Local recruitment: Research Technician (UAV Specialist)

Primary Purpose: The Centre for Hydrology at the University of Saskatchewan is seeking a Research Technician (Unoccupied Aerial Vehicle (UAV) specialist) to provide UAV operation support to research projects conducted in the Canadian Rocky Mountains

Personal Suitability: Must demonstrate the ability to exercise sound judgment to prioritize and ensure safety of personnel and equipment in harsh conditions and remote locations. Must display effective interpersonal relationships, reliability, integrity, alertness, physical fitness, initiative, and cooperativeness.

Conditions of Work: Must possess a valid driver’s license and be able to operate a variety of vehicles. Must possess valid First Aid and CPR certificate. Willingness to work in remote wilderness locations. Platform and sensor specific training will be provided. The position will be based at the Coldwater Laboratory in Canmore, Alberta.  An initial training period will require extended trips from the home base to Saskatoon SK. 

Typical Duties or Accountabilities:

• Organizing and conducting UAV field work for the Centre for Hydrology as the primary pilot at the Coldwater Laboratory;
• Keeping orderly and accessible records of field equipment, experimental field notes and records, experimental plans;
• Coordinate logistics, and manage and maintain inventory in conjunction with Saskatoon based Centre for Hydrology staff to meet scientific objectives
• Organizing, archiving, updating, processing and reviewing UAV data; Conducting guided scientific analysis in support of Centre research activities with an emphasis on mountain snow and glacier hydrology research;
• Contributing to the communications and visibility of the Centre, office, experiments, personnel and students;
• Training research staff and students as to proper experimental techniques, protocols and activities, and safety in UAV operations; and
• Other research duties specified by Professor Pomeroy.

Education: Completion of a post-secondary education in areas of environmental sciences or engineering, or geomatics; and completion of a UAV Ground school and a Transport Canada issued RPAS Pilot Certificate – Basic Operations (Advanced preferable)

Experience: (Required) Pilot in command of UAV operations, hydrometeorological/ground truthing data collection, planning and managing logistics of field data collection campaigns, and conducting winter time field operations in Canadian conditions. (Desired) Beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations, lidar data collection and processing, structure from motion processing of UAV imagery, geospatial data management, Permit management (e.g. application preparation and compliance for site permissions and/or SFOCs)

Skills:

1. operate UAV’s as Pilot in Command in challenging (weather and terrain) environments
2. organize fieldwork to meet scientific goals and objectives in a cost effective, quality assured manner.
3. work independently with a minimum of supervision;
4. supervise staff and students;
5. maintain UAVs and UAV sensors,
6. manage and process raw UAV data to generate scientific data products;
7. snowshoe, ski, snowmachine, travel on glaciers, travel in avalanche zones safely and work outdoors in adverse conditions in the Canadian Rocky Mountains.