Drone Pilot & Field Technician (Contractor) at voltairlabs.com (San Francisco, CA)
voltairlabs.com· San Francisco, CA· $20–$37/hr·
Role details
Job description
Company Overview Voltair is engineering, manufacturing, and deploying autonomous drones that charge on solid state inductive charging pads installed in the field, enabling unlimited range and continuous inspections of critical infrastructure. We are a technology company funded by Y Combinator (W26), and our mission is to assist operators of America’s critical infrastructure with inspections and other information services on-demand, 10x as fast, and for a fraction of the cost.
Job Summary Voltair is hiring a Field Technician to support power utility drone inspection work. This role is focused on field execution: operating drones, planning daily missions, following safety procedures, and collecting consistent inspection data.
This position involves regular travel, outdoor work, and coordination with utility operations teams. It does not involve managing people or owning program design.
Location & Travel
- Preferred Region: Pacific Northwest
- Target Cities: Spokane, Pullman, Boise, Missoula
- Travel: Required across the United States
Compensation
- $25–45/hour as a part-time contractor
- Potential transition to a full-time role as inspection volume increases
Key Responsibilities
Field Execution
- Operate drones to inspect power lines and related assets
- Perform mission planning accounting for weather, terrain, and airspace
- Follow defined safety procedures and operational checklists
- Collect and upload inspection data accurately and consistently Coordination & Documentation
- Coordinate day-of logistics with utility operations teams
- Maintain basic field documentation and inspection records
- Communicate clearly with internal teams regarding field conditions Public & Customer Interaction
- Engage calmly and professionally with members of the public during on-site work
- Communicate clearly with utility stakeholders regarding inspection activities
Experience
- Experience in field-based technical or operational roles OR working knowledge of utility or electrical infrastructure
- (e.g., lineman apprentice, utility technician, electrical technician) Physical & Practical Requirements
- Ability to travel frequently
- Risk-aware operating style and adherence to safety standards
- Valid driver’s license
- Ability to work outdoors in variable weather
- Ability to lift up to 50 lbs and remain active for 8–10 hour field days
Desired / Bonus Qualifications
- FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate
- Experience in utilities, construction, telecom, agriculture, forestry, or similar field work
- Comfort with basic technical concepts (cameras, sensors, batteries, data files)
Ideal Candidate Profile This role is well suited for someone with field experience who wants hands-on, outdoor work supporting utility inspections. You are reliable, safety-conscious, and comfortable following defined procedures. Voltair provides the equipment, training, and workflows. You execute in the field.
Why work at voltairlabs.com
- Early-stage impact: Join a 7-person team (as of 2026) where every hire has outsized influence on product, culture, and strategy.
- Cutting-edge hardware + software: Work on autonomous flight, computer vision, power electronics, and distributed systems – all in one company.
- YC-backed startup: Access to Y Combinator’s network and resources, with a clear path to Series A.
- Mission-driven: Directly contribute to grid resilience, preventing outages, and enabling cleaner energy infrastructure.
- Culture: High-agility environment; founders are hands-on and come from engineering backgrounds (controls systems, power electronics, operations research). Recent LinkedIn posts show a customer-obsessed, problem-solving ethos.
- Location: HQ in Pullman, WA (with Chicago office) – offers a mix of rural/hardware-friendly environment and urban presence. Remote/hybrid policy not explicitly stated, but likely flexible given small team.