Drone Operator

Position Summary:

The Drone Pilot operates drones to capture aerial footage and imagery across the resort, including parking, lift lines, trail traffic, and snow coverage.This role delivers organized, usable content to Mountain Ops, Parking, Ski Patrol, and leadership to support guest experience, safety, and operational efficiency.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Pilot drones to capture footage of parking lot occupancy, lift lines, trail traffic, and base area flow.
• Capture snow coverage, grooming patterns, and terrain conditions.
• Fly requested missions for Ski Patrol hazard documentation and incident monitoring.
• Support Lift Ops with tower and line inspections.
• Capture aerial imagery for construction, trail, and grooming projects.
• Deliver captured content to Mountain Ops, Parking, Ski Patrol, and leadership as requested.
• Upload, label, and organize footage in the media library for internal and external use.
• Maintain drones, batteries, sensors, and software, including calibrations, firmware updates, and troubleshooting.
• Maintain detailed flight logs and ensure FAA Part 107 compliance.

Job Qualifications:

Required:

• FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate, or ability to obtain within 60 days of hire.
• Comfort operating drones in winter mountain conditions.
• Basic photography/videography skills, or willingness to learn.
• Strong communication skills for coordinating flights across departments.

Preferred:

• Drone flight experience.
• Prior ski resort or mountain operations experience.

Core Competencies:

• Safety Mindset: Treats flight safety and FAA compliance as the first priority on every flight.
• Attention to Detail: Captures complete, usable footage and keeps media organized and easy to find.
• Technical Troubleshooting: Diagnoses and fixes equipment and software issues in the field.
• Communication: Coordinates flight requests and shares content clearly with departments.

Work Environment:

• Outdoor work in cold, snow, wind, and high elevation.
• Lift/carry up to 30 lbs and navigate uneven terrain.
• Early mornings, peak days, holidays, and occasional night flights.

Success Metrics:

• Timely delivery of requested footage to departments.
• Organized, up-to-date media library.
• Complete, accurate flight logs and FAA Part 107 compliance.
• Drone and equipment readiness.
• Incident-free flight record.

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed and is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required. Job duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned, at any time with or without notice. Arizona Snowbowl is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this role; please contact Human Resources to request an accommodation.