UAV Survey Coordinator (TE3)

State of Washington•Yakima County - Union Gap, WA

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is seeking a Transportation Engineer 3 to serve as the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Survey Coordinator in Union Gap, WA. This position provides advanced technical survey and geospatial support for regional Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) survey operations supporting transportation project delivery. The candidate selected for this role will coordinate UAS-based survey data collection, flight planning, pilot readiness, equipment and sensor compliance, field data collection, and integration of aerial survey products into survey, design, construction, right of way, and other project delivery workflows. The UAV Survey Coordinator ensures UAS-derived data is collected, processed, reviewed, documented, and delivered in accordance with WSDOT standards, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 107 requirements, safety requirements, and professional survey practices.

Requirements

UAS Operations Coordination and Regulatory Compliance: Demonstrated ability to coordinate UAS operations and ensure compliance with FAA regulations, agency policies, safety requirements, aviation risk management practices, and operational procedures while supporting transportation project delivery.
Survey Mission Planning and Field Operations: Demonstrated ability to plan, coordinate, and support complex survey missions by evaluating project requirements, identifying operational constraints, coordinating resources, and ensuring safe and effective field operations in diverse transportation environments.
Geospatial Data Collection, Analysis, and Quality Assurance: Demonstrated ability to collect, process, review, and validate geospatial and survey data, applying quality control principles, survey standards, coordinate systems, metadata requirements, and accuracy verification procedures to produce reliable deliverables.
Technical Survey and Geospatial Systems Integration: Demonstrated ability to integrate UAS derived data into survey, mapping, Computer-Aided Design (CAD)/Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE), Geographic Information System (GIS), right of way, design, construction, and project delivery workflows while ensuring consistency, usability, and compliance with established standards.
Equipment, Asset, and Resource Management: Demonstrated ability to manage technical equipment, sensors, software, inventory, maintenance records, and operational resources to ensure readiness, reliability, compliance, and efficient support of field and office operations.
Technical Communication and Stakeholder Collaboration: Demonstrated ability to communicate complex technical information effectively to diverse audiences, build collaborative working relationships, and coordinate with internal and external stakeholders to achieve project objectives and resolve operational issues.
Leadership, Training, and Continuous Improvement: Demonstrated ability to provide technical leadership, assign and coordinate work, mentor staff, deliver training, develop procedures, and promote standardized practices that improve operational effectiveness, safety, and service delivery.
Growth Mindset: Actively demonstrates a commitment to learning and growth.
Service-Oriented: Takes action to meet the needs of others.
A valid driver’s license and demonstrated ability to independently travel to and between project sites, safely operate state-owned vehicles, and transport agency-owned inspection equipment and materials required to perform survey duties and related project activities.
Ability to work along active highways, construction zones, rights of way, undeveloped terrain, bridges, water crossings, confined access areas, remote launch and recovery locations, and areas with variable weather conditions. Hazards may include moving traffic, heavy equipment, uneven terrain, overhead obstructions, utilities, aviation operational risks, and environmental exposure.
Ability to work varied hours based on project schedules, construction activities, emergency response, flight conditions, and operational needs. Occasional evening, weekend, holiday, or after-hours work may be required.
Ability to travel regionally within Central and Eastern Washington is required. Periodic statewide travel may also be required to support project sites, meetings, training, field reviews, construction offices, and coordination with headquarters or local agency partners. Travel may include day trips and occasional overnight assignments.
Ability to maneuver and transport various materials and/or equipment weighing up to 50 pounds.

Nice To Haves

Certifications: FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate, or ability to obtain certification within six months of appointment.
Land Surveyor-in-Training certificate, Professional Land Surveyor license, or demonstrated land surveying, geospatial, and CAD/CAE experience.
UAS Survey Coordination: Experience coordinating UAS survey operations for transportation, construction, right of way, cadastral, mapping, inspection, or emergency response projects.
UAS Geospatial Data: Experience with UAS photogrammetry, LiDAR, ground control, GNSS, point clouds, orthomosaics, digital terrain models, metadata, and geospatial data QA/QC.
UAS Fleet & Compliance: Experience maintaining UAS fleet records, pilot qualifications, flight logs, battery records, maintenance documentation, equipment compliance records, and data management records.
UAS Data Processing & CAD: Experience using Pix4D, Leica Infinity, Virtual Surveyor, OpenRoads Designer, MicroStation, GIS tools, or similar UAS data processing and CAD/CAE software.

Responsibilities

Coordinate regional UAS/UAV survey operations used to support transportation project delivery, design, construction, right of way, cadastral, fish passage, maintenance, emergency response, and geospatial data collection needs.
Ensure UAS survey activities comply with FAA Part 107 requirements, WSDOT UAS policy, regional procedures, safety standards, aviation risk management expectations, data security requirements, and applicable equipment compliance requirements.
Serve as the regional technical coordination point for UAS survey operations.
Advise project teams and management on appropriate use, limitations, and risks for UAS derived survey and geospatial products.
Coordinate flight planning, airspace review, pilot assignments, site access, traffic control needs, construction coordination, ground control requirements, launch and recovery areas, flight authorization needs, and UAS field operations.
Review UAS imagery, LiDAR, point clouds, orthomosaics, digital terrain models, mapping products, and supporting reports for completeness, accuracy, consistency, and usability.
Oversee UAS fleet tracking, inventory, maintenance coordination, firmware and software updates, battery management, sensor configuration, calibration, service records, replacement planning, and equipment readiness.
Track pilot readiness and coordinate procurement recommendations.
Provide technical guidance to survey staff, project teams, management, consultants, and contractors on UAS capabilities, limitations, appropriate applications, data quality, and project risk.