Drone Pilot (Contractor)

Sitemark

13d•Onsite

About The Position

Sitemark is seeking independent drone pilots to join their US field capability network. This role involves flying drones over solar sites across the US, collecting data that is used by major solar owners for building and operating their plants. Pilots will work with their own equipment and schedule, supported by an experienced team. This is an opportunity to grow into higher-value surveys and construction work within a vetted network. Sitemark provides a free, remote onboarding and training program covering capture standards, deliverable specifications, flight configurations, upload workflows, quality review, site conduct, and invoicing. Pilots who complete training and pass a qualification review are added to the active roster for their region. Compensation is negotiated per mission, considering factors like site size, complexity, sensor requirements, mobilization, and urgency. Pilots are responsible for their own taxes, equipment maintenance, and regulatory compliance. Captured data is the property of Sitemark and its clients.

Requirements

Current FAA Part 107 certificate in good standing with a clean enforcement history.
Documented commercial UAS experience, with two or more years operating in the field.
Experience with automated mission planning over large, repetitive sites.
Working knowledge of thermal imaging: radiometric capture, emissivity, thermal focus, palette and span, and the conditions that produce a usable dataset.
Strong data management habits and the ability to verify geotags and preserve positioning metadata.
Ability to execute a technical brief precisely and flag problems rather than improvise.
Professional conduct on active industrial sites with live electrical infrastructure.
Willingness to travel within your region, including early departures and multi-day mobilizations.
Commercial UAS liability insurance, minimum $1,000,000 per occurrence, with a COI naming Sitemark and the asset owner as additional insured.
Authorized to work in the US as an independent contractor, able to complete a W-9 Form, and able to pass a background check and client site screening.

Nice To Haves

Utility-scale solar PV experience.
IEC TS 62446-3 familiarity.
Level I or II Thermography certification.
RTK/PPK and GNSS survey experience.
Photogrammetry and GIS proficiency.
OSHA 10/30.
Multiple aircraft in fleet.
Bilingual English/Spanish.

Responsibilities

Fly drones over real solar sites across the US.
Work with your own equipment and schedule.
Collect data that goes directly into reports for large solar owners.
Manage your own drone operation.
Execute a technical brief precisely and flag problems.
Maintain professional conduct on active industrial sites with live electrical infrastructure.
Travel within your region, including early departures and multi-day mobilizations.