique to aircraft maintenance. Satisfactory completion of the program prepares and qualifies students for the Federal Aviation Administration tests to obtain an Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic license. Completion of the program will also give the student the necessary job skills to gain employment in the aircraft industry. The Aviation Maintenance Technology program is approved and licensed by the FAA and requires five semesters of study to complete the course.
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Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Undergraduate Certificate
Program Length: 1 year
Description: The 15-credit UAS Development and Analytics certificate transcends the basic skills required to pilot a drone by teaching how to incorporate data collected from the drones into research. . Graduates of the program possess a balanced UAS skillset based on comprehensive knowledge of hardware and components, sensors and data interpretation, and advanced applications software. Montana Tech is also constructing the state’s first drone obstacle course to help students advance in their drone piloting abilities.
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Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Operations Certification
Program Length: 1 year
Description: Salish Kootenai College's 15-credit UAS Operations certificate teaches students how to operate UAS including skills such as conducting mission/preflight planning, UAS operations, and utilizing data. Students will also be taught to perform limited UAS and ground support equipment testing, troubleshooting, and maintenance. The UAS certification is intended to prepare students for a fast growing industry with many civilian applications including agriculture, search and rescue, monitoring environment and wildlife, fire mapping, surveying structures after natural disasters, and real estate photography.
Post-Graduate Programs
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Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Development & Analytics, Graduate Certificate
Program Length: 1 semester (15 weeks)
Description: The Montana Tech UAS Development & Analytics Graduate Certificate is a 15-credit certificate targeting students in graduate degree programs. As the graduate level, students will be prepared to become FAA Part 107 Certified drone pilots, gain hands-on experience with advanced UAS and designing data collection campaigns, and develop a balanced UAS skillset based on thorough knowledge of hardware and components, sensors and data interpretation, and advanced applications software.
Skill Development and Certifications
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Discover the engineering and computer science behind drones as you build, configure, and prepare a class-owned model for flight. Learn key drone laws, regulations, and subsystem components, then practice takeoff, hovering, landing, and basic maneuvers using drones provided by the Lifelong Learning Center. Perfect for aspiring drone enthusiasts eager to take their skills to new heights!
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Montana Drone Company is partnering with Pilot Institute to offer their online study tutorial to go through all the course material at your own pace for the Part 107 licensing exam. Flight training is available in Bozeman, Helena, and Missoula, but they are open to conducting a training anywhere in Montana
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This FAA webpage explains the requirements and certifications needed to become a certified remote drone pilot.
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Drone certification, also known as a Remote Pilot Certificate or Part 107 license, is an official designation for drone pilots from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). For over 8 years DroneU has helped thousands of students ace the Part 107 exam and become a certified remote pilot
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The University of Providence’s Argo Connect and dual credit programs are crucial in helping to increase the educational options and opportunities for currently enrolled high school juniors and seniors. Not only do these programs provide students with a unique opportunity to earn credit at the secondary and postsecondary levels simultaneously – they provide students with an early glimpse of college life; including course load, deadlines, structure, and more. Students in Dual Enrollment can take up to three 3-credit courses at no cost.
Additional Career Resources
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Check out our uncrewed vehicle systems (UVS) career pathways to explore in-demand UVS jobs in Montana.
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As Montana continues to emerge as a thriving tech hub, it’s creating abundant opportunities across the state’s diverse tech sector. Our list of 31 Hot Montana Jobs 2025 includes opportunities for Montanans of all backgrounds, with pathways into fields such as robotics, digital forensics, and game design.
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Our list of 10 Hot Montana Photonics Jobs for 2024 highlights high-growth photonics roles (including drone pilot), based on workforce data, to guide students, job-seekers, and community leaders in exploring Montana’s future in this field.
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To identify in-demand roles in Montana, our team at the Montana High Tech Business Alliance pored over workforce data from the U.S. Department of Labor, research studies, and online job listings to create a list of tech jobs projected to grow fast in the next few years. See our list of 31 hot Montana jobs projected for 2023.
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The mission of the University of Montana’s Autonomous Aerial Systems Office (AASO) is to:
Coordinate and guide faculty, staff, and students through the understanding and decision-making process, regarding implementation of UAS in a changing research and regulatory environment
Establish the infrastructure and resources in order to create sustainable autonomous aerial research
Stimulate UAS-related innovation, entrepreneurship and workforce development in the state of Montana.
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MSU follows a thorough and well-coordinated process in approving the use of UAS on and around campus. The information outlined in this web page applies to all university faculty, staff, students and hobbyists and recreational users who wish to operate UAS on or over University property.
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We invite you to take advantage of Microsoft's Skills for Jobs initiative, which offers free access to LinkedIn Learning courses covering a wide range of topics, including AI and soft skills. Enhance your digital skills and empower your team and community with valuable knowledge that aligns with the evolving needs of today's economy.
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CompTIA’s Career Explorer is a comprehensive resource designed to inform, inspire, and guide individuals toward their next career step in the tech industry and beyond. Explore the entire portfolio of Career Explorer resources at no cost, watch video profiles featuring diverse professionals sharing their non-traditional paths into tech careers, and gain insights into earnings potential, job outlook, employer hiring trends, remote work opportunities, and much more across the U.S. and 250 metro areas.
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Reach Higher Montana’s Work-Based Learning Collaborative website features resources for employers to grow their talent pipeline through work-based learning, materials to help educators connect their classroom learning to careers, and links to resources that will help Montana students explore their career interests through on-the-job training.
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The WBLC Data Dashboard aims to make data on work-based learning in Montana accessible to help improve workforce support, work-based learning, and educational opportunities so that young people are better prepared for employment success and employers gain skilled workers. Updates are made annually.
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Produced by the Montana Work-Based Learning Collaborative, the WBL Toolkit for Employers provides employers with resources, tools, and guidance to successfully develop high-quality work-based learning experiences for student workers.
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The informational interviews handout from the University of Montana College of Business lists five steps for setting up successful informational interviews to learn more about a specific company or industry.
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Internships serve as crucial stepping stones into the workforce. Check out “Internships 101: Aceing Your Application” for expert tips from Montana High Tech Business Alliance members to confidently apply for your next internship.
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Read “5 Tips to Set Yourself Up for Success in a Tech Career” to learn tips for launching a career in tech from hiring managers at Blackfoot Communications, Submittable, GL Solutions, onX, Skyfish, Cognizant, NorthWestern Energy, Pathlabs, Snapchat, and Instacart.
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In “5 Tips from Hiring Managers - How to Land a Montana Tech Job or Internship” local hiring managers from Boeing Helena, Hyundai Motor Group, and Zoot Enterprises share advice to help students stand out when applying for a Montana tech job or internship.
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See what tips you can use to give you an advantage in pursuing tech jobs or internships in Montana.
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Learn more about engineering career pathways and high-tech jobs available to you through Gallatin College and Montana State University.
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Check out MHTBA’s Great Places for Tech article series to learn more about high-tech opportunities in Montana.
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Take a look at our Jobs board that we use to post many tech jobs that are in Montana from entry level to Senior level positions.
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If you can’t find what you’re looking for on our Jobs Board, see this O*NET Career Database for additional information.
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Interested in more careers outside of Montana or outside the High Tech Industry? Find additional occupational information on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics website.
Do you have a helpful resource you’d like to suggest we add to this guide? Do you have information you are searching for, or other feedback? The Montana High Tech Business Alliance would love to hear from you. Please reach out to us at communications[at]mthightech.org.