Drone Pilot Jobs in Rio Rancho, NM (NOW HIRING)

Position Summary

Provides technical support through the collection, analysis, and reporting of spatial and geographic data.  Serves as the primary Remote Pilot in Command for aerial data acquisition and manages the end-to-end lifecycle of drone-based mapping from flight planning to complex post-processing.  Responsible for leveraging GIS information, remote sensing data and spatial modeling techniques to support decision making across projects related to all departments and other tribal issues. 

Our philosophy is built on the principles of integrity, fairness, collaboration, communication, and recognition for performance excellence. Meeting all performance standards leads to attracting and retaining a qualified workforce, provides opportunities for qualified team members, and contributes towards the ongoing success of the Pueblo of Sandia today and in the future.  

 Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. Serves as the primary Remote Pilot in Command (RPIC) for UAS operations, ensuring all flights comply with FAA Part 107 regulations and tribal policies.
2. Develops and executes flight plans, including airspace research, weather monitoring, and mission risk assessments for all aerial data acquisition.
3. Collects Global Positioning System (GPS) and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) data in the field, and performs office-based processing to create, update, and edit GIS data layers.
4. Performs post-processing of aerial imagery to produce orthomosaics, 3D models, and digital elevation datasets for departmental and tribal reports.
5. Maintains the UAS fleet and associated hardware, including routine maintenance, firmware updates, and the documentation of detailed flight logs.
6. May be required to assist the GIS Specialist and GIS Manager in the generation of maps, workshops, meetings, and seminars designed to educate community members on GIS and UAS technology.
7. Creates metadata and reports on GIS and UAS data as needed to ensure data integrity and traceability.
8. In consultation with the Planning and Zoning Director and the GIS Manager, provides assistance in the maintenance of, and updates for, the Pueblo’s Enterprise Geodatabases and GIS data models for Pueblo’s Geospatial Asset Management System (GAMS).
9. In consultation with the GIS Manager, develops and updates Pueblo’s Portal for ArcGIS GAMS feature layers and services for internal use.
10. Follows GIS Program Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) and Standard Operating procedures (SOPs) as required by the GIS Program.
11. Stay current with emerging technologies and methodologies. 
12. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support planning, operations and strategy.
13. Ensure data accuracy integrity and compliance with standards.
14. Performs additional duties and responsibilities as necessary or assigned

 Additional Responsibilities

1. Demonstrates strong interpersonal skills in building a cohesive working relationship with co-workers and internal/external contact.
2. Performs additional duties and responsibilities as necessary or assigned.

 Key Performance Indicators

This position has Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) identified as a measurement of success.  KPI’s will be shared with all team members who work in this job title and feedback will be provided regarding the successful completion of the KPI’s as part of the performance review process.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

1. Ability to plan, develop, and implement GIS and UAS-specific programs, protocols, and standard operating procedures.
2. Thorough knowledge of FAA Part 107 regulations and safety protocols to ensure legal and safe operation of Unmanned Aircraft Systems.
3. Proficiency in using precision-grade GPS and UAS technology for mapping, surveying, and data collection.
4. Knowledge of photogrammetry workflows to generate orthomosaics, 3D models, and digital elevation datasets.
5. Professional experience developing and serving GIS-based web mapping and feature layers.
6. Ability to update and maintain GIS databases in a multi-user environment, including the management of UAS data storage.
7. Ability to analyze complex spatial material and make recommendations to the GIS Manager based on aerial and ground-based findings.
8. Ability to work independently as a Remote Pilot in Command (RPIC) under broad direction to meet departmental goals.
9. Ability to prepare and give presentations, workshops, and seminars regarding GIS and UAS technology.
10. Ability to travel for field operations, training, and participation in GIS and UAS related activities.
11. Thorough knowledge of GIS, GPS, and UAS hardware and software capabilities, including flight planning and post-processing suites.
12. Knowledge of computer networks and servers for handling high-resolution imagery.
13. Ability to apply accuracy standards to GIS data for verifying the precision of aerial and ground-based surveys.
14. Excellent oral and written skills, with the ability to document flight logs and technical maintenance reports.

   Education and Experience  

Required:   

1. Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Science, Geography, GIS, Geographic Information Technology, Geospatial Science or related field.
2. Any combination of education/experience in Geographic Information Technology and Unmanned Aircraft Systems and a closely related field totaling four (4) years may substitute for the required education; however, applicants must have Professional Drone Pilot experience of a minimum of 500 UAS flight hours.
3. Position requires Professional Drone Pilot experience logging a minimum of 500 UAS flight hours. There are no substitutions for the Professional Drone pilot minimum flight hour requirements for this position.  
4. Position requires verifiable experience with UAS flight planning applications and data analysis tools that are equivalent to the 500 flight hour experience requirements.

Preferred:

1. Experience in ArcGIS Enterprise Server Advanced v10.8; Portal for ArcGIS; Collector for ArcGIS; Survey123; Geodatabase Management.
2. Experience with spatial data formats.
3. Familiarity with remote sensing and imagery analysis
4. Basic programming/scripting skills (Python, SQL)
5. Experience in GPS hardware and software applications.
6. OSHA 10 Certificate

License/Certifications/Registrations

1. Must possess and maintain a valid, unrestricted New Mexico driver’s license.
2. Valid FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate with a Small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) rating.
3. Will require a pre-employment and random drug testing.

Physical Requirements/Working Conditions

The following selected physical activities are required to perform the essential functions of this position

Physical Requirement

Description

Balancing

Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling and walking, standing, or crouching on narrow, slippery, or erratically moving surfaces. This factor is important if the amount of balancing exceeds that needed for ordinary locomotion and maintenance of body equilibrium.

Climbing

Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles and the like, using feet and legs and/or hands and arms. Body agility is emphasized. This factor is important if the amount and kind of climbing required exceeds that required for ordinary locomotion.

Crawling

Moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet.

Crouching

Bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine.

Feeling

Perceiving attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature, or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of fingertips.

Finger Dexterity

Picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand as in handling.

Grasping

Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.

Hearing

Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make the discriminations in sound.

Kneeling

Bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees.

Lifting

Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position-to-position. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires substantial use of upper extremities and back muscles. (Up to 25 lbs.)

Pulling

Using upper extremities to exert force to draw, haul, or tug objects in a sustained motion. (Up to 25 lbs.)

Pushing

Using upper extremities to press against something with steady force to thrust forward, downward, or outward. (Up to 25 lbs.)

Reaching

Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.

Seeing

The ability to perceive the nature of objects by the eye.

Walking

Job requirements include, in the performance of duties, walking throughout the work area, on various work surfaces throughout internal or external locations.

Sitting

Particularly for sustained periods of time.

Standing

Particularly for sustained periods of time.

Stooping

Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires full motion of the lower extremities and back muscles.

Talking

Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.

List Working Conditions Required:

1. Work is performed both indoors and outdoors.
2. Normal work is performed on weekdays.
3. Outdoor work is subject to seasonal extremes, inclement weather, odors, dust, fumes, and gases.
4. Subject to standard office noise levels, while outdoor levels may be much higher.
5. Subject to hazards such as carpal-tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, and possible damage to eyesight due to exposure to computer screens.
6. Duties are performed on a carpeted surface.
7. Duties require normal dexterity while sitting and standing.
8. Specific required movements include the following: 
   • Trunk-carry, bend, twist, rotate
   • Arms-reach, carry, lift, twist, rotate
   • Legs-twist, rotate
   • Hands-grasp, manipulate, bilateral coordination, eye and hand coordination, overall and finger dexterity