Coulson Aviation

Role Description This is a remote position with occasional travel. As our first engineering hire, you will own the geospatial processing layer and the user-facing product end-to-end. That means: - Building and operating the cloud pipelines that transform raw imagery into agency-ready outputs. - Building the interface that puts those outputs in front of operators and dispatchers during active incidents. - Transitioning into leadership as the team grows. Qualifications - Hands-on experience building cloud processing workflows (GCP, Azure, AWS, etc.) using open geospatial libraries (GDAL, PROJ, Rasterio, GeoPandas, or similar). - 3+ years’ experience building production web applications with a modern JS stack (React, Vue, or equivalent). - Familiarity with GIS platforms — ESRI products, open-source equivalents, and cloud. - Experience working with raster imagery data — tiling, reprojection, COG generation, and serving processed imagery to map-based UIs. - Experience building map-centric UIs — rendering geospatial data, vector overlays, and imagery in a browser using Mapbox GL JS, Leaflet, Cesium, or similar. - Working knowledge of photogrammetry concepts — orthorectification, georeferencing, and aerial image processing workflows. Requirements - Experience with map rendering libraries (Mapbox, Leaflet, Cesium, etc.). - Background in fire, emergency management, aviation, or public safety domains. - Hands-on experience with photogrammetry pipelines and tools (OpenDroneMap, Pix4D, Agisoft Metashape, or similar). - Familiarity with agency GIS platforms and field situational awareness tools. - Experience with satellite or aerial imagery processing and raster data visualization. - Preference for west coast location. Extra points for PNW. A Note on the Role We are a small, early-stage team. This role will require comfort with ambiguity, ownership beyond a narrow job description, and direct engagement with end users in operational environments.

Role Description This is a remote position with occasional travel. You will own all machine learning and computer vision work on the team. Your primary focus will be applying CV and ML to sensor data from operational wildfire aircraft to turn raw imagery into accurate, actionable outputs for the agencies on the ground. The work will grow in scope as the program matures and the data starts flowing. What You'll Own - Design and train CV/ML models to extract meaningful fire intelligence from sensor data - Establish model validation workflows using ground-truth perimeter data from host agencies - Iterate on model accuracy by fire type, terrain, and atmospheric condition - Shape the roadmap for how ML can extend beyond detection into predictive and operational analytics - Work with internal Coulson IT on model deployment and inference infrastructure - Contribute to the strategy for how real-time video processing can extend the system’s operational value Qualifications - 3+ years applied ML or CV engineering in a production environment - Strong experience with image segmentation, object detection, or scene classification (PyTorch, TensorFlow, or equivalent) - Comfortable taking a model from training through to deployed inference - Experience working with noisy, real-world sensor data rather than clean benchmark datasets - Ability to define and track model performance metrics independently Nice to Have - Experience with thermal or infrared imagery — satellite, aerial, or ground-based - Background in remote sensing, geospatial ML, or environmental monitoring - Familiarity with real-time or near-real-time video inference pipelines - Understanding of fire behavior, wildland fire operations, or related domains - Experience with edge or embedded inference (onboard processing) - Familiarity with photogrammetry or structure-from-motion pipelines - Preference for west coast location. Extra points for PNW A Note on the Role This role is intentionally broad for a small team. You will be the only ML engineer for a significant period. The ideal candidate is someone who has built models for real-world problems and is energized by working close to the operational use case rather than at arm's length from it.

Role Description The S-76 Pilot in Command (PIC) reports to the Chief Pilot and is responsible for the safe, efficient, and professional execution of all assigned flight operations. This role requires a strong working knowledge of applicable FAA regulations (Parts 91 and 135), company procedures, and operational best practices. - Aerial firefighting (day and night operations) - Ferry and repositioning flights - Reconnaissance (day and night operations) - Emergency response and disaster mitigation Pilots are expected to manage daily operational requirements, support contract execution, and represent Coulson Aviation with professionalism in all interactions. Key Responsibilities - Exercise final authority for the safe operation of the aircraft in accordance with 14 CFR 91.3. - Review flight assignments, weather, NOTAMs, and mission-specific requirements. - Ensure proper preflight planning, including weight & balance, fuel, routing, and performance. - Conduct thorough aircraft inspections and ensure readiness for flight. - Verify all maintenance discrepancies have been procedurally complied with, deferred, or corrected by maintenance personnel in accordance with the approved Minimum Equipment List for the aircraft, prior to flight. - Ensure all required documents, equipment, and materials are onboard. - Maintain accurate flight logs and operational records. - Conduct passenger and crew briefings, when applicable. - Coordinate effectively during pilot shift changes. - Ensure compliance with duty and flight time limitations. - Assist with aircraft cleanliness and basic support to maintenance as needed. - Maintain a high standard of professionalism with clients and stakeholders. Qualifications - FAA Commercial Rotorcraft License - Instrument Rating (Helicopter) - Qualified to act as PIC in S-76 - Minimum 2,500 hours PIC (helicopter) preferred - Must meet or exceed USFS PIC qualification requirements - No FAA violations or enforcement actions within the past 5 years - Strong knowledge of FAA regulations and operational standards - Excellent communication and interpersonal skills - Ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment - Team-oriented with strong decision-making skills - High school diploma or equivalent Preferred Qualifications - Night Vision Goggle (NVG) experience - Previous firefighting or utility helicopter experience - Experience supervising crews Work Environment - Field-based operations in dynamic and remote environments - Exposure to noise, dust, fumes, and varying weather conditions - Occasional lifting up to 50 lbs Compensation & Benefits - Competitive compensation based on experience and qualifications - Company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance - 401(k) with company match - Flexible work schedule supporting work-life balance - Travel provided to and from assignments Equal Opportunity Employer Coulson Aviation is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and respectful workplace. We provide equal employment opportunities and reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities throughout the hiring process.

Role Description The S-61 Pilot in Command (PIC) reports to the Chief Pilot and is responsible for the safe, efficient, and professional execution of all assigned flight operations. This role requires a strong working knowledge of applicable FAA regulations (Parts 91, 133, 135, and 137), company procedures, and operational best practices. Missions may include: - Aerial firefighting (day and night operations) - External load (logging and construction) - Ferry and repositioning flights - Reconnaissance - Emergency response and disaster mitigation Pilots are expected to manage daily operational requirements, support contract execution, and represent Coulson Aviation with professionalism in all interactions. Key Responsibilities - Exercise final authority for the safe operation of the aircraft in accordance with 14 CFR 91.3. - Review flight assignments, weather, NOTAMs, and mission-specific requirements. - Ensure proper preflight planning, including weight & balance, fuel, routing, and performance. - Conduct thorough aircraft inspections and ensure readiness for flight. - Verify all maintenance discrepancies have been procedurally complied with, deferred, or corrected by maintenance personnel in accordance with the approved Minimum Equipment List for the aircraft, prior to flight. - Ensure all required documents, equipment, and materials are onboard. - Maintain accurate flight logs and operational records. - Conduct passenger and crew briefings, when applicable. - Coordinate effectively during pilot shift changes. - Ensure compliance with duty and flight time limitations. - Support and mentor copilots and crew members. - Assist with aircraft cleanliness and basic support to maintenance as needed. - Maintain a high standard of professionalism with clients and stakeholders. Qualifications - FAA Commercial Rotorcraft License - Instrument Rating (Helicopter) - Qualified to act as PIC in the S-61 or similar aircraft - Minimum 2,500 hours PIC (helicopter) preferred - Must meet or exceed USFS PIC qualification requirements - No FAA violations or enforcement actions within the past 5 years - Strong knowledge of FAA regulations and operational standards - Excellent communication and interpersonal skills - Ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment - Team-oriented with strong decision-making skills - High school diploma or equivalent Preferred Qualifications - Night Vision Goggle (NVG) experience - Vertical reference and/or tank operations experience - Previous firefighting or utility helicopter experience - Experience supervising crew and copilots Work Environment - Field-based operations in dynamic and remote environments - Exposure to noise, dust, fumes, and varying weather conditions - Occasional lifting up to 50 lbs Compensation & Benefits - Competitive compensation based on experience and qualifications - Company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance - 401(k) with company match - Flexible work schedule supporting work-life balance - Travel provided to and from assignments Equal Opportunity Employer Coulson Aviation is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and respectful workplace. We provide equal employment opportunities and reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities throughout the hiring process.