Drone Pilot

Lead UAV Operations Specialist — Summit Surveying Group

Denver, CO | March 2024 – Present

• Directed flight planning and execution of 180+ commercial UAV missions, mapping 8,500+ acres of complex construction terrain with 99.4% spatial accuracy, which accelerated project timelines by 15%.
• Conducted 45+ critical infrastructure inspections of bridge and tower assets using thermal imaging (FLIR) sensors, identifying 12 structural anomalies and saving $75,000 in emergency repair costs.
• Managed a fleet of 8 DJI Matrice and Wingtra fixed-wing UAVs, maintaining a 100% safety record with zero equipment downtime over 420 flight hours through strict maintenance and checklist protocols.
• Processed raw drone data using Pix4D and ArcGIS Pro to generate orthomosaics and 3D digital twins, improving volume measurement accuracy for construction stockpile audits by 32%.

UAV Pilot & GIS Specialist — Meridian Engineering Group

Colorado Springs, CO | June 2021 – February 2024

• Piloted multirotor UAVs to perform 120+ high-resolution photogrammetry missions, capturing data used to design stormwater management systems for 14 municipal projects.
• Collaborated with surveyors to establish ground control points (GCPs) using RTK GPS receivers, achieving sub-centimeter accuracy and reducing data reprocessing rates by 22%.
• Generated digital elevation models (DEMs) and topographic maps for 35 corporate clients, increasing spatial data production speed by 25% through Python scripting automation.
• Supervised compliance with FAA Part 107 regulations for all company drone operations, securing 3 critical airspace authorizations (LAANC) in class D and E restricted airspaces.

UAV flight operations, Mission planning, FAA Part 107 regulations, Photogrammetry, LiDAR processing, Thermal imaging, GIS analysis, RTK/PPK georeferencing, Pix4D, DJI Terra, ArcGIS Pro, DroneDeploy, AutoCAD, QGIS, Flight safety, Risk assessment

Highway 36 Corridor Mapping

Role: Lead UAV Pilot

Tools: DJI Matrice 300 RTK, Pix4D, ArcGIS Pro

Mapped a 14-mile highway expansion corridor under tight deadlines, delivering topographic models 5 days early and saving $18,000 in ground surveying costs.

Solar Farm Thermal Inspection

Role: Thermal Remote Sensing Pilot

Tools: DJI Matrice 300, FLIR Zenmuse XT2, FLIR Tools

Inspected a 120-megawatt solar facility containing 45,000 panels, detecting 82 failing cells to prevent an estimated $45,000 in annual energy generation loss.

• FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate (2021)
• ITC Level I Thermography Certification (2023)
• Pix4D Certified User (2022)

• Languages: English (Native), Spanish (Basic)
• Professional Affiliations: Member of Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI)
• Availability: 2 weeks notice