UAS Drone Pilot III

Acuren Inspection, Inc.•Cincinnati, OH

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Acuren is seeking a senior UAS Pilot III to support electrical infrastructure inspection operations in Cincinnati, Ohio. The role leads advanced aerial inspection missions, manages UAS operations in complex environments, interprets inspection data, and mentors junior pilots. It supports system reliability, safety, regulatory compliance, and maintenance and asset-management decisions through aerial data collection. The position operates small unmanned aerial systems in accordance with FAA Part 107, company safety procedures, and project work plans. It plans, executes, and documents missions across varied terrain; captures high-resolution imagery; maintains data quality and operational records; and coordinates with field teams, engineers, management, and safety personnel. The pilot also oversees fleet maintenance, develops procedures and training, and represents the inspection program to clients and other stakeholders. The role involves outdoor fieldwork in varying and sometimes extreme weather, frequent travel to inspection sites (which may include overnight stays or extended assignments), and exposure to electrical hazards and high-voltage environments. Occasional work at heights or in confined or controlled areas may be required. The pilot must use required PPE and maintain extended concentration during flight operations. Relocation assistance is available for qualified applicants.

Requirements

At least 5 years of experience operating UAS commercially; infrastructure inspection, utilities, or a similar environment is preferred.
Valid FAA Remote Pilot Certificate (Part 107) or equivalent regulatory certification for commercial UAS operations.
Demonstrated experience flying UAS in challenging field conditions, including remote terrain, near energized lines or towers, and variable weather.
Proficiency with UAS flight-planning software, including waypoints and automated missions, and with data-capture workflows.
Recognized subject-matter expertise in UAS inspections within the electrical infrastructure domain, including leading complex missions and fleets.
Ability and authority to make mission go/no-go decisions, guide equipment procurement and staff training, and report to clients or sponsors.
Experience integrating UAS inspection data into strategic asset-management workflows.
Strong situational awareness, spatial and hand-eye coordination, and attention to detail during flight operations and data capture.
Interpersonal and communication skills to work with field teams, site managers, and engineers and present findings clearly.
Ability to stand, walk, and operate equipment outdoors for extended periods, up to 8–10 hours per day.
Manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination to control drones and operate handheld controllers, tablets, and sensor payloads.
Visual acuity, with or without corrective lenses, sufficient to maintain VLOS, assess airspace conditions, and evaluate imagery.
Auditory ability to hear and respond to commands, communications, and environmental sounds.
Ability to work outdoors in varying and sometimes extreme weather and to travel frequently to inspection sites, including remote or rural locations; overnight stays or extended assignments may be required.
Ability to work around electrical hazards, electromagnetic fields, and high-voltage environments while maintaining required safety clearances and using PPE.
Ability to perform occasional work at heights, near energized infrastructure, or in confined or controlled areas.
Ability to wear and operate while using required PPE, such as hard hats, safety glasses, high-visibility vests, gloves, and hearing protection.

Nice To Haves

Experience in infrastructure inspection, utilities, or a similar commercial UAS environment.
Basic knowledge of electrical infrastructure, including transmission towers, poles, and substations, and related hazards such as electrical safety, fall zones, and climbing operations.
Experience with advanced inspection sensors and payloads such as thermal imaging, LiDAR, and corrosion sensors.

Responsibilities

Lead mission planning for complex inspection operations, including transmission corridors, multi-state projects, energized lines, remote substations, and difficult terrain; plan risk assessments, airspace coordination, emergency procedures, launch and recovery zones, and payload configurations.
Pilot advanced UAS platforms and payloads, potentially including BVLOS operations or special waivers, in accordance with company and regulatory policy.
Oversee pre-flight inspections and operational readiness, including UAS system checks, sensor calibration, backup plans, communications links, site access procedures, and safety checklists.
Capture inspection data for towers, lines, and substations, and identify or assess anomalies such as conductor vibration, hot spots, tower corrosion, insulator flashover risk, and hardware stress.
Lead post-flight data processing, ensuring imagery and sensor data are ingested, triaged, annotated, and delivered; interpret findings and prepare detailed inspection reports for engineering and asset-management teams.
Collaborate with engineers on maintenance prioritization, defect classification, repair urgency, and asset life-cycle management strategies.
Manage and maintain the UAS fleet, including maintenance schedules, upgrade paths, sensor integration, and budget planning for UAS operations.
Train, mentor, and certify Level I and II pilots; develop training curriculum and promote compliance with SOPs, best practices, and operational safety standards.
Develop and refine operating procedures, safety protocols, regulatory-compliance frameworks, and continuous-improvement initiatives.
Represent the UAS inspection program to utility clients, regulators, and internal leadership; communicate findings, metrics, safety performance, cost savings, and risk mitigation.
Operate sUAS to inspect electrical infrastructure in accordance with FAA Part 107, company safety procedures, and project work plans.
Plan, execute, and document aerial missions across rural, mountainous, and urban terrain.
Capture high-resolution imagery of electrical transmission and distribution components, following standard flight parameters and detailed capture requirements.
Maintain flight logs, mission reports, and equipment maintenance records.
Manage data upload, storage, and transfer for timely integration with inspection workflows.
Coordinate with field inspectors, managers, safety personnel, engineers, technicians, and site managers to schedule missions, arrange ground support and site permissions, improve field efficiency, and establish safe launch and recovery zones.
Stay current with UAS technologies, sensor payloads, inspection practices, and regulatory changes.
Comply with airspace authorizations, waiver requirements, and local flight restrictions.
Perform other work duties as assigned.