UAV PILOT

Job Description

JOB DESCRIPTION :

The UAV Pilot will be responsible for the safe, efficient, and effective flying testing of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for operational, inspection, surveying, mapping, surveillance, testing, and data-collection activities. The role includes mission planning, UAV flight operations, pre- and post-flight inspections, payload and equipment handling, flight-data management, basic troubleshooting, and coordination with technical/R&D teams. The UAV Pilot will ensure all flights are conducted safely and in accordance with applicable regulatory, company, and operational requirements.

Key Responsibilities

A. UAV Flight Operations

·        Operate UAVs safely and efficiently for assigned missions and applications as per SOP & WI.

·        Maintain situational awareness of the UAV, surrounding environment, people, property, and hazards.

·        Abort or modify missions whenever safety or operational conditions require.

B. Mission Planning & Execution

·        Evaluate weather, terrain, obstacles, airspace, communication coverage, and environmental conditions.

·        Select the appropriate UAV, battery, payload, sensors, and accessories for each mission.

·        Coordinate with mission teams and internal stakeholders before and during flight operations.

C. Pre-Flight & Post-Flight Activities

·        Perform detailed pre-flight inspection of UAV, motors, propellers, batteries, landing gear, payloads, communication systems, and other equipment.

·        Conduct post-flight inspection of the UAV and associated equipment.

·        Record flight data as per WI and SOP

D. Flight Data & Documentation

·        Maintain accurate records of all UAV flight operations.

·        Maintain records of UAV usage, maintenance, incidents, and battery utilization.

·        Ensure operational documentation is complete and traceable.

E. UAV Troubleshooting & Maintenance Coordination

·        Perform basic troubleshooting of UAV hardware, software, communication systems, sensors, batteries, and payloads.

·        Identify and report technical abnormalities before, during, or after flight operations.

F. Safety & Regulatory Compliance

·        Conduct all UAV operations in accordance with applicable aviation/UAV regulations and company procedures.

·        Immediately report accidents, near misses, equipment failures, loss of communication, flyaways, or other incidents.

·        Participate in UAV accident/incident investigations and provide flight-related information and records.

·        Stay updated on applicable UAV/aviation regulations and operating requirements.

G. Testing, Demonstration & R&D Support

·        Support R&D and Engineering teams in UAV flight testing and development activities.

·        Provide technical feedback on UAV flight characteristics, performance, reliability, and usability.

Qualifications & Experience

·        ITI/Diploma degree in Aerospace, Aeronautical or a related field.

·        Valid and applicable UAV/Drone Pilot certification.

·        Good understanding of UAV systems including flight controllers, motors/ESCs, batteries, GPS/GNSS, telemetry, communication systems, sensors, payloads, cameras, and UAV control software.

·        Experience with autonomous and manual flight operations.

·        Basic understanding of flight logs, telemetry data, GPS data, and UAV performance parameters.

·        Good communication & Willingness to travel to field locations and work in outdoor environments.

Preferred Experience

·        1-3 Industrial UAV operations; surveying and mapping; inspection; surveillance; infrastructure inspection; agriculture applications.

Technical Skills

·        UAV flight planning and mission execution.

·        Manual and autonomous flight operations.

·        Risk assessment and safety procedures.

·        Basic UAV electronics and mechanical systems.

Behavioural Competencies

·        Strong safety mindset and high level of responsibility and discipline.

·        Good decision-making under pressure and problem-solving ability.

·        Ability to work independently in field conditions.

·        Willingness to learn new UAV technologies, Teamwork & good communication skills

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

·        Safe and incident-free flight operations.

·        Compliance with approved flight procedures and regulatory requirements.

·        Successful completion of assigned UAV missions.

·        Flight-data and documentation accuracy.

·        UAV equipment handling and operational readiness.

·        Effective identification and reporting of technical abnormalities.

·        Contribution to continuous improvement of UAV operations.

Reporting & Interfaces

Reports To: UAV Operations Manager / manufacturing Manager

Interfaces with: R&D, Engineering, Maintenance, Quality, Safety, Operations, Project Teams, and Customers/Field Teams.

Job Requirements

·        Willingness to travel extensively for field operations.

·        Ability to work outdoors and under varying environmental conditions.

·        Flexibility to working hours when mission requirements demand.

·        Strict adherence to safety procedures and operational discipline.

·        Ability to handle UAV equipment responsibly and maintain confidentiality of captured data.

Skills