Remote Sensing Technician Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Remote Sensing Technician roles qualify as specialty occupations under the H-1B visa, and federal contractors in this field frequently sponsor. Geospatial and satellite imaging positions also appear in DOL's LCA disclosure data, signaling active sponsorship pipelines across defense, environmental, and infrastructure sectors. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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The Remote Sensing Project Lead – Electric Utility Aerial Mapping is responsible for managing the full lifecycle of electric utility transmission, distribution, and substation aerial and terrestrial mapping projects, from proposal and scoping through data acquisition, LiDAR/imagery classification, PLS-CADD model development, and final deliverable handoff. This role serves as the primary client contact for utility and cooperative clients, coordinating survey, aerial and terrestrial acquisition, classification, and PLS-CADD design teams to ensure deliverables meet client specifications, schedules, and budgets. The Project Lead works closely with Leadership, Production Lead, and technical staff to plan, execute, and track performance across multiple concurrent utility engagements, and may also support other aerial mapping projects outside the utility sector as needed.
JOB DUTIES:
- Manage electric utility transmission, distribution, and substation aerial and terrestrial mapping projects from inception through final PLS-CADD deliverable across multiple concurrent engagements.
- Serve as the primary client contact for utility and cooperative clients; represent Westwood in scoping calls, kickoff meetings, and progress reviews.
- Develop and manage proposals, fee estimates, invoicing, and work-in-process tracking, for utility mapping engagements.
- Coordinate LiDAR and imagery acquisition (fixed-wing, helicopter, UAS, and terrestrial/mobile LiDAR scanning) and ground survey control to meet utility corridor and substation requirements.
- Oversee point cloud classification and feature/attribute coding (conductors, structures, substations, vegetation, ground, etc.) to utility-specific standards, including vegetation clearance classifications.
- Develop and maintain project schedules, budgets, and staffing plans across classification, PLS-CADD, and QA/QC teams; proactively communicate status and risks.
- Identify and document scope changes, such as corridor extensions, reflights, or reclassification needs; prepare and negotiate change orders in a timely manner.
- Implement and enforce QA/QC procedures for classified point clouds, feature coding, and PLS-CADD models prior to client delivery.
- Coordinate with production staff, aerial and terrestrial acquisition teams, survey crews, and PLS-CADD designers to align resources and deliverables.
- Provide guidance, technical review, and feedback to project technicians.
- Support other aerial and terrestrial mapping projects outside the utility sector as needed, based on business demand.
SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:
- 5+ years of project management experience in electric utility, transmission/distribution, or geospatial and surveying services.
- In depth knowledge of aerial LiDAR/imagery acquisition and point cloud classification workflows for utility corridors and substations.
- Familiarity with terrestrial/mobile LiDAR scanning platforms and processing workflows.
- Familiarity with PLS-CADD modeling processes and utility engineering to the level of understanding what is required from a mapping sortie.
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent utility client engagements and cross-functional technical teams.
- Proficiency in managing project financials, including budgets, invoices, and WIP.
- Excellent communication, organizational, and client management skills.
- ASPRS Certification preferred.
- Direct hands-on experience with PLS-CADD software and utility feature coding standards preferred.
- Experience with substation mapping, vegetation management, encroachment analysis, or clearance reporting for electric utilities preferred.
- Experience across multiple market verticals, including power delivery, renewables, and public infrastructure preferred.
Note: This job description is a general outline of the key responsibilities and qualifications of a Remote Sensing Project Lead – Electric Utility Aerial Mapping. It is not exhaustive and may be subject to change based on the specific needs of the organization and projects.
At Westwood, our purpose is to create a better world for people through our work. We transform the energy grid, design resilient infrastructure, and develop communities that will flourish today and for future generations. With over 50 years of experience and a legacy of innovation, we stand at the forefront of our industry, dedicated to understanding the unique needs of the markets we serve.
Our approach revolves around people. We are committed to building a culture that attracts, retains, and develops high performers. Our team values relationships, innovation, dedication, initiative, and growth. We believe fostering a collaborative “One Team” mentality yields superior outcomes in everything we do.
We customize our technical capabilities and geographic reach to meet our clients where they are and help them realize their vision. We are partners in our clients’ success, driving to provide solutions that make a lasting difference. Safety, sustainability, and operational excellence are not just facets of our work; they are intrinsic to our identity, guiding every decision we make.
We are deeply invested in the communities we serve. Through our projects and giving-back initiatives, we enrich the lives of those we serve, engage others within our industry, and create a lasting impact on communities around the world. To us, success transcends the completion of projects; it is reflected in the lives we have positively impacted by our work.
Join us in creating a better world.
In 2025, Westwood was recognized as #77 on the ENR Top 500 Design Firms. Additionally, Westwood was ranked #5 for ENR's Top Design Firm for Solar, #6 for Battery Storage, and #3 for Wind (2025). The firm consistently ranks on the industry's top 25 lists and receives recognition for its involvement in award-winning projects nationwide.
DESCRIPTION:
The Remote Sensing Project Lead – Electric Utility Aerial Mapping is responsible for managing the full lifecycle of electric utility transmission, distribution, and substation aerial and terrestrial mapping projects, from proposal and scoping through data acquisition, LiDAR/imagery classification, PLS-CADD model development, and final deliverable handoff. This role serves as the primary client contact for utility and cooperative clients, coordinating survey, aerial and terrestrial acquisition, classification, and PLS-CADD design teams to ensure deliverables meet client specifications, schedules, and budgets. The Project Lead works closely with Leadership, Production Lead, and technical staff to plan, execute, and track performance across multiple concurrent utility engagements, and may also support other aerial mapping projects outside the utility sector as needed.
JOB DUTIES:
- Manage electric utility transmission, distribution, and substation aerial and terrestrial mapping projects from inception through final PLS-CADD deliverable across multiple concurrent engagements.
- Serve as the primary client contact for utility and cooperative clients; represent Westwood in scoping calls, kickoff meetings, and progress reviews.
- Develop and manage proposals, fee estimates, invoicing, and work-in-process tracking, for utility mapping engagements.
- Coordinate LiDAR and imagery acquisition (fixed-wing, helicopter, UAS, and terrestrial/mobile LiDAR scanning) and ground survey control to meet utility corridor and substation requirements.
- Oversee point cloud classification and feature/attribute coding (conductors, structures, substations, vegetation, ground, etc.) to utility-specific standards, including vegetation clearance classifications.
- Develop and maintain project schedules, budgets, and staffing plans across classification, PLS-CADD, and QA/QC teams; proactively communicate status and risks.
- Identify and document scope changes, such as corridor extensions, reflights, or reclassification needs; prepare and negotiate change orders in a timely manner.
- Implement and enforce QA/QC procedures for classified point clouds, feature coding, and PLS-CADD models prior to client delivery.
- Coordinate with production staff, aerial and terrestrial acquisition teams, survey crews, and PLS-CADD designers to align resources and deliverables.
- Provide guidance, technical review, and feedback to project technicians.
- Support other aerial and terrestrial mapping projects outside the utility sector as needed, based on business demand.
SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:
- 5+ years of project management experience in electric utility, transmission/distribution, or geospatial and surveying services.
- In depth knowledge of aerial LiDAR/imagery acquisition and point cloud classification workflows for utility corridors and substations.
- Familiarity with terrestrial/mobile LiDAR scanning platforms and processing workflows.
- Familiarity with PLS-CADD modeling processes and utility engineering to the level of understanding what is required from a mapping sortie.
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent utility client engagements and cross-functional technical teams.
- Proficiency in managing project financials, including budgets, invoices, and WIP.
- Excellent communication, organizational, and client management skills.
- ASPRS Certification preferred.
- Direct hands-on experience with PLS-CADD software and utility feature coding standards preferred.
- Experience with substation mapping, vegetation management, encroachment analysis, or clearance reporting for electric utilities preferred.
- Experience across multiple market verticals, including power delivery, renewables, and public infrastructure preferred.
Note: This job description is a general outline of the key responsibilities and qualifications of a Remote Sensing Project Lead – Electric Utility Aerial Mapping. It is not exhaustive and may be subject to change based on the specific needs of the organization and projects.
At Westwood, our purpose is to create a better world for people through our work. We transform the energy grid, design resilient infrastructure, and develop communities that will flourish today and for future generations. With over 50 years of experience and a legacy of innovation, we stand at the forefront of our industry, dedicated to understanding the unique needs of the markets we serve.
Our approach revolves around people. We are committed to building a culture that attracts, retains, and develops high performers. Our team values relationships, innovation, dedication, initiative, and growth. We believe fostering a collaborative “One Team” mentality yields superior outcomes in everything we do.
We customize our technical capabilities and geographic reach to meet our clients where they are and help them realize their vision. We are partners in our clients’ success, driving to provide solutions that make a lasting difference. Safety, sustainability, and operational excellence are not just facets of our work; they are intrinsic to our identity, guiding every decision we make.
We are deeply invested in the communities we serve. Through our projects and giving-back initiatives, we enrich the lives of those we serve, engage others within our industry, and create a lasting impact on communities around the world. To us, success transcends the completion of projects; it is reflected in the lives we have positively impacted by our work.
Join us in creating a better world.
In 2025, Westwood was recognized as #77 on the ENR Top 500 Design Firms. Additionally, Westwood was ranked #5 for ENR's Top Design Firm for Solar, #6 for Battery Storage, and #3 for Wind (2025). The firm consistently ranks on the industry's top 25 lists and receives recognition for its involvement in award-winning projects nationwide.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as a Remote Sensing Technician
Match your degree field to the role
USCIS requires a direct connection between your degree and the specialty occupation. A geospatial science, geography, or remote sensing degree maps cleanly; an unrelated STEM degree may require a credential evaluation showing coursework overlap to satisfy the specialty occupation standard.
Target federal contractors with LCA history
Defense and environmental agencies contract remote sensing work to firms like Leidos, Maxar, and Booz Allen. Search the OFLC Wage Search for certified LCAs under SOC 17-3031 to confirm which contractors have filed for this role recently.
Use O*NET to frame your specialty occupation case
The O*NET profile for Surveying and Mapping Technicians documents the theoretical and technical knowledge requirements. Referencing O*NET's job zone classification in your employer's support letter strengthens the specialty occupation argument during USCIS adjudication.
Flag STEM OPT extensions to employers early
Many remote sensing roles sit within STEM-designated programs. Telling a hiring manager upfront that your role qualifies for a 24-month STEM OPT extension gives them a longer on-ramp before H-1B filing, which often resolves budget and timing objections before they arise.
Verify employer E-Verify enrollment before accepting
STEM OPT authorization requires your employer to be enrolled in E-Verify. Check enrollment status through E-Verify's public search before signing an offer. A non-enrolled employer can't legally employ you on STEM OPT, and re-enrollment takes time that eats into your authorization window.
File your LCA and I-129 with Migrate Mate
Once your employer is ready to file, Migrate Mate handles the LCA submission to DOL and the I-129 petition to USCIS for a flat fee, reducing the administrative burden on smaller remote sensing firms that don't have in-house immigration counsel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Remote Sensing Technician role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Yes, but the determination depends on how the position is written. USCIS evaluates whether the role normally requires a bachelor's degree or higher in a specific field. Remote sensing roles tied to geospatial analysis, satellite imagery interpretation, or photogrammetry generally qualify. Roles framed as general technician work without a field-specific degree requirement are more likely to face a Request for Evidence.
What degree does a sponsoring employer need to demonstrate for this role?
Employers typically cite degrees in geographic information systems, geospatial science, geography, environmental science, or surveying. Remote sensing is not always its own degree program, so a combination of relevant coursework and professional experience in satellite data processing or LiDAR analysis can support the application. USCIS accepts credential evaluations that map foreign degrees to U.S. equivalents when the field isn't an exact match.
Which visa types are realistic for Remote Sensing Technicians seeking sponsorship?
H-1B is the primary option for private-sector roles. TN visa status works for Canadian and Mexican nationals in engineering or scientific technician categories under USMCA. O-1 visa is possible for technicians with peer-reviewed publications or recognized contributions to satellite imagery or geospatial methodologies. Some federal contractor positions support green card sponsorship through PERM when the role is ongoing and the employer meets prevailing wage requirements.
Where can I find employers actively sponsoring Remote Sensing Technician roles?
Migrate Mate aggregates job listings from employers with documented H-1B and LCA filing history, letting you filter specifically for remote sensing and geospatial roles. Defense contractors, environmental consulting firms, and state and federal agencies are the most consistent sources of sponsorship in this field, and filtering by those employer categories narrows the search considerably.
How does the H-1B cap affect timing for Remote Sensing Technician sponsorship?
Most private-sector remote sensing roles are subject to the H-1B annual cap of 85,000 slots, with registration opening each March for an October 1 start date. However, roles at universities, affiliated nonprofits, or certain government research institutions are cap-exempt, meaning your employer can file at any point in the year. If you're on OPT, confirm your OPT end date aligns with the H-1B timeline before accepting a cap-subject offer.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Remote Sensing Technician jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.