Drone Operator

Job Details: Job Location: Willamette Pass - Crescent Lake Jct, OR, Position Type: Seasonal, Salary Range: Undisclosed, Drone Operator

General Purpose

The Drone Pilot operates drones to capture aerial footage and imagery across the resort, including parking, lift lines, trail traffic, and snow coverage. This role delivers organized, usable content to IT, Mountain Ops, Parking, Ski Patrol, and leadership to support guest experience, safety, and operational efficiency.

This is a seasonal position from [Date] to [Date]. Dates are subject to change based on the availability of the applicant and needs of the business. This role comes with a free season pass for you and your dependents. For a full list of benefits visit https://www.purgatory.ski/employee-benefits/

Hiring for our seasonal positions occurs on a rolling basis. This position will remain open until filled.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Pilot drones to capture footage of parking lot occupancy, lift lines, trail traffic, and base area flow.
Capture snow coverage, grooming patterns, and terrain conditions.
Fly requested missions for Ski Patrol hazard documentation and incident monitoring.
Support Lift Ops with tower and line inspections.
Capture aerial imagery for construction, trail, and grooming projects.
Deliver captured content to IT, Mountain Ops, Parking, Ski Patrol, and leadership as requested.
Upload, label, and organize footage in the media library for internal and external use.
Maintain drones, batteries, sensors, and software, including calibrations, firmware updates, and troubleshooting.
Maintain detailed flight logs and ensure FAA Part 107 compliance.

Qualifications: Job Qualifications

Required

FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate, or ability to obtain within 60 days of hire.
Comfort operating drones in winter mountain conditions.
Basic photography/videography skills, or willingness to learn.
Strong communication skills for coordinating flights across departments.

Preferred

Drone flight experience.
Prior ski resort or mountain operations experience.

Core Competencies

Safety Mindset: Treats flight safety and FAA compliance as the first priority on every flight.
Attention to Detail: Captures complete, usable footage and keeps media organized and easy to find.
Technical Troubleshooting: Diagnoses and fixes equipment and software issues in the field.
Communication: Coordinates flight requests and shares content clearly with departments.

Work Environment

Outdoor work in cold, snow, wind, and high elevation.
Lift/carry up to 30 lbs and navigate uneven terrain.
Early mornings, peak days, holidays, and occasional night flights.

Success Metrics

Timely delivery of requested footage to departments.
Organized, up-to-date media library.
Complete, accurate flight logs and FAA Part 107 compliance.
Drone and equipment readiness.
Incident-free flight record.