Full-Time
UAS Drone Pilot 3
Acuren
1,001-5,000 employees
Non-destructive testing, inspection, engineering services
No salary listed
Cincinnati, OH, USA
Remote
Frequent travel to inspection sites, including remote or rural locations, may require overnight stays or extended assignments.
 Field Service (1) |
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- At least 5 years of commercial UAS operating experience, preferably in infrastructure inspection, utilities, or a similar environment.
- A valid Federal Aviation Administration Remote Pilot Certificate under Part 107, or equivalent regulatory certification for commercial UAS operations.
- Recognized subject-matter expertise in UAS inspections within the electrical infrastructure domain, including leading complex missions and fleets.
- Decision-making authority for mission go/no-go decisions, equipment procurement, staff training, and client or sponsor reporting.
- Experience flying UAS in challenging field conditions, including remote terrain, areas near energized lines or towers, and variable weather.
- Proficiency with UAS flight-planning software, including waypoints and automated missions, and data-capture workflows.
- Strong situational awareness, spatial and hand-eye coordination, and attention to detail in flight operations and data capture.
- Ability to work with field teams, site managers, and engineers and present findings clearly.
- Ability to pass drug, alcohol, and background screening per client requirements.
- Ability to work outdoors in varying and extreme weather while maintaining flight and safety standards.
- Ability to work around electrical hazards, electromagnetic fields, and high-voltage environments while maintaining required safety clearances and using personal protective equipment.
- Ability to travel frequently to inspection sites, including remote or rural locations, with possible overnight stays or extended assignments.
- Ability to work occasionally at heights, near energized infrastructure, or within confined or controlled areas such as substations.
- Ability to maintain extended concentration and situational awareness during flight operations.
- Ability to stand, walk, and operate equipment for extended periods of up to 8–10 hours per day in outdoor environments.
- Manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination to control drones and operate handheld controllers, tablets, and sensor payloads.
- Visual acuity, with or without corrective lenses, sufficient to maintain visual line of sight with UAS, assess airspace conditions, and evaluate imagery quality and accuracy.
- Auditory ability to hear and respond to commands, communications, environmental sounds, and hazards.
- Lead mission planning for complex inspection operations involving transmission corridors, multi-state projects, energized lines, remote or off-grid substations, and difficult terrain, including risk assessments, airspace coordination, emergency procedures, launch and recovery zone planning, and payload configuration.
- Pilot advanced UAS platforms and payloads, potentially beyond visual line of sight or under special waivers, in accordance with company and regulatory policy.
- Optimize visual, thermal, LiDAR, and corrosion sensor suites for electrical infrastructure inspection.
- Oversee pre-flight inspections and operational readiness by verifying UAS systems, sensor calibration, redundancy and backup plans, communications links, site access procedures, and safety checklists.
- Conduct high-quality data capture for inspections of towers, lines, and substations, including detection of conductor vibration, hot spots, tower corrosion, insulator flashover risk, and tower hardware stress.
- Lead post-flight data processing by ensuring imagery and sensor data are ingested, triaged, annotated, and delivered.
- Provide technical interpretation of findings and prepare detailed inspection reports for engineering and asset-management teams.
- Collaborate with engineers to prioritize maintenance, support defect classification, estimate repair urgency, and contribute to asset life-cycle management strategies.
- Manage and maintain the UAS fleet, including maintenance schedules, upgrade paths, sensor integration, and budget planning for UAS operations.
- Train, mentor, and certify Level I and Level II junior pilots; develop training curricula and ensure compliance with standard operating procedures and operational safety practices.
- Develop and refine operational standard operating procedures, safety protocols, regulatory-compliance frameworks, FAA waivers, airspace processes, site-specific authorizations, and continuous-improvement initiatives.
- Represent the UAS inspection program to utility clients, regulatory bodies, and internal leadership by communicating findings, metrics, safety performance, cost savings, and risk mitigation.
- Operate small unmanned aircraft systems to inspect electrical infrastructure in accordance with FAA Part 107, company safety procedures, and project work plans.
- Plan, execute, and document aerial missions across rural, mountainous, urban, and other varied terrain.
- Capture high-resolution imagery for inspection and analysis of electrical transmission and distribution components.
- Ensure data quality and consistency by following standard flight parameters and detailed capture requirements.
- Maintain detailed flight logs, mission reports, and equipment maintenance records.
- Manage data upload, storage, and transfer processes for timely integration with inspection workflows.
- Coordinate with field inspectors, management, and safety personnel to optimize field efficiency and ensure compliant operations.
- Collaborate with engineers, technicians, and site managers to schedule missions, coordinate ground support, obtain site permissions, and establish safe launch and recovery zones.
- Stay current with UAS technologies, sensor payloads, inspection best practices, and regulatory changes.
- Comply with airspace authorizations, waiver requirements, and local-jurisdiction flight restrictions.
- Perform other work duties as assigned.
- Basic knowledge of electrical infrastructure, including transmission towers, poles, and substations, and associated hazards such as electrical safety, fall zones, and climbing operations.
Acuren provides non-destructive testing (NDT), inspection, and engineering services for industries such as oil and gas, power generation, mining, and transportation. It uses traditional and advanced NDT methods, rope access for working at heights, and a materials engineering and testing laboratory to assess assets without causing damage. This mix allows clients to detect hidden defects, monitor asset health, and perform failure analysis to protect safety and reliability. Acuren differentiates itself by offering a broad suite of services—NDT, rope access, and engineering testing—driven by asset-protection goals and tailored to safety-critical environments. Its approach helps clients reduce repair and maintenance costs, extend asset life, and meet regulatory requirements. The overall goal is to help customers keep their operations safe, reliable, and profitable.
Company Size
1,001-5,000
Company Stage
N/A
Total Funding
$250M
Headquarters
Tomball, Texas
Founded
1974
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Q1 2026 revenue rose 4.3% to $488 million, with 2.2% organic growth.
- Backlog reached $1.12 billion in Q1 2026, supporting near-term revenue visibility.
- August 2026 acquisitions added roughly $90 million annualized revenue and expanded Canada and Europe.
What critics are saying
- Integration drag from NV5 and three August 2026 acquisitions strains management through 2027.
- Ben Heraud replaced Tal Pizzey on March 31, 2026, signaling leadership-transition execution risk.
- Gulf Coast site losses hit Inspection and Mitigation; weakness there can offset growth.
What makes Acuren unique
- TIC Solutions combines Acuren NDT, NV5 engineering, and geospatial services after August 2025.
- Its 11,000 employees span 250-plus locations, creating national scale in safety-critical inspections.
- Drone inspections, rope access, and advanced analytics deepen its moat in hard-to-reach assets.
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Benefits
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
401(k) Retirement Plan
Paid Holidays
Paid Time Off
Company News
TIC Solutions has completed the repricing of its approximately $1.6 billion first-lien term loan, lowering its borrowing costs while maintaining... Read More
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Acuren Corporation, soon to be rebranded as TIC Solutions, Inc., announced a $250 million private placement of its securities to an existing investor. The deal involves selling approximately 20.8 million shares at $12.00 each and is expected to close by October 7, 2025. Jefferies LLC acted as the sole placement agent. The proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes. The securities are not registered under the Securities Act and will require a registration statement for resale.
NV5 Global (Nasdaq: NVEE) stockholders approved a merger with Acuren Corporation. Under the May 14, 2025 agreement, NV5 stockholders will receive $23 per share, comprising $10 in cash and $13 in Acuren stock, subject to a 10% collar adjustment. Post-merger, NV5 stockholders will own 40% of the combined company, while Acuren stockholders will own 60%. The merger is expected to close in August 2025, pending customary conditions. Key risks include potential delays or failure to meet closing conditions.
NV5 Global, Inc. stockholders approved a merger with Acuren Corporation, expected to close in August 2025.