What are the responsibilities and job description for the Drone Pilot-UAS LiDAR Specialist position at Carlson, Brigance & Doering, Inc.?
UAS LiDAR Specialist/Drone Pilot
Location: Austin, TX 78749
Schedule: Monday–Friday | 8-hour shifts
Position: Field / Office Hybrid
About the Position
We are seeking an experienced UAS LiDAR Specialist/ Drone Pilot to join our team and support aerial mapping, LiDAR data acquisition, surveying, and geospatial projects.
This is a hands-on field and office position for someone who is comfortable operating professional UAS equipment, collecting high-quality LiDAR and aerial imagery, and working closely with survey and GIS professionals to produce accurate, reliable data.
The ideal candidate has strong UAS flight experience, understands survey-grade field data collection, and can contribute throughout the project workflow—from flight planning and field acquisition through point cloud processing and final deliverables.
What You'll Do
- Plan and execute UAS/drone flight missions for LiDAR and aerial imagery collection.
- Perform pre-flight planning, site assessments, airspace reviews, and flight preparation.
- Evaluate weather and environmental conditions and apply appropriate operational considerations when planning missions.
- Conduct aerial LiDAR data acquisition and mapping.
- Collect high-resolution aerial imagery for surveying, mapping, and geospatial applications.
- Process LiDAR datasets and generate accurate point clouds.
- Process aerial imagery and associated geospatial data.
- Work with Trimble Business Center, Civil 3D, and other geospatial software and workflows.
- Coordinate with land survey crews and GIS professionals to plan field operations and meet project requirements.
- Support survey, mapping, and geospatial projects from field data collection through processing and delivery.
- Operate, transport, maintain, and properly handle UAS, LiDAR, GNSS/RTK, and related field equipment.
- Follow FAA regulations, company procedures, project requirements, and established safety practices.
- Maintain accurate field records and ensure collected data meets project specifications and quality standards.
Required Qualifications
Current FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate.
Minimum 50 hours of logged UAS/drone flight time.
Valid driver's license and reliable transportation.
Experience with LiDAR data collection and processing.
Experience with aerial imagery and photogrammetry.
Strong understanding of UAS flight operations and mission planning.
Ability to work independently in the field and make sound operational decisions.
Strong attention to detail and commitment to accurate, high-quality data collection.
Ability to work outdoors and in varying field conditions.
Ability to lift and handle equipment weighing up to 60 lbs.
Ability to stand and work on your feet for a significant portion of the workday.
Ability to transport, set up, operate, and safely handle UAS and geospatial equipment around vehicles and active job sites.
Preferred Qualifications
RTK/RTK-GNSS experience.
Surveying, GIS, mapping, or geospatial experience.
Experience with Trimble Business Center.
Experience with Autodesk Civil 3D.
Experience with RTK/PPK workflows.
Experience with GNSS equipment and survey-grade positioning.
Experience with point cloud processing and topographic mapping.
Experience producing survey-grade aerial mapping deliverables.
Background in land surveying, GIS, remote sensing, photogrammetry, or geospatial technology.
Ideal Candidate
We are looking for someone who enjoys combining technology, fieldwork, and geospatial data.
Candidates with backgrounds in UAS operations, drone and land surveying, LiDAR mapping, aerial mapping, photogrammetry, GIS, remote sensing, or UAV data acquisition are encouraged to apply.
The ideal candidate is technically capable, safety-conscious, detail-oriented, and comfortable working both independently in the field and collaboratively with survey and GIS professionals.
Why Join Us?
This is an opportunity to work with professional UAS, LiDAR, GNSS, and geospatial technology while contributing to real-world surveying and mapping projects.
Pay: $27.50 - $35.00 per hour
Expected hours: 40.0 per week
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
Salary : $28 - $35