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Job Purpose and Impact

The Remote Pilot in Command job implements and reviews ground, flight, and data processing operations during the deployment of remotely operated aircraft systems, supporting project scheduling and final coordination. With limited supervision, this job develops moderately complex project plans, including flight planning, equipment selection, safety checks, troubleshooting, and travel coordination. This job ensures safe drone launch and recovery, trains entry level operators on aeronautical decisions considering weather, hazards, drone limitations, flight paths, telemetry data, automated flight software, and energy management. This job aligns day-to-day operations with project plans, completes risk assessments, and ensures flight crew safety.

Key Accountabilities

• DRONE OPERATIONS: Acts as a remote pilot in command and project leader at the organization's dispersed locations, effectively operating remotely operated aircraft systems, adhering to all applicable regulations and internal company policies, while completing project requirements, supporting decision making and conducting on site coordination.
• FLIGHT SAFETY: Performs moderately complex preflight, inflight and post flight tasks and safety checks, troubleshoots equipment issues to ensure the safe and efficient operation of remotely operated aircraft systems, and participates in the safety management system program and specific accident reporting requirements and procedures.
• SITE SOLUTIONING: Partners to develop and performs the effective selection and deployment of the proper equipment to fulfill site requirements and tasks, adapts to changes and makes adjustments to the deployment of technology to meet goals and requirements, supports the efficient utilization of all available resources and systems to collect data or perform tasks that meet customer needs, and handles flight crews and time on site optimally.
• FLIGHT PLANNING: Completes and reviews assessments and continuous monitoring of weather, navigation, and airspace considerations and limitations, supports fulfilling customer and project requirements to ensure the safe and compliant execution of remotely piloted flights, submits authorization requests to authorities to access airspace and uses planning software and tools common in the aviation industry.
• FLIGHT COMPLIANCE & RECORDS: Performs compliance checks to ensure aircraft registration and required minimum equipment are installed and safe for flight, conducts preflight checks, airspace reviews, mission planning, effective crew coordination, mission debriefs, and logs flight times, maintenance write-ups, safety reports, track systems, and supports entry level operators with inputting records and ensures crews adhere to all applicable regulations and policies.
• EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE: Conducts regular maintenance and inspections of remotely operated aircraft systems, including drones, flight controllers, payloads, and associated software and hardware, ensures optimal performance and reliability during flight operations by conducting basic maintenance procedures such as changing motors and use of required basic and special tools, completes firmware updates for drone systems, payloads, controllers, gimbals, and other related equipment, conducts preventive maintenance, cleaning and equipment storage.
• DATA MANAGEMENT & POST PROCESSING: Collects and prioritizes data and footage from remotely operated aircraft systems, ensures accurate and efficient processing, storage, and analysis for project development and operational purposes using industry related processing software, provides results to partners and conducts post project meetings.
• TRAINING & SUPPORT: Assists in training new remote pilots, providing guidance and instruction on flight operations, safety procedures, and equipment usage to ensure a high level of proficiency and adherence to industry standards, and coaches entry level operators on company policies, techniques, and procedures.
• PROJECT PLANNING: Coordinates project requirements, schedule planning, logistics, equipment shipment, travel coordination, and allocating the appropriate number of days for project requirements while balancing site schedules, weather, and daylight requirements, making adjustments for flight crew and accounts for all considerations and makes decisions that balance risk and reward while being risk adverse.

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum requirement of 2 years of relevant work experience. Typically reflects 3 years or more of relevant experience
• Remotely piloted aircraft system license required by government authorities to operate remotely operated aircraft systems commercially
• Minimum of 150 hours of flight time, combined or solely operating, drones and traditionally piloted aircraft in a commercial or military setting
• Minimum of 100 hours of flight time in a commercial or military setting, operating small to large multirotor and fixed wing drones below 1,320 pounds, maximum takeoff weight
• Experience working with project stakeholders to gather information, plan and execute missions
• Experience with various flight controllers and autopilot software
• Willing and able to travel up to 65% 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with various types of data imaging payload technology
• Completion of training or a degree in aviation, agriculture or engineering
• Experience with various flight controllers and autopilot software

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