Director Unmanned Aerial Systems

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

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Job Summary

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. Drones maximize the safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of each business organization that the UAS organization supports. The Director is responsible for internal (Aviation Services) drone operations and for the training, governance, and oversight for all Duke Energy qualified UAS pilots in other business units. The Director is responsible for a wide range of highly complex programs/projects and is single point accountable for drone operations. This position promotes operational excellence and introduces business transformation by taking a multi-disciplinary, end-to-end continuous improvement approach to strategic planning. They provide supervisory, administrative, technical and contract logistic support including responsibility for cost (budget), schedule, and overall performance. The ability to work across all organizations and Duke Energy territories is paramount. The Director will be an advocate and a promoter of the technology across the enterprise.  This includes regular communications with Senior Leadership. Progression to this level is restricted on the basis of business need. Staff size is maintained at appropriate levels to meet the mission requirements of the Duke Energy Enterprise, generally in the range of 40-50 individuals, with a mix of FTEs and CWs.

Responsibilities

Leads the UAS Team activity, by engaging current team members or adding team members, as required, from appropriate areas. Example: Legal, Risk, Emerging Tech.

• Ensures mutual understanding of each team members' role and responsibilities.

• Sets project goals and expectations clearly to align the project team.

• Establish and maintain effective communications among all UAS Team Members and project stakeholders.

• 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

Manage 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.

Basic/Required 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

  • Ability to influence future trends in the industry

• Advanced aviation skills (endorsements, instrument rating, etc.)

• Master’s Degree, Professional Engineering License, Professional Land Surveyor License, GIS certification

• Ability to develop consensus across multiple stakeholders with varying interests

• 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.

Working Conditions

• Hybrid Mobility Classification – Work will be performed from both remote and onsite locations after the onboarding period. However, hybrid employees should live within a reasonable daily commute to a Duke Energy facility.

• Office and field requirements.

Specific Requirements

• 10 years in Aviation, Engineering, or Project/Program Management.

• 3 years as a people leader.

• Demonstrated strong communications capabilities, particularly with senior management and external to the organization

• Experience in supervising, coordinating, and reviewing the work of a diverse work group both inside and outside the enterprise

• Effectively negotiates with others to reach agreement which will meet the organization’s needs and those of the Company.

• Ability to conduct effective meetings.

• Ability to show sensitivity and concern for the needs/views of other teammates; treats other employees with respect and provides leadership, oversight, delegation, and coordination.

• Extensive knowledge of Federal Aviation Regulations, airspace, weather, and aircraft performance.

• Ability to control costs within a defined budget for operations.

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Travel Requirements

15-25%

Relocation Assistance Provided (as applicable)

No

Represented/Union Position

No

Visa Sponsored Position

No. This is not a Visa Sponsored Position. This role requires the ability to work lawfully in the U.S. without employment-based immigration sponsorship, now or in the future.

Please note that in order to be considered for this position, you must possess all of the basic/required qualifications.

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