22 ROV Pilot Jobs You Can Get in 2026

Now that you know what an ROV pilot is, let’s break down 22 different ways earn a living, including the industries actively hiring ROV pilots today:

Offshore Energy

#1 ROV Pilot Technician

What they do: Operate ROVs ranging from inspection-class to commercial work-class vehicles to access, inspect, and perform work on underwater pipelines and infrastructure.
Where they work: Offshore, near oil rigs and subsea pipelines (globally).
Searchable titles: ROV Pilot Technician I / II 
Hired by: Oceaneering — ROV Pilot Technician

#2 Subsea Cable ROV Pilot Technician

What they do: Operate, maintain, and repair ROVs used to install, bury, inspect, and repair subsea power and telecommunications cables.
Where they work: Offshore platforms and vessels (globally).
Searchable titles: Subsea Technician, ROV Pilot Technician
Hired by: Prysmian Group — Subsea ROV Technician

#3 Offshore Wind ROV Technician

What they do: Operate ROVs to inspect, maintain, and repair subsea foundations, cables, and structures at offshore wind farms.
Where they work: Offshore support vessels and platforms near wind farms.
Searchable titles: Offshore ROV Technician, ROV Tooling Technician
Hired by: Ørsted — Offshore ROV Technician

Science, Research & Exploration

#4 Research Vessel ROV Pilot

What they do: Operate ROVs of various sizes aboard research vessels, assisting with scientific data collection during expeditions.
Where they work: Offshore on research vessels or research platforms.
Searchable titles: Research ROV Pilot, Research Vessel ROV Pilot
Hired by: Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute – ROV Pilot/Technician

#5 Marine Research ROV Operator

What they do: Operate ROVs to monitor and collect environmental data in oceans, lakes, and other bodies of water.
Where they work: Boats, docks, and data collection platforms.
Searchable titles: Marine Research ROV Pilot, ROV Pilot for Research

#6 Deep-Sea Exploration ROV Technician

What they do: Operate large, commercial-class ROVs to collect data and imagery from the ocean floor for scientific and exploratory purposes.
Where they work: Research vessels and offshore platforms.
Searchable titles: Deep-Sea ROV Pilot, ROV Pilot for Exploration
Hired by: NOAA – ROV Survey Technician

Commercial, Infrastructure & Inspection

#7 Inspection ROV Pilot

What they do: Operate ROVs to inspect canals, pipelines, jetties, dams, rivers, and other underwater infrastructure for damage or structural concerns.
Where they work: Platforms near canals, pipelines, jetties, dams, and waterways.
Searchable titles: ROV Inspection Technician, Commercial ROV Pilot
Hired by: Fugro — ROV Pilot / Technician 1

#8 Port & Harbor Inspection Technician

What they do: Operate ROVs to survey ports and harbors, identifying and assessing underwater structural issues.
Where they work: Docks and inspection platforms near ports and harbors.
Searchable titles: ROV Pilot for Port Inspections, Structural Inspection ROV Pilot

Military & Defense

#9 Defense / Naval ROV Operator

What they do: Operate ROVs for inspection, surveillance, object retrieval, and security operations aboard naval vessels and platforms.
Where they work: Military bases and naval ships.
Searchable titles: Military ROV Pilot, Navy ROV Operator
Hired by: U.S. Navy — ROV Operator (EOD Support)

#10 ROV Pilot for Mine Neutralization

What they do: Assist naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams in detecting and neutralizing naval mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO).
Where they work: Military bases, docks, and offshore platforms.
Searchable titles: ROV Pilot for Mine Neutralization, Military ROV Pilot

#11 UUV / ROV Specialist

What they do: Operate unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) and ROVs for specialized military inspections, assessments, and missions.
Where they work: Naval ships, military bases, and offshore platforms.
Searchable titles: ROV Pilot, UUV Pilot, Military ROV Pilot

Law Enforcement & Public Safety

#12 Search & Recovery ROV Pilot

What they do: Assist search-and-rescue teams in locating and recovering objects or individuals underwater using ROVs.
Where they work: Law enforcement, fire departments, SAR teams, boats, and docks.
Searchable titles: Search & Recovery ROV Pilot

#13 Police Diver / ROV Operator

What they do: Use ROVs to collect evidence, recover objects or missing persons, and conduct underwater surveillance.
Where they work: Police departments, boats, docks, and mobile command units.
Searchable titles: Police ROV Pilot, ROV Unit (ROV-U), ROV Pilot for SAR

#14 ROV Pilot for Underwater Recovery

What they do: Conduct underwater recovery operations when diving is unsafe or impractical, supporting investigations and evidence collection.
Where they work: Boats, docks, and control platforms.
Searchable titles: ROV Pilot for Underwater Recovery

Environmental, Fisheries & Conservation

#15 Environmental Monitoring ROV Technician

What they do: Operate ROVs to collect environmental data and monitor ecosystem changes over time.
Where they work: Boats, research vessels, and control platforms.
Searchable titles: ROV Technician, Marine Research Technician

#16 Fisheries & Aquaculture ROV Operator

What they do: Use ROVs to inspect fish farms, assess stock health, monitor equipment, and reduce the need for in-water diving.
Where they work: Aquaculture facilities and fisheries.
Searchable titles: Aquaculture ROV Pilot, Fisheries ROV Operator

#17 Marine Archaeology ROV Pilot

What they do: Operate ROVs to locate, document, and assist in the recovery of underwater artifacts and historical sites.
Where they work: Research vessels and archaeological project sites.
Searchable titles: ROV Pilot for Marine Archaeology

Media, Training & Private Industry

#18 Documentary ROV Operator

What they do: Operate ROVs to capture high-quality underwater video and photography for documentaries and media productions.
Where they work: Film vessels and production boats.
Searchable titles: ROV Pilot for Cinematography, Documentary ROV Operator

#19 ROV Instructor / Trainer

What they do: Train professionals to safely and effectively operate ROVs across various industries.
Where they work: Training facilities and programs worldwide.
Searchable titles: ROV Instructor, ROV Pilot Trainer

#20 ROV Field Service Technician

What they do: Diagnose, repair, and support ROV systems in the field, ensuring operational readiness.
Where they work: Alongside ROV pilots on vessels or job sites.
Searchable titles: ROV Field Service Technician, ROV Support Technician

Freelance & Emerging Paths

#21 Freelance ROV Pilot

What they do: Provide contract-based ROV services across multiple industries and project types.
Where they work: Varies by project and client.
Searchable titles: Freelance ROV Pilot, Contract ROV Operator

#22 Remote Operations Centre (ROC) ROV Pilot

What they do: Operate ROVs remotely from onshore control centers using live data feeds and telemetry.
Where they work: Remote Operations Centers (onshore).
Searchable titles: ROC ROV Pilot, Remote ROV Operator

The Future is Bright for ROV Pilots

In a world made up primarily of oceans, the demand for professionals who operate critical underwater technology will only continue to grow. Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) play a vital role in exploring, inspecting, monitoring, and protecting the underwater environment—and as these systems become more advanced, so does the need for skilled ROV pilots and operators.

ROVs are no longer niche tools. They are now mission-critical technology across industries including offshore energy, marine research, subsea inspection, defense, aquaculture, and environmental monitoring. As adoption increases, the global workforce required to operate and support these vehicles is expanding rapidly.

More Robots = More People

Despite rapid advancements in robotics and automation, ROV operations still rely heavily on human expertise. ROV pilots, technicians, and operators are essential for configuring missions, interpreting data, fine-tuning vehicle performance, and responding to complex underwater scenarios in real time.

This growing demand is driving increased investment in ROV training, education, and certification programs, creating new career pathways for the next generation of underwater professionals. From scientific research and infrastructure inspection to disaster prevention, intervention, and recovery, human-in-the-loop robotics will remain critical well into the future.

By 2030, the global blue economy is projected to reach $2.5 trillion, effectively doubling in size and unlocking new opportunities across marine and subsea industries worldwide. This growth signals long-term demand for skilled ROV pilots and underwater robotics professionals.

Follow our social channels to stay informed on emerging ROV markets, industry trends, and career opportunities—and learn how you can be at the forefront of underwater robotics and subsea technology.

Learn more about ROVs

Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) are transforming disaster preparedness by enabling inspections in hard-to-reach or hazardous areas where safety and accuracy are critical. If your team is exploring how ROVs can strengthen your inspection and response capabilities, learn more about the SRV-8 or Contact Us to book a demo today.