UAS Operations Specialist

About the role

Oxy produces, markets and transports oil and natural gas to maximize value and provide resources fundamental to life. The company leverages its global leadership in carbon management to advance lower-carbon technologies and products. Headquartered in Houston, Oxy primarily operates in the United States, Middle East and North Africa. Oxy strives to attract and retain talented employees by investing in their professional development and providing rewarding opportunities for personal growth. Our goal is to meet the highest employer standards by ensuring the health and safety of our employees, protecting the environment and positively impacting our communities where we do business.

Responsibilities

• Safely plan and execute UAS inspection missions on offshore production facilities, with primary emphasis on mechanical integrity and asset integrity applications.
• Conduct detailed visual inspections of piping, pressure equipment, structural members, flare systems, risers, piping supports, decks, cranes, tanks, vessels and other offshore infrastructure.
• Capture high-resolution imagery, video and other sensor data necessary to support mechanical integrity, corrosion and engineering assessments.
• Identify and document observable conditions including corrosion, coating degradation, structural deterioration, damaged insulation, leaks, loose or missing components and other potential integrity concerns.
• Coordinate inspection activities with Mechanical Integrity, Corrosion, Facilities Engineering, Operations, Maintenance and HSE personnel.
• Develop flight and inspection plans based on inspection scope, equipment configuration, operating conditions, airspace restrictions and offshore hazards.
• Conduct pre-flight risk assessments and participate in applicable offshore permitting, Job Safety Analysis and simultaneous operations planning.
• Maintain strict compliance with Oxy HSE requirements, offshore operating procedures, FAA regulations and internal UAS policies and standards.
• Evaluate environmental and operational conditions—including wind, weather, electromagnetic interference, obstacles and active process equipment—to determine whether UAS operations can be conducted safely.
• Maintain UAS aircraft, batteries, payloads, cameras and supporting equipment in mission-ready condition.
• Manage inspection imagery and associated data to ensure appropriate quality, traceability, organization and transfer to engineering and inspection personnel.
• Assist technical teams in developing standardized UAS inspection procedures, image-capture requirements and repeatable inspection routes.
• Support periodic and repeat inspections that allow engineering teams to monitor equipment condition and degradation over time.
• Work with inspection and engineering personnel to integrate UAS-generated information into existing mechanical integrity and risk-based inspection programs.
• Support the evaluation and deployment of emerging UAS technologies, including advanced imaging, thermal sensors, photogrammetry, automated flight planning, remote inspection technologies and AI-enabled image analysis.
• Identify opportunities where UAS inspections can reduce personnel exposure, scaffolding, rope access, vessel support or other conventional inspection requirements while maintaining appropriate inspection quality.
• Prepare clear inspection documentation and communicate significant observations promptly to appropriate offshore and technical personnel.
• Maintain