Director Unmanned Aerial Systems

Job Summary

Important Application Submission Information
In order to ensure your application is successfully received before the job posting expires, please submit your application by 11:59 PM on Tuesday, August 4, 2026

More than a career - a chance to make a difference in people's lives. Build an exciting, rewarding career with us – help us make a difference for millions of people every day. Consider joining the Duke Energy team, where you'll find a friendly work environment, opportunities for growth and development, recognition for your work, and competitive pay and benefits.

About the Role

The Director Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) leads all facets of Duke Energy’s UAS organization, both strategic and operational, with ultimate responsibility for the safe, secure and efficient operation of all company operated and contracted drones, in compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Leads the UAS Team activity, by engaging current team members or adding team members, as required, from appropriate areas.
• Ensures mutual understanding of each team members' role and responsibilities.
• Sets project goals and expectations clearly to align the project team.
• Carefully coordinates work within work groups and with other Duke Energy departments and regions in multiple states, to include outside organizations (e.g. regulatory agencies, suppliers and contractors).
• Develops UAS team members.
• Manages the design and deployment of UAS solutions for Enterprise needs.
• The position manages a portfolio of projects that involves testing or integration of unmanned systems.
• Acts as a liaison between business units and the manned aviation flight department, while simplifying and promoting access to and utilization of UAS technologies into the Enterprise.
• Manage UAS for a wide variety of business applications.
• The UAS Manager will have the lead role in delivering solutions to our Business Unit customers.
• The Manager has the responsibility to tailor a solution with the right set of hardware, software, and data services to help Business Units gather data and generate information for operations with the goal to save money, increase data collection and improve safety.
• The UAS Manager understands and defines requirements, design solutions, and manage system implementation and delivery.
• Oversight of the UAS training program and other UAS contracts/contractors.
• Responsible for creating and presenting a 1 year, 3 year, 5 year roadmap for the goals, expansion, management and coordination of the UAS program.
• Reporting to management: statistics, successes/failures, actual-to-budget variances, etc.
• Determining and negotiating the types of UAS and services to be provided (and NOT provided) by the program.
• Establishing the program structure, including standards, budget, metrics, reporting, compliance and enforcement within the guidelines of the policy.
• Understanding and incorporating compliance with regulations into all program processes and procedures (including internal to DE, privacy, emergency response, etc.).
• External Engagement, including representing Duke Energy on any UAS conferences, committees, workgroups, regulatory bodies.
• Creates policies, procedures, and other required documentation for management of the program.

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Aeronautical
• Minimum 7 years related work experience
• Desired Qualifications: FAA Private Pilot License and/or FAA Part 107, Excellent people and leadership skills, Demonstrated ability to work with all levels of Duke Energy leadership, Ability to influence future direction of programs within the company, Advanced aviation skills (endorsements, instrument rating, etc.), Master’s Degree, Professional Engineering License, Professional Land Surveyor License, GIS certification, Understanding/application of data and analytics, Marketing and public relations acumen, Business acumen (profit, loss, and cost control), Utility specific operations, construction, or project management experience, Strong expertise in project management, decision making, critical thinking, and problem solving.

Basic/Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Aeronautical
• Minimum 7 years related work experience

Basic/Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Aeronautical
• Minimum 7 years related work experience

Basic/Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Aeronautical
• Minimum 7 years related work experience

Basic/Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Aeronautical
• Minimum 7 years related work experience

Basic/Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Aeronautical
• Minimum 7 years related work experience

Basic/Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Aeronautical
• Minimum 7 years related work experience

Basic/Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Aeronautical
• Minimum 7 years related work experience

Basic/Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Aeronautical
• Minimum 7 years related work experience

Basic/Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Aeronautical
• Minimum 7 years related work experience

Basic/Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Aeronautical
• Minimum 7 years related work experience

Basic/Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Aeronautical
• Minimum 7 years related work experience

Basic/Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Aeronautical
• Minimum 7 years related work experience

Basic/Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Aeronautical
• Minimum 7 years related work experience

Basic/Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Aeronautical
• Minimum 7 years related work experience

Basic/Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Aeronautical
• Minimum 7 years related work experience

Basic/Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Aeronautical
• Minimum 7 years related work experience

Basic/Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Aeronautical
• Minimum 7 years related work experience

Basic/Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Aeronautical
• Minimum 7 years related work experience

Basic/Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Aeronautical
• Minimum 7 years related work experience

Basic/Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Aeronautical
• Minimum 7 years related work experience

Basic/Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Aeronautical
• Minimum 7 years related work experience

Basic/Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Aeronautical
• Minimum 7 years related work experience

Basic/Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Aeronautical
• Minimum 7 years related work experience

Basic/Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Aeronautical
• Minimum 7 years related work experience

Basic/Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Aeronautical
• Minimum 7 years related work experience

Basic/Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Aeronautical
• Minimum 7 years related work experience

Basic/Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Aeronautical
• Minimum 7 years related work experience

Basic/Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Aeronautical
• Minimum 7 years related work experience

Basic/Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Aeronautical
• Minimum 7 years related work experience

Basic/Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Aeronautical
• Minimum 7 years related work experience

Basic/Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Aeronautical
• Minimum 7 years related work experience

Basic/Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Aeronautical
• Minimum 7 years related work experience

Basic/Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Aeronautical
• Minimum 7 years related work experience

Basic/Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Aeronautical
• Minimum 7 years related work experience

Basic/Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Aeronautical
• Minimum 7 years related work experience

Basic/Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Aeronautical
• Minimum 7 years related work experience

Basic/Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Aeronautical
• Minimum 7 years related work experience

Basic/Required