[This is a sponsored article with MRANTI.]
There was a time when drones were seen as a toy or just a cool tool. They have been used by photographers and videographers to showcase their creativity through stunning overhead shots.
Later finding their way into more fields, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are now commonly used to improve agriculture, construction, security, surveillance, and search and rescue.
Drone technology (dronetech) is a booming industry in Malaysia alone, which is why it is expected to contribute RM50.71 billion to the country’s GDP by 2030 and create 100,000 high-value job opportunities.
And no, those jobs aren’t just for pilots and engineers.
To get us there, the government developed a national action plan called the Malaysia Drone Technology Action Plan 2022-2030 (MDTAP30).
The Malaysian Research Accelerator for Technology and Innovation (MRANTI) has been appointed by the Ministry of Technology, Science and Innovation (MOSTI) to spearhead the agenda.
If you’re hoping to get involved in the drone technology industry, here are some top Malaysian drone companies with jobs and training opportunities related to drones.
Hint, hint. The first two names on this list were also ranked in the top 20 global drone service provider rankings for 2022.
Drone companies
1. Aerodyne Group (Aerodyne)
Ranked #1 on this list and the 2022 Drone Service Providers Ranking, Aerodyne originally started as a media production company that also used drones in its services. Aerodyne later evolved into a drone maintenance company, and the drones were even used to provide relief to flood victims.
As the startup grew, the team expanded to provide services in agri-tech, construction, logistics and other industries, where the use of drones and data technology helped make asset inspection and monitoring more efficient, faster and safer.
Aerodyne has been working with MRANTI for some time now, and they were part of the August 2021 launch of Area 57. In a nutshell, Area 57 is the one-stop hub for drone technology innovation in Malaysia, and this is where Aerodyne will debut its first BVLOS. flight demonstration to MOSTI.
Did you know? BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) refers to the operation of UAVs and UAVs at distances beyond the pilot’s normal visual range. This allows the drone to cover much greater distances.
Technology of unmanned systems / Geospatial world
Headquartered in Cyberjaya, Aerodyne is now present in 44 countries worldwide, including Australia, USA, UAE, India, Japan, Kazakhstan and Indonesia.
Beyond having the technical knowledge for the job, Aerodyne employees (also known as AeroRangers) are valued for their soft skills, which include leadership, communication, teamwork, adaptability and problem-solving abilities.
Candidates who can demonstrate these qualities may have a better chance of fitting into the company’s culture. Those who are interested and up-to-date about the industry are also appreciated.
Open vacancies at Aerodyne include:
- Lead Game/Digital Twin Developer
- Group Management Report Manager
- Senior Executive, Group Treasury
- Governance, Risk and Compliance Manager
- Practice
Check them out here.
2. Meraque
Meraque started in 2017 as a UAV operator in Facilities Management Building Services. They have since ventured into agriculture, telecommunications, entertainment and logistics.
The team’s involvement with MRANTI was seen during the 2022 flood response, where Meraque drones were used for surveillance and delivery of critical medical supplies via Pharmaniaga.
Meraque also appeared in the Drone Services Providers Ranking 2022 as a top 20 drone company.
Meraque’s office in Puchong is a place where employees are trusted with ownership of their work.
Aiming to continuously improve their products and services, as a candidate you will have an advantage if you work well in a team and are passionate about your work.
Meraque’s open vacancies include:
- Data analyst
- Product design
- Junior CAD Drawing
- A drone pilot
- Corporate Communications Intern
- Networking (IT)
- Drone engineer
- Engineer-Mechanic Intern
Check them out here.
3. MALVUS Feeling (MALVUS)
MALVUS, short for Malaysia Vision Unmanned System, was launched in September 2016. Headquartered in Bangui, they also have offices in Miri and Kota Kinabalu.
Providing services in aerial patrol, structural integrity inspection and precision agriculture, MALVUS clients include TNB and Petronas to name a few.
They also work in many data-driven operations such as acquisition and analysis, drone assembly and maintenance, and drone pilot training.
Regarding the company’s values, the MALVUS team believes that qualification is not the only prerequisite for getting a job there. Instead, they look for candidates who are success-driven and resourceful.
MALVUS open vacancies include:
- Field camera
- Geographic Information System (GIS) Analyst
- junior geologist
- Integrity Engineer
- Finance Executive
- Business Development Executive
Check them out here.
Drone training centers
4. Drone Academy Asia
Cyberjaya-based Drone Academy Asia was founded in 2018 when the team noticed that the bulk of drone usage in Malaysia was skewed towards aerial photography and hobbyists.
At the time, there was still no local drone vocational training center to train workers to use drones for commercial functions.
Hence, Drone Academy Asia stepped in to fill the gap by providing a drone pilot certificate approved by the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM).
A desire to master is a highly valued trait in anyone looking to join the Drone Academy Asia team.
Drone Academy Asia open vacancies include:
- Drone instructor
- Drone Education Sales Executive
- Digital Marketing Coordinator
- Marketing Intern
Check them out here.
5. Aeronerve Institute
Bangui-based Aeronerve was founded in 2018 to provide drone solutions for construction, agriculture, surveillance and defense.
Like Drone Academy Asia, the Aeronerve team also recognized that there was a workforce know-how gap in commercial drone operations.
Therefore, the Aeronerve Institute was launched in 2022 as a drone training and consultancy division under Aeronerve.
To date, the institute shared that they have trained more than 3,000 candidates, including government officials, researchers, private drone fleet personnel and individuals seeking to improve.
As educators and instructors, they look for team members who are able to train others and who can foster a collaborative culture within the company.
Aeronerve Institute open vacancies include:
- STEM Educator-cum-Drone Instructor
- Digital Marketing Executive
- Business Development Executive
Check them out here.
6. Bonus. Asia’s Drone IoT Technologies (Drone of Asia)
Note: They are not currently hiring, but this is a drone company to keep an eye on for your future vacancies.
Founded in 2018, Asia Drone said they have trained more than 1,000 remote pilots in drone operations such as aerial mapping and surveying, precision agriculture, and maintenance and repair.
As a drone training center in KL and Johor, Asia Drone offers programs to nurture local talent and help them find employment in the industry.
They seek to upskill participants with technical or vocational training, or even laid-off workers from industries such as oil and gas, aviation, IT and software.
Furthermore, graduates of their programs (Dronetroopers) may be offered employment opportunities with the company and partners if vacancies arise.
When it comes to working at Asia Drone, team members are required to be creative and critical and have the ability to communicate. This is because if they are hired as instructors, they must be skilled in interacting with students.
You can track job openings here.
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A big misconception about working in the drone industry is that it only involves those who know how to fly a drone, such as pilots, engineers, etc.
In reality, however, drone operation is only 20% of the entire project workflow, with the remaining 80% comprised of data processing, analysis, and other background skills. Nizal Syafiq, executive director of the Aeronerve Institute, informed about it.
In addition to the companies we’ve highlighted, there are even more opportunities for those who want to actively participate in drone training and drone technology job openings. These can be found by contacting MRANTI directly via area57@mranti.my.
Area 57 also hosts drone training providers such as DJI Academy Selangor, Archidrone and TDXC, which uses the area for practical drone flights in designated areas.
- Learn more about MRANTI here.
- Read other articles related to dronetech here.
Featured Image Credit: Drone Academy Asia / Meraque