Drone Jobs in Southampton

Southampton is a hub for maritime and aerospace innovation, making it a prime location for drone technology and operations.

Open roles
2
Hiring companies
2

Southampton, situated on the south coast of England, is a key centre for maritime and aerospace industries. This strategic location has attracted a range of companies and research institutions that are at the forefront of drone technology and unmanned aerial systems (UAS). From drone piloting and engineering to aerial surveying and counter-drone technology, the city offers a diverse array of opportunities for professionals in the drone sector. Many roles in Southampton involve close collaboration with maritime operations, making it a unique and dynamic environment for drone specialists.

Live jobs

2 live roles

Matchtech

Junior Regulatory Specialist

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  • Fareham
  • Junior
  • Permanent

Supports the Regulations & Safety team in monitoring drone regulations and preparing airspace change requests, safety cases and SORA assessments for VLOS and BVLOS operations. Involves GIS mapping, tracking regulatory applications and coordinating with Flight Operations, aimed at recent graduates or junior aviation professionals.

Microsoft Office · Google Workspace · GIS Software

Clearance required 2 weeks ago

Callen Lenz

Lead Robotics Engineer

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  • Southampton
  • On-site
  • Lead · manages people
  • Permanent

Lead a small mixed-discipline team building autonomous prototypes for a stealth-mode uncrewed systems venture, owning electronics, software and control systems from concept through build and test. Work directly with the CTO, manage project budgets and requirements, and build in-house prototyping capability and supplier relationships. Requires hands-on integration work and support for off-site trials.

Ardupilot · PX4 · Gazebo +7

BPSS clearance 4 months ago

Roles further afield

A little outside Southampton, but within reach.

Callen Lenz

Aircrew Manager

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  • Salisbury
  • On-site
  • £50,000 pa
  • Lead · manages people
  • Permanent

Leads and manages the flight crew team, covering recruitment, onboarding, performance, welfare and retention while maintaining a Just Culture ethos. Ensures pilots stay qualified and current, oversees operational manuals and compliance, and works with the Training Manager on progression plans. Acts as key liaison to the Head of Flight Operations.

BPSS clearance Last month

Matchtech

MRO Senior Technician (Global Deployment)

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  • Fareham
  • Senior · manages people
  • Permanent

Maintains and supports Windracers UAVs to a high operational standard, covering planned fleet modifications, scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, fault diagnosis, ground testing and flying operations support. Works a 6 weeks on / 2 weeks off rota in diverse and challenging global environments, including conflict zones, with supervisory responsibility for day-to-day operations and project delivery.

Microsoft Office · Windracers UAV

Clearance required 6 days ago

Owen Daniels

UAV Electronics Engineer

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  • Portsmouth
  • €55,000 – €65,000 pa
  • Mid-level
  • Permanent

Lead the design and development of analogue and digital electronic circuits, PCB layouts and power distribution units for UAV platforms, taking ownership of electronics integration with mechanical, software and firmware systems. As the first hire for a growing electronics team, you will build and test prototypes and support designs through to manufacture.

CAN · SPI · I2C +4

BPSS clearance Last week

Saab

Associate Systems Engineer

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  • Fareham
  • Junior

Develops and maintains SysML models for underwater robotics product systems, capturing, decomposing and tracing customer requirements across the full project lifecycle. Bridges mechanical, electrical, electronic and software domains using model-based systems engineering, supporting both product customisation and R&D projects within the Seaeye business unit.

SysML · UML

BPSS clearance Last week

Callen Lenz

IT Support Analyst

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  • Salisbury
  • On-site
  • £32,000 – £36,000 pa
  • Mid-level
  • Permanent

Hands-on end-user support role covering hardware, software, Microsoft 365 administration and Virtual Desktop Infrastructure, alongside incident response, service requests and user administration. The position also involves building and configuring laptops, desktops and smartphones, contributing to IT projects and service improvements, and maintaining documentation within a growing aerospace-focused IT team.

Microsoft 365 · Microsoft Office · Linux +1

BPSS clearance 4 months ago

Callen Lenz

Electronic Systems Engineer

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  • Salisbury
  • On-site
  • £40,000 – £50,000 pa
  • Mid-level
  • Permanent

Design, develop, integrate and verify electronic hardware and systems for unmanned aerial vehicles, covering analogue, digital and mixed-signal circuitry, PCB/PCBA design, interfaces, sensors and test equipment across the full engineering lifecycle. Works alongside Systems, Software, Air Vehicle, Avionics, Test and Manufacturing teams, with emphasis on DfM, DfA, DfT and qualification for production.

UAV · Avionics · Sensors +1

BPSS clearance Last month

Callen Lenz

Senior Systems Engineer

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  • Salisbury
  • On-site
  • £50,000 – £65,000 pa
  • Senior
  • Permanent

Deliver systems engineering outputs across the full lifecycle for complex uncrewed aircraft systems, covering requirements capture and management, system architecture, integration, verification and validation, and risk management. Work within multidisciplinary teams spanning software, electronics, mechanical, payload and platform engineering, supporting qualification and flight test activities.

UAS · Autonomy · Mission Systems +1

BPSS clearance Last month

Callen Lenz

Modelling and Simulation Engineer

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  • Salisbury
  • On-site
  • £40,000 – £50,000 pa
  • Mid-level
  • Permanent

Working within the Air Vehicle Design team, you will conduct multi-disciplinary modelling and simulation, including aircraft performance analyses, flight dynamics modelling, control algorithm design and model validation against experimental test data. The role also involves building flight simulation and visualisation test environments, gathering data through bench and flight testing, and maintaining a library of reusable models and tools.

MATLAB · Simulink · SolidWorks

BPSS clearance Last month
The scene

Hiring in Southampton

Southampton's strong maritime and aerospace presence has created a fertile ground for drone technology. Companies in these sectors often require drone specialists to enhance their operations, whether it's for environmental monitoring, surveying, or security. The city's proximity to the sea and its advanced research facilities make it an ideal location for professionals looking to specialise in maritime drone applications.

The local job market is diverse, with opportunities ranging from entry-level positions to senior roles. Many companies offer hybrid work models, allowing professionals to balance on-site fieldwork with remote data analysis and project management. This flexibility, combined with the city's vibrant tech community, makes Southampton an attractive location for drone professionals.

FAQs

Common questions

  • Common roles include drone pilots, engineers, data analysts, and UAS operators, often with a focus on maritime applications.

  • Many roles involve a mix of on-site and remote work, particularly for field operations and data analysis.

  • The maritime, aerospace, and environmental sectors are major employers of drone professionals in Southampton.

  • For detailed salary information, please refer to the salary section on this page, which is updated regularly with live job listings.

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