Leidos is seeking a highly experienced and motivated UAS Pilot to join our team in Pittsburgh, PA. In this role, you will work on a variety of research-driven efforts, including aerial imaging, Methane detection, magnetometry, and LiDAR collection. Working alongside other data scientists, engineers, geologists, and computer scientists, you will contribute to a multi-disciplinary, scientific, and technically oriented national laboratory team to produce technological solutions for America’s energy challenges. A successful candidate will locate and characterize emissions from natural gas infrastructure using a combination of ground and aerial surveying techniques. In addition to piloting the UAS, the selected candidate will support improvements to operating procedure development, pre-flight processes, and maintenance tracking efforts.

The team seeks a candidate with a strong background in UAS operation, surveying and field work. Familiarity with the U.S. EPA Greenhouse Gas Inventory structure and sources of data, particularly regarding emissions from the oil and natural gas sector is a plus. You will have the opportunity to co-author reports, manuscripts, and articles suitable for publication. 

Location: This position is onsite at the NETL campus in Pittsburgh, PA. Up to 50% travel may be required for this position. 

Primary Responsibilities:

• Pilot, assemble, and maintain UAS with sensor payloads including IR cameras, methane sensors, and/or magnetometers. 
• Install, operate, and maintain various drone-based sensor technologies.
• Support NETL’s UAS program and demonstrate capability of operating within government guidelines. 
• Design field campaigns for collection of environmental data in multiple regions.
• Develop standard operating procedures for each UAS, including pre-flight checks and maintenance logs. 
• Perform ground-based techniques to measure emissions from natural gas infrastructure.
• Prepare summaries of executed field missions including technical write-ups of data collected. 
• Assist NETL staff to obtain cooperation from site operators, entities having jurisdiction over public lands, and/or private landowners to secure site access agreements for field campaigns. 
• Report on a weekly basis to update project managers and clients. 

Required Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field of study with 5+ years of relevant field based technical experience. Additional years of related work experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• Current FAA Part 107 License and understanding of regulations for UAS operation and flight planning. 
• 300+ hours of logged UAS flight hours
• Significant experience with heavy lift drones, performing surveys with payloads such as LiDAR, Magnetometers, infrared cameras, or gas sensors. 
• Experience with field sampling using non drone equipment.
• Thorough understanding of UAS systems, classifications, capabilities, and limitations. 
• Experience maintaining drone equipment and field technology.
• Experience training other drone operators to be confident and competent for mission work.
• Experience meeting BLUE compliance when purchasing UAS equipment.
• Strong experience in planning and executing field sampling campaigns, collecting field-based environmental data, and navigating complex environment safely.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills as this position requires extensive interface with clients and potential collaborative partners 
• Ability to travel to the other NETL campuses as business needs require (up to 50%) 
• Must be able to meet the requirements for gaining access to work on the NETL campus 
• U.S. Citizen

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with government clients.
• Experience locating natural gas storage wells using UAS equipment.
• Certifications for UAS operations related to aerial photography, thermal imaging, and/or surveying. 
• Experience with using analytical instruments including calibration, repair, and troubleshooting 
• Familiarity with using meteorological instruments (e.g., 3D ultrasonic anemometers, wind gauges, etc.) including calibration, repair, and troubleshooting

Salary Range for this position: $80K to $90K

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Original Posting:

April 20, 2026

Pay Range:

Pay Range $69,550.00 - $125,725.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.