UAS Pilot / Survey Technician

Acuren Inspection, Inc.•Midland, TX

4d•Onsite

About The Position

Acuren is currently seeking highly skilled UAS (Drone) Pilot II to support our operations. As a highly skilled UAS (Drone) Pilot / LiDAR Survey Technician, you will plan, execute, and deliver end-to-end airborne LiDAR and imagery acquisition projects using industry-leading sensor systems including YellowScan LiDAR (RIEGL-based) payloads and Trimble survey-grade GNSS/total station equipment. You will operate UAS to support geospatial data collection for electrical transmission and distribution infrastructure, utility corridors, and environmental survey programs — carrying each project from mission planning through final deliverable submission with minimal supervision. The ideal candidate combines FAA Part 107 flight proficiency with hands-on LiDAR system operation, ground control survey techniques, and post-processing workflows capable of producing client-ready point clouds, DEMs, orthomosaics, and associated reports. This position is critical in supporting system reliability, safety, and regulatory compliance through high-accuracy aerial data collection.

Requirements

Demonstrated ability to independently complete a LiDAR mapping project from pre-mission planning through final client deliverable, including flight operations, ground control survey, data processing, and QA/QC documentation.
Hands-on proficiency with YellowScan LiDAR systems (Mapper, Voyager, or equivalent RIEGL VUX-based payloads) — including sensor configuration, boresight calibration, and CloudStation or equivalent processing software.
Proficiency with Trimble survey equipment (GNSS receivers, data collectors, and total stations) for ground control point collection, network RTK/PPK workflows, and accuracy verification.
Experience with LiDAR post-processing software (YellowScan CloudStation, RiPROCESS, LAStools, TerraSolid, or similar) to produce classified point clouds, bare-earth models, and client deliverables.
Proficiency with UAS flight planning software (waypoints, corridor and terrain-following missions) and data capture workflows.
Strong understanding of GNSS positioning principles, PPK/RTK processing, coordinate reference systems, and geoid modeling as applied to airborne survey accuracy.
Basic to intermediate knowledge of GIS software (e.g., ArcGIS, QGIS) for deliverable review, spatial analysis, and client report generation.
Basic knowledge of electrical infrastructure (transmission towers, poles, substations) and associated field hazards (electrical safety, fall zones) is strongly preferred.
Strong situational awareness, spatial/hand-eye coordination, and attention to detail in both flight operations and data processing.
Good interpersonal and communication skills; able to work with field teams, GIS leads, site managers, and engineers; able to present data quality findings clearly.
Must be able to perform physically demanding tasks under minimal supervision and respond promptly to field direction; expected to handle field gear and equipment transport independently.
3–5 years of commercial UAS operations experience, with a minimum of 2 years specifically in airborne LiDAR acquisition and survey-grade geospatial data collection.
Demonstrated experience operating YellowScan or RIEGL LiDAR systems in a production capacity with delivered project examples.
Demonstrated experience using Trimble GNSS/total station equipment for survey control in support of UAS or LiDAR mapping projects.
Valid FAA Remote Pilot Certificate (Part 107) or equivalent regulatory certification for commercial UAS operations.
Formal surveying, geomatics, or geospatial technology education or equivalent field experience preferred

Responsibilities

Operate YellowScan LiDAR systems (RIEGL VUX-series based) mounted to multi-rotor and fixed-wing UAS platforms for corridor, infrastructure, and topographic surveys; RIEGL standalone LiDAR systems accepted as equivalent experience.
Conduct ground control and check point surveys using Trimble GNSS receivers (e.g., R10, R12, SPS series) and total stations to achieve and verify required horizontal/vertical accuracy standards.
Configure, calibrate, and perform pre/post-flight boresight and system health checks for LiDAR sensors, IMU/GNSS units, and camera payloads to ensure data integrity.
Execute airborne LiDAR missions from project initiation through final deliverable — including flight planning, data acquisition, base station occupation, point cloud processing, classification, DEM/DTM generation, and client report production — without requiring technical assistance.
Process raw LiDAR data using appropriate software (e.g., YellowScan CloudStation, RiPROCESS, LAStools, TerraSolid, or equivalent) to produce classified point clouds, ground models, contours, and derivative products meeting client specifications.
Perform QA/QC on all acquired data and processed deliverables, including accuracy assessments against ground truth and project tolerances, and document results in formal QA reports.
Operate small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) in accordance with FAA Part 107, company safety procedures, and project work plans across varied terrain including rural, mountainous, and urban environments.
Plan and execute automated and manual UAS missions using flight planning software (waypoints, corridor routes, terrain-following) optimized for LiDAR and imagery acquisition.
Maintain detailed flight logs, mission reports, equipment maintenance records, and LiDAR/GNSS calibration logs.
Manage data upload, storage, transfer, and archival processes for timely integration with project processing and inspection workflows.
Comply with all airspace authorizations, LAANC processes, waiver requirements, and local jurisdiction flight restrictions.
Serve as the responsible technician for LiDAR project delivery — coordinating field logistics, equipment staging, base station siting, and data QC without need for on-site technical oversight.
Collaborate with GIS, engineering, and inspection teams to define deliverable specifications, review accuracy requirements, and communicate project status.
Coordinate with field inspectors, safety personnel, and site managers to schedule missions, obtain access permissions, and ensure safe launch/recovery operations.
Stay current with evolving UAS LiDAR technologies, sensor payloads, processing software, and regulatory changes; contribute to continuous improvement of field and processing workflows.
Other work duties as assigned.