Payload Operator

James Douglas; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

James Douglas is seeking a Payload Operator for an international client in Abu Dhabi, responsible for field operations, readiness and first-pass data quality control of geophysical and remote-sensing payloads on UAV survey platforms. The role covers magnetic, radiometric, gravimetric, LiDAR, hyperspectral, GNSS/base station and related systems on hybrid aircraft.

You will prepare, configure and operate payloads, check power and connections, support installation and calibration, monitor status in

Qualifications

• 3-5+ years of geophysics, UAV payload operations, geomatics, or related field data management experience.
• Practical experience with magnetic, radiometric, gravity, LiDAR, hyperspectral, GNSS/base station systems.
• Strong data discipline: naming, logs, backups, metadata, QA/QC.
• Ability to troubleshoot sensors, cabling, GNSS/time sync, data storage, field computers.
• Understanding of survey-line execution and data-quality implications.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, configure and operate geophysical and remote-sensing payloads before, during and after UAV surveys.
• Check payload power, cabling, mounting, storage, GNSS, timing, base stations, metadata and health status.
• Support installation, calibration, warm-up, stabilization, checks and post-flight shutdown.
• Monitor status during missions and coordinate with Pilot and GCS Operator on alarms and re-flights.
• Download, organize, name, back up and hand over data and field logs daily.
• Perform first-pass QA/QC for data completeness, time synchronization and coverage.
• Maintain payload inventory and sensor condition records.

Skills

Geophysics

UAV payload operations

Geomatics

Remote sensing

LiDAR

Data QA/QC

Field data management

Tools

GNSS/base station

Cabling & hardware troubleshooting

Field computers

Job description

Our client is an international consulting firm, subsidiary to a global mining company. They are seeking a Payload Operator, responsible for field operation, readiness and first-pass data quality control of geophysical and remote-sensing payloads deployed on UAV survey platforms.

The role covers magnetic, radiometric, gravimetric, LiDAR, hyperspectral, GNSS/base station and supporting survey systems across both heavy hybrid unmanned helicopter and light hybrid multirotor operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare, configure and operate geophysical and remote-sensing payloads before, during and after UAV survey missions.


• Check payload power, cabling, mounting, storage, GNSS, timing/PPS, base stations, metadata and health status before each flight.


• Support payload installation, calibration, warm-up, stabilization, functional checks and post-flight shutdown procedures.


• Monitor payload status during missions and coordinate with the Pilot and GCS Operator on alarms, data gaps, line repeats or re-flights.


• Download, organize, name, back up and hand over payload data, flight metadata, GNSS/base station files and field logs daily.


• Perform first-pass QA/QC to confirm data completeness, time synchronization, coverage, altitude consistency and obvious acquisition issues.


• Maintain payload inventory, consumables, cables, mounts, storage media, field computers and sensor condition records.

Key Qualifications

• 3-5+ years of geophysics, UAV payload operations, geomatics, remote sensing, LiDAR, hyperspectral, survey data acquisition or field data management experience preferred.


• Practical experience with magnetic, radiometric, gravity, LiDAR, hyperspectral, GNSS/base station or similar survey systems is preferred.


• Strong data discipline: naming, logs, backups, metadata, daily QA/QC and handover control.


• Ability to troubleshoot sensors, cabling, GNSS/time sync, data storage, software and field-computer issues.


• Understanding of survey-line execution, acquisition parameters and data-quality implications is preferred.


• Comfortable working with pilots, GCS operators, technicians and geophysicists in remote field conditions.

Travel / Work Model

• Frequent field travel for survey campaigns, testing, payload integration and client projects.


• Flexible field schedule during active acquisition and data handover periods.