Location
Stratford, London (Abbey Mills – Stratford E15 2RN), with base locations also at London - Hammersmith (W6 9RS) and Greenwich Storm (SE10 8JL). You will cover a wider area and drive between several different sites, so a full clean UK driving licence is required.

Hours
36 hours per week (Monday to Friday)

Salary
£35,000 to £40,000 per annum, depending on skills and experience

About the Role
Join Thames Water as a Drone Pilot, playing a critical role in asset inspection through aerial and underground drone surveys. This role supports operational excellence by reducing entries into underground assets and improving maintenance planning. You will conduct inspections using drones and photogrammetry tools, capturing and processing high-quality data to create models such as point clouds. Collaborating with project teams, you will develop and execute flight plans while ensuring compliance with CAA regulations and maintaining accurate flight logs.
In addition to piloting drones, you will mentor and support other drone operators to enhance their skills, ensure UAV equipment is serviceable and available, update dashboards, raise orders for defective equipment, and maintain inventory. During high-demand periods, you will assist below-ground teams and work closely with Catchment Managers and Field Operations Managers to identify survey opportunities. You will also engage with external departments to explore new surveying possibilities.
This role contributes to reducing entries into below-ground assets by 5% as part of the maintenance plan, helping Thames Water deliver safer and more efficient operations.

Experience
- Knowledge of UK airspace regulations and confined space safety protocols.
- Experience with Microsoft platforms including Excel, with skills in producing dashboards and pivot tables.
- Experience in writing Safe Systems of Work.
- Advanced IT and data processing skills.
- Ability to balance aerial and ground-based tasks effectively.
- Works well across teams and supports skill development in others.
- Seeks opportunities to optimise processes and reduce manual interventions.
- Prioritises compliance with safety regulations for confined space and flight operations.

About you
Proactive and collaborative individual who thrives in a dynamic environment. You are committed to safety and continuous improvement, enjoy mentoring others, and are motivated to support operational excellence through innovative drone technology.

Qualifications
- Essential: UK remote pilot licence GVC.
- Desirable: Extensive UAV operation experience supported by logged flying hours.
- Confined Space Low/Medium Risk Operative certification.
- Work at Heights certification.
- First Aid at Work certification.
- DSEAR certification.
- Full clean UK driving licence is required due to travel between sites.