Helicopter Operations Specialist – California

Heli Preflight; Red Bluff (CA); Hybrid; USD 132,000 - 226,000; Full time

Job summary

PG&E seeks an experienced Helicopter Operations Specialist to support aviation operations for electric transmission construction, hydro maintenance, and emergency response. The role blends field work with remote-office duties on a hybrid schedule and requires flying in helicopters for patrols.

The position involves audits, training development, incident investigations, and collaboration with crews, pilots, and regulators. A broad set of certifications and flight experience are required.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• 7 years of related experience, including 2 years as Senior Aviation Specialist or equivalent.
• Experience in helicopter-supported electric operations maintenance and construction.
• Travel up to 70% of the time.
• Willingness to fly in helicopters for patrols and passenger flights.
• SAFE-0256 Air Patroller or Flying in the Wire Environment Certificate.
• Advanced understanding of ICS protocols and responsibilities.
• Ability to develop creative solutions to complex problems for efficiency and reliability.
• Advanced rigging knowledge/ability.
• Public speaking to internal & external groups.
• HEC certification and experience.
• FAA Rotorcraft Pilot with Part 133 experience.

Responsibilities

• Leads or conducts office or field audits and reviews aviation work.
• Verifies equipment needs and approves work.
• Identifies process improvements and develops new procedures and tools.
• Participates in safety program and coordinates training.
• Supports emergency situations, including storm operations.
• Leads investigations of incidents and accidents and recommends mitigations.
• Leads or handles special projects related to aviation operations.
• May provide direction to less experienced specialists.
• Interacts with internal teams, vendors, contractors and regulators.

Education

High School diploma or equivalent

7 years of related experience (incl 2 years as Senior Aviation Specialist)

Job description

Helicopter Operations Specialist, Expert

Requisition ID# 169942

Job Category: Transportation

Job Level: Individual Contributor

Business Unit: Operations – Other

Work Type: Hybrid

Job Summary

The Aviation Operations Specialist performs a wide range of technical work to support the company’s aviation operations, which is used to maintain and monitor utility infrastructure, for electric transmission construction and project work, to maintain the hydro system, and for emergency response. Responsibilities include conducting audits and inspections, verifying equipment needs, coordinating development of and delivery of aviation-related training, monitoring operations and trends, investigating incidents and accidents and making recommendations for improvement. This position acts as the subject matter expert for helicopter PG&E Systemmaintenance, construction and patrol, acting as liaison with work crews and pilots. The position represents the function both internally across various departments and externally as needed. It will also rotate on-call storm and emergency response.

This position is hybrid, working in the in the field and your remote office twice per week and based on business needs.

PG&E is providing the salary range that the company in good faith believes it might pay for this position at the time of the job posting. This compensation range is specific to the locality of the job. The actual salary paid to an individual will be based on multiple factors, including, but not limited to, specific skills, education, licenses or certifications, experience, market value, geographic location, and internal equity.

This job is also eligible to participate in PG&E’s discretionary incentive compensation programs.

A reasonable salary range is:

Bay Area Minimum: $132,000
Bay Area Maximum: $226,000

Responsibilities

• Leads or conducts office or field audits. Reviews and approves aviation work. Observes how work is performed and verifies equipment needs.
• Reviews work plans. Identifies opportunities for process improvement and works with lines of business to develop new work procedures and tools.
• Participates in safety program. Conducts inspections. Identifies training needs and coordinates with Learning Services to provide training to employees. Supports emergency situations, working in storm room or with State and Federal agencies to gain aviation access during wild land fires.
• Conducts and supports incident and accident investigations. Makes recommendations to mitigate and/or manage future situations.
• Leads or handles special projects related to aviation operations.
• May provide direction to less experienced specialists.
• Interacts with others within company and with external parties, including other utilities, vendors, PG&E contractors and regulatory or government agencies.

Requirements

Minimum

• High School diploma or equivalent
• 7 years of related experience, including 2 years as a Senior Aviation Specialist or equivalent job with Aviation
• Experience in helicopter supported electric operations maintenance and construction, and/or hydro maintenance and construction
• Travel required up to 70% of the time.
• Must be willing and able to fly in helicopters for patrols and passenger transport flights.
• SAFE-0256 Air Patroller or Flying in the Wire Environment Certificate
• Advanced understanding of ics protocols and responsibilities
• Able to develop creative solutions to complex problems that lack precedents; helps the company move in different directions to gain efficiency, improve reliability, and acquire new knowledge and skills on new technologies.
• Advanced rigging knowledge/ability
• Public speaking to internal & external groups, meetings, conferences
• Human External Cargo (HEC) certification and experience
• SAFE-0256 Air Patroller or Flying in the Wire Environment Certificate
• FAA Rotorcraft Pilot with Part 133 experience