Drone Pilot - Sacramento, CA

Job Title: Drone Pilot – T&D

Location: Sacramento, CA and Surrounding Area

Division: Operations

Department: Field Operations - US
Reports to: Lead Pilot

Salary Range: $28.35 - $37.95/hour

Employee Status: Full-time or Seasonal

Classification: Non-exempt

Please note this position is not a truly remote position. This position will be performed in field in Sacramento and the surrounding area (Northern California). 

About Cyberhawk

Founded in 2008, Cyberhawk™ is the first company in the world to use drones to inspect industrial assets. Cyberhawk world-class pilots and inspection engineers complete hundreds of thousands of UAS inspections per year, for 300+ customers across 40 countries.

Today, the Cyberhawk team continues to lead the way in close visual inspections of critical assets, including electrical grids, power generation sites, oil and gas structures and capital-intensive industrial construction projects – while always putting safety at the forefront of our operational excellence.

Using Cyberhawk intuitive, cloud-based visualization software platform, iHawk™, we consolidate diverse sources of inspection data to provide a single source of truth for assets at any scale and translate these findings into actions. We are experts at finding defects in critical energy infrastructure which can impact the environment and the communities our customers serve, and we deliver solutions which are critical to our customers’ ability to document capital intensive industrial sites.

Cyberhawk is changing the way our industry has operated for 75 years by empowering our customers to harness the full power of their data and visual assets, both integrating into workflows, and sharing this information across their enterprises. This leads to better decisions, faster, saving our customers hundreds of millions of dollars in the process.

About the Team:

As a Drone Pilot, you'll be an essential part of our field operations team, working alongside other skilled drone pilots who are passionate about using cutting-edge technology to deliver top-tier solutions for our customers. You'll collaborate closely with the team to ensure precise data collection, safe operations, and successful project outcomes and productivity. Our team thrives on innovation, problem-solving, and attention to detail, with a strong focus on safety, quality and efficiency in the field.

About the Role:

As a Drone Pilot for Transmission and Distribution (T&D), you will report to a Lead Pilot and mainly work on our California-based customer projects. This role includes frequent relocations to various regions of California as needs arise, and you may be relocated to other projects outside of California on occasion. This job is physically demanding and involves regular outdoor work which may be both onshore and offshore. Candidates who are invited for an interview will be subject to a flight skills assessment using a small multi-rotor trainer aircraft. If you enjoy a nomadic lifestyle, this job is for you!

We currently employ 4 levels of drone pilots. Starting level and pay rate for pilots are dependent on amount of experience and number of T&D flight hours.

Every employee at Cyberhawk is expected to demonstrate and foster the 5 core values, along with the overarching value of ‘Nae Drama’, that encourage a positive culture within Cyberhawk: 

• One Team 


• Open and Humble 


• Hungry to Grow 


• Show up and Have Fun 


• Own it And Solve It  

Job Responsibilities:

• Conduct UAS (Unmanned Aircraft Systems) operations in a controlled and safe manner as PIC (Pilot in Command) across multiple UAS platforms, systems, and payloads.


• Perform Pre/In-flight procedures and checks while adhering to company SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) to maximize productivity and minimize risk


• Perform post-operations management, including data handover and flight documentation.


• Log daily operations using an in-house work pack management system.


• Assist with job preparation such as the creation of RAMS (Risk Assessment and Method Statement), documentation, equipment management, organizing travel and accommodation.


• Collaborate with your Lead Pilot to ensure proper and effective implementation of SOPs and encourage a culture of continuous improvement


• Adhere to Cyberhawk's highest standards of health and safety.


• Other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements:

• Hold valid and current Part 107 license


• Hold valid Driver’s License


• Previous drone flying experience, preferably on Transmission and Distribution (T&D) assets, and ability to learn advanced flying skills


• Possess excellent communication skills with an ability to operate effectively as part of a team.


• Professional approach to dynamic risk management and mitigation


• Demonstrative ability to operate complex equipment in accordance with SOPs.


• Safety-conscious with the ability to operate safely in a diverse and high-pressure environment.


• Experience with customer relations, including face to face interactions


• Computer literate


• Ability to maintain high performance standards while working remotely within a team with minimal supervision.


• Problem-solving abilities


• Comfortability with a nomadic lifestyle


• Physically fit with a genuine love of all things outdoors.

Bonus Experience:

• Hold an active TWIC card


• Knowledge of photography


• Knowledge of airspace management


• Knowledge/experience of oil & gas, utilities, or renewables industries


• Aware of current FAA regulations


• LiDAR collection experience

Additional Details:

• Eligibility to live and work in the US with high fluency in English.


• Passport recommended to be able to visit our headquarters in Edinburgh, Scotland


• Valid Driver’s License required


• This is a nomadic position and can be relocated within the applicable service territory at any point in time


• This position may be subject to furlough when project scope decreases


• This position is eligible for per diems when away from your permanent residence


• The successful candidate will be required to complete a criminal background check, motor vehicle check, and reference check during the onboarding process. 

Company US Benefits: 

• Employee medical, dental and vision insurance paid for 100% by the company


• Basic life insurance, short-term disability and long-term disability covered 100% by the company


• Other voluntary health benefits – hospital, accident, critical illness and voluntary life insurance


• Paid company holidays, PTO, and Sick time


• 401k with a 5% company match


• Mobile phone allowance


• Discretionary Annual Performance Bonus


• Access to LinkedIn Learning for your development


• Monthly adventure draw 


• Employee Referral Program


• Quarterly team building activities 

Cyberhawk is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values equality, diversity, and an inclusive work environment.