Agricultural Drone Pilot & Data Insights Specialist

Placements24; Nuwerus; Hybrid; ZAR 248,000 - 379,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Drone equipment provided

Training opportunities

Flexible work schedule

Travel per diem for fieldwork

Exposure to innovative agri-tech

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking an Agricultural Drone Pilot and Data Analyst to support farming operations in South Africa. The role combines on-site field work with remote data processing, using drones with RGB, multispectral, and thermal sensors to deliver crop health insights and yield potential analyses.

The ideal candidate holds a valid commercial drone pilot license, experience in agricultural drone operations, and strong data analytics skills to generate actionable reports for agronomists and

Qualifications

• Valid commercial drone pilot license (e.g., SACAA certification).
• Experience operating drones for agricultural applications, including mapping/surveying.
• Proficiency with flight planning software and data processing platforms.
• Strong understanding of remote sensing for agriculture.
• Familiarity with a variety of sensors used in agricultural drones.
• Basic knowledge of crop physiology and agronomy.
• Excellent attention to detail and data accuracy.
• Good communication and reporting skills.
• Ability to work independently and in a team, often in outdoor field conditions.
• Valid driver’s license.

Responsibilities

• Operate agricultural drones with RGB, multispectral, and thermal sensors.
• Plan and execute drone missions per requirements and safety rules.
• Conduct pre-flight checks and routine maintenance of drones and software.
• Collect high-quality aerial imagery and sensor data from fields.
• Process and analyze data using Pix4D, DroneDeploy, or Metashape.
• Create crop health maps, NDVI analyses, terrain models, and field assessments.
• Interpret data to identify crop stress, nutrition issues, pests, or disease.
• Collaborate with agronomists to integrate drone data into farm plans.
• Keep up-to-date with drone tech and analytics advancements.
• Ensure compliance with aviation regulations and safety policies.

Skills

Drone operation

Data analysis

Flight planning

Remote sensing

Crop agronomy knowledge

Attention to detail

Communication/reporting

Education

Drone pilot license

Tools

Pix4D

DroneDeploy

Agisoft Metashape

Job description

Placements24 is seeking an Agricultural Drone Pilot and Data Analyst to support farming operations in South Africa. The role combines on-site field work with remote data processing, using drones with RGB, multispectral, and thermal sensors to deliver crop health insights and yield potential analyses.

The ideal candidate holds a valid commercial drone pilot license, experience in agricultural drone operations, and strong data analytics skills to generate actionable reports for agronomists and