University of Advancing Technology (UAT) alumnus Joshua Pacheco — known to many in the UAT community as JP — served as former president of the UAT Drone Club.Today, he works as an Aeronautical Maintenance Technician with Amazon Prime Air in Seattle, Washington, where he supports autonomous aircraft operations at the intersection of software, hardware, and flight. In honor of National Aviation Day, JP shares how his time at UAT shaped the path he's on today — and where he sees autonomous aviation headed next.
Today, I work as an Aeronautical Maintenance Technician with Amazon Prime Air in Seattle, Washington, supporting the Data Autonomous Aircraft team. My role includes inspecting unmanned aircraft for airworthiness, performing maintenance and troubleshooting, and supporting the collection and upload of data used to help improve autonomous flight systems.
What makes this work especially meaningful to me is that it brings together several parts of my background. I use the systems-thinking and programming skills I developed through software engineering, the hardware and troubleshooting foundation from electrical engineering, and even lessons I learned through years of flying and racing drones. Drone racing taught me a great deal about aircraft behavior, control, responsiveness, and troubleshooting — and how even small changes can affect the way an aircraft performs.
My connection to drones also goes back to my time at the University of Advancing Technology, where I served as president of the Drone Club. UAT gave me an environment where I could combine aviation, software, electronics, fabrication, and hands-on experimentation, rather than treating them as separate disciplines. That mindset has carried directly into the work I do today.
Although I'm based in Seattle, I also travel to Arizona for expeditions supporting Prime Air flight operations. Those experiences have let me see autonomous aviation from both the maintenance and operational sides, and they've reinforced just how closely hardware, software, data, flight operations, and engineering have to work together.
I believe autonomous aircraft are part of the near future of aviation. Drone delivery is one of the most visible examples, but autonomous systems are also becoming increasingly important in areas such as infrastructure inspection, emergency response, logistics, environmental monitoring, public safety, and military operations. We're moving toward a world where unmanned aircraft will perform missions that are difficult, repetitive, dangerous, or inefficient for traditional aircraft.
That future also comes with an important responsibility. As autonomy becomes more capable, the industry will need people who understand not just software and artificial intelligence, but aircraft maintenance, electrical systems, flight characteristics, safety, and real-world operations. Autonomous aircraft may fly themselves, but they will still depend on skilled people to design, maintain, test, improve, and operate the systems behind them.
On this National Aviation Day, that's the reminder I keep coming back to: the future of flight isn't just about the machines becoming smarter — it's about the people who keep them flying safely.
Inspired by JP's journey? Discover how UAT's hands-on approach to robotics, software, and emerging technology can launch your own career in autonomous aviation. [Explore UAT Degrees →]
What UAT degree is the best fit for working with drones or autonomous aircraft?
The Robotics Engineering degree is the most direct path — it covers embedded systems, mechanical design, and autonomous robotic systems, giving students the hardware and control-systems foundation needed for unmanned aircraft work.
If I'm more interested in the software and AI side of autonomous flight, what should I study?
UAT's Software Engineering and Artificial Intelligence programs build the programming and systems-thinking skills behind autonomous decision-making and flight software — the kind of background that translates directly into data and automation roles.
What if I want to focus on the hands-on hardware and fabrication side?
Digital Maker & Fabrication gives students hands-on experience building and prototyping physical systems, which is valuable for aircraft assembly, hardware troubleshooting, and maintenance-focused roles.
Do any UAT degrees cover the data and connectivity side of autonomous systems?
Yes — Network Engineering and Data Science both apply here, since autonomous aircraft depend heavily on data collection, transmission, and processing to operate and improve over time.
Can I combine interests across these areas at UAT, or do I have to pick just one?
UAT is built around combining disciplines rather than isolating them — students can pursue a primary major while gaining exposure to aviation, electronics, software, and fabrication through clubs like the Drone Club, projects, and cross-disciplinary coursework.