UAS Associate Pilot

Valmont Industries, Inc.

sUAS Pilot operating high-end drone systems for aerial inspections. Documenting conditions and ensuring safe flight operations with project teams across various locations.

Posted 7/9/2026part-timeRemote • Texas • 🇺🇸 United StatesJuniorMid-LevelWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Small Unmanned Aerial System (sUAS) Pilots are responsible for piloting high end drone systems used for aerial inspections of transmission line structures, among other applications.
As the Pilot in Command, the sUAS Pilot has ultimate say in ensuring safe flight operations in the field.
The pilot also will document environmental conditions and known hazards, and coordinate with the project manager or other Valmont personnel to confirm aircraft deconfliction notice filings with customers and the FAA.
Often, UAS Pilots work in conjunction with a camera operator and a visual observer (VO), and must demonstrate strong teamwork, communication skills and crew resource management.
UAS Pilots must be able to safely operate drones in close quarters and be able to execute emergency landing procedures in the event of signal loss or other danger (e.g., sudden high winds).
They will be required to learn and adhere to specific flight SOPs for aerial inspections and for operating within specified weather conditions to ensure safety.
This position reports to the Principal Pilot and has no direct or indirect reports.
This role requires heavy travel (60-95%), including overnight stays, to the location of specified UAS projects.
Communicate clearly and directly with the camera operator (and VO) throughout the duration of each flight.
Respond immediately to any issues with the drone, whether experienced personally or identified by the camera operator or VO.
Maintain awareness of surroundings and known hazards at all times during flight operations.
Examine all gear (drone, props, controllers, monitors, batteries) prior to each flight and pause operations if anomalies are found.
Clean all gear upon return to main office at the end of each day and return items to correct locations for safe storage.
Maintain daily crew flight and inspection activity logs.
The sUAS Pilot must have a fundamental understanding of drone functionality and be able to perform routine maintenance checks to identify equipment in need of repair or replacement.
Since an sUAS Pilot may have to monitor the drone’s equipment while also communicating with the camera operator and VO, they should be capable of multitasking effectively.
sUAS Pilots also will be responsible for executing safety protocols at the work site including completing written Task Hazard Analysis forms, implement Emergency Action Plans and securing the area for drone flights.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Preferred Bachelors or Associates Degree and/or 20 logged and verifiable sUAS flight hours
sUAS Pilots must have FAA Part 107 Certification
Pass a drug screening test
Ability to travel up to 95% and have valid driver’s license
Must be familiar with flying drone platforms of various sizes and be able to learn the platform(s) used for Valmont drone operations
sUAS Pilots must hold or be able to obtain an OSHA-30 Certification, First Aid/CPR certification, and valid driver’s license, and must be comfortable working outdoors in remote environments in both hot and cold weather
Basic computer skills, including file transfer and organization, and familiarity with the Windows platform are required
The sUAS Pilot is part of a larger team of pilots, camera operators, VOs and inspectors, and should demonstrate a positive attitude, flexibility, and good communication skills
All team members are expected to be proactive in offering help and pitching in where they ensuring operations go smoothly and maintain a welcoming work environment
sUAS Pilots also should have good mechanical and electrical troubleshooting and problem-solving skills, and be able to proactively seek out answers for any equipment or work-related issues that arise

Benefits

Comp & perks

Healthcare (medical, prescription drugs, dental and vision)
401k retirement plan with company match
Paid time off
Employer paid life insurance
Employer paid short-term and long-term disability including maternity leave
Work Life Support
Tuition Reimbursement up to $5,250 per year
Voluntary programs like tobacco cessation, Type 2 diabetes reversal, one-on-one health coaching, mortgage services and more

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Hard Skills & Tools

SUAS PilotingDrone Functionality UnderstandingRoutine Maintenance ChecksFlight SOP AdherenceFile Transfer and Organization

Soft Skills

TeamworkCommunication SkillsFlexibilityPositive AttitudeMultitasking

Certifications

FAA Part 107 CertificationOSHA-30 CertificationFirst Aid/CPR Certification