Drone Pilot

Farmers for Forests; Pune District; On-site; INR 420,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

A hybrid social enterprise in India seeks a Drone Pilot to manage data collection across agroforestry and reforestation sites. This role involves operating drones for high-quality imagery capture, processing data, and collaborating closely with field teams and farmers. Ideal candidates should have at least one year of experience in drone operations, proficiency in data processing, and the ability to adapt to various terrains and weather conditions. The position requires extensive travel across Maharashtra, making it essential to have strong interpersonal skills for effective collaboration.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 1 year of experience in drone data collection.
• Proficient in operating drones and managing complex field situations.
• Excellent interpersonal skills for collaborating with farmers and local stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Operate drones to capture high-quality imagery and data across agroforestry plots.
• Update the data collection tracker and upload collected data to the cloud.
• Process drone data to generate orthomosaics.
• Ensure accuracy and consistency of collected data.
• Coordinate with farmers and field teams to ensure smooth operations.

Skills

Drone operation

Data processing

Interpersonal skills

Fieldwork adaptability

Tools

Pix4D

Job description

F4F is a Hybrid Social Enterprise working to protect and increase India’s biodiverse forest cover in close collaboration with rural communities. Founded in December 2019, F4F is one of the few organizations in India working in the forestry sector and using a payment-for-ecosystem services model for its environmental protection and restoration activities.

We have also featured on DW TV and Scroll's Eco India series as well as DW Hindi . We have also been selected as one of India's top innovators working in the ecosystem restoration and conservation sector by the World Economic Forum .

Job Description

We are looking for a skilled and reliable Drone Pilot to execute drone-based data collection across F4F’s agroforestry and reforestation sites. The role involves operating drones to capture high-quality imagery, processing data for analysis, ensuring accuracy, and collaborating with field teams and farmers to support project monitoring. The ideal candidate is comfortable working in dynamic field environments and is passionate about traveling to multiple field locations for data collection.

Operate drones to capture high-quality imagery and data across agroforestry plots.

Regularly update the data collection tracker and upload collected data to the cloud.

Process drone data using tools like Pix4D to generate orthomosaics.

Ensure accuracy and consistency of collected data, and upload processed outputs to designated platforms.

Coordinate with farmers, field teams, and stakeholders to ensure smooth operations and effectively handle on-ground challenges.

Requirements

Minimum of 1 year of experience in drone data collection.

Proficient in operating drones and managing complex field situations.

Ability to process and analyze drone-collected data to extract meaningful insights.

Comfortable working in the field for over seven months a year and adaptable to diverse terrains and weather conditions.

Excellent interpersonal skills for collaborating with farmers and local stakeholders.

Willingness to travel extensively across Maharashtra and occasionally outside the state for data collection.