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Featured Jobs
UAV & Drone Training Manager
Consultant name: Matt SoulsbyJob reference: 000Date posted: 13/05/2024We are recruiting for a Training Operations Manager (UAV / Drone Training) to head up the training department of a successful and established commercial UAV company. The role will be provide drone operation and pilot training to multiple clients on the various UAV products plus oversight and management of legal and compliance processes...
Phoenix Resourcing Services
Leeds
Drone Pilot
TEXO Drone Survey and Inspection Ltd (DSI), a leading provider of integrated drone-based survey and inspection services, is seeking an experiencedUAS Pilotto join our team inGlasgow / Edinburgh.Our innovative technologies and services are at the forefront of the industrial surveying industry, delivering solutions across multiple sectors including construction, oil and gas, and renewables.Area(s) of Responsibility:Undertake role of Pilot-in-Command of unmanned...
TEXO Recruitment
Glasgow
Drone Operator
Location: Bath (Hybrid) Salary: £30k-£60k (DOE) Role: UAS Safety Pilot and UAS Remote Pilot I'm recruiting for two exciting roles : UAS Safety Pilot and UAS Remote Pilot based in Bath — both offering the chance to work on real-world missions using advanced unmanned systems. I'm working with a company developing cutting-edge Unmanned Aerial Systems that support maritime surveillance, border...
Oakmont Consulting
Bury
Drone Pilot
Location: Bath (Hybrid) Salary: £30k-£60k (DOE) Role: UAS Safety Pilot and UAS Remote Pilot I'm recruiting for two exciting roles : UAS Safety Pilot and UAS Remote Pilot based in Bath — both offering the chance to work on real-world missions using advanced unmanned systems. I'm working with a company developing cutting-edge Unmanned Aerial Systems that support maritime surveillance, border...
Oakmont Consulting
London
Drone Operator
Location: Bath (Hybrid) Salary: £30k-£60k (DOE) Role: UAS Safety Pilot and UAS Remote Pilot I'm recruiting for two exciting roles : UAS Safety Pilot and UAS Remote Pilot based in Bath — both offering the chance to work on real-world missions using advanced unmanned systems. I'm working with a company developing cutting-edge Unmanned Aerial Systems that support maritime surveillance, border...
Oakmont Consulting
London
Drone Pilot- with Previous Experience
Location: Bath (Hybrid) Salary: £30k-£60k (DOE) Role: UAS Safety Pilot and UAS Remote Pilot I'm recruiting for two exciting roles : UAS Safety Pilot and UAS Remote Pilot based in Bath — both offering the chance to work on real-world missions using advanced unmanned systems. I'm working with a company developing cutting-edge Unmanned Aerial Systems that support maritime surveillance, border...
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)—commonly referred to as drones—have rapidly transformed modern industries. From agriculture and mapping to logistics, search & rescue, and cinematography, UAVs are revolutionising how we capture data, transport goods, and assist in complex tasks. As UAV systems become more advanced, the demand for engineers, software developers, and flight control experts with deep UAV expertise continues to grow.
If you’re exploring UAV job interviews, you can expect a blend of hardware, software, control theory, and safety-related questions. Whether you’re focusing on flight controller firmware, autopilot algorithms, computer vision, or fleet management, your interviewers want to see you can handle the intricacies of real-time control, sensor fusion, and robust design.
This blog post covers 30 real coding & system-design questions you might encounter when interviewing for a UAV role—plus insights into why thorough interview prep matters. For the latest UAV opportunities in the UK, check out www.uavjobs.co.uk, a dedicated platform connecting drone professionals with innovative companies across multiple verticals.
Let’s dive into the specific skill sets that UAV interviews test—and how you can showcase your capabilities to future employers.
How to Secure a Compensation Package That Matches Your High-Flying Role in the UK’s Drone & UAV Industry
Introduction
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), more commonly referred to as drones, have rapidly transitioned from niche military applications to a multibillion-pound commercial market. From aerial surveys in agriculture and construction to drone deliveries and advanced aerial photography, UAV technology is reshaping how businesses operate and solve problems. As a mid‑senior professional in the UAV sector—whether you specialise in flight control software, hardware design, mission planning, or regulatory compliance—your work is integral to driving innovation and safety in this fast-evolving field.
Amid such high demand, employers aren’t just competing on salary. Compensation packages can include equity, milestone-based bonuses, and a variety of perks that enable you to stay at the cutting edge of UAV technology. Despite these opportunities, many professionals focus mainly on base pay when negotiating an offer, potentially missing out on significant added value.
This guide explores how to negotiate a UAV job offer in the UK, diving into equity arrangements for emerging drone start-ups, performance bonuses tied to flight-testing or product launches, and perks that can support your ongoing development and well-being in this dynamic sector.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)—also referred to as drones—have evolved from niche military hardware into versatile tools spanning multiple industries. Whether they are carrying out surveillance for national security, delivering medical supplies in remote areas, or inspecting critical infrastructure, UAVs have quickly become indispensable in both civilian and government applications. In the United Kingdom, the public sector has increasingly embraced this technology, driven by its potential to enhance operational efficiency, reduce risk to personnel, and improve service delivery.
As a result, UAV jobs in the UK’s public sector are expanding, offering a wide range of career opportunities for engineers, pilots, data analysts, policy experts, and more. Working in these roles can mean contributing directly to the safety of local communities, helping modernise public services, or safeguarding national interests through advanced surveillance. And beyond the satisfaction of supporting public missions, these positions often come with stable funding, structured career pathways, and the chance to work on ground-breaking projects in collaboration with leading research institutions and industry partners.
In this extensive guide, we’ll explore the importance of UAVs for government bodies, highlight the major public sector organisations driving UAV adoption, outline the typical roles and skill sets required, and walk you through the process of securing a UAV job that can have real-world impact. By the end, you’ll have a comprehensive view of how to leverage your interest or expertise in drones to build a fulfilling career in the UK public sector.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)—commonly referred to as drones—are fast becoming indispensable in industries from construction and agriculture to filming, logistics, and defence. Advances in sensor technology, autonomous flight, and data analytics enable UAVs to capture critical insights, streamline operations, and revolutionise existing workflows. As a result, the UK UAV job market has exploded with opportunities for pilot operators, aeronautical engineers, data analysts, and entrepreneurs.
Amid this rapid expansion, UAV professionals face a crucial choice: Should they work as day‑rate contractors, sign fixed-term contracts, or go permanent? Which arrangement promises higher pay in 2025, and what does each model imply for job security, skills development, and career progression? This comprehensive guide unpacks the pros, cons, and earning potential of contract vs. permanent UAV roles, providing sample scenarios to illustrate real-world take‑home pay. Whether your expertise lies in flight control systems, mission planning, embedded software, or UAV data processing, read on to discover which employment path best aligns with your financial goals and professional ambitions.
Drones Need More Than Joystick Skills
From Royal Mail trials on Scottish islands to BT’s drone‑enabled mobile towers, unmanned‑aircraft systems (UAS) are scaling fast across the United Kingdom. Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data show over 9,200 commercial drone operator permits (OA/PDRA) in force by January 2025—up 34 % year‑on‑year. PwC’s Skies Without Limits 2.0 forecasts that by 2030 drones could deliver £45 billion in UK economic uplift and 650,000 jobs.
Yet adverts often focus on remote pilots and aeronautical engineers. The reality? 41 % of drone‑sector vacancies highlight operations, compliance, sales or programme management rather than stick‑time or soldering (UK Drone Industry Barometer 2024). Whether you’re skilled at logistics, regulatory affairs or storytelling, there’s a seat for you in the cockpit—without logging 1,000 flight hours.
This guide explains the fastest‑growing non‑coding, non‑pilot roles, the transferable expertise you may already possess, authentic transition stories and a 90‑day plan to launch your UAV career.
From the high‑speed Banshee target drone roaring over the Hebrides range to the UK’s first crewed–uncrewed teaming trial between a jet and swarm drones in 2024, QinetiQ has carved out a leadership position in unmanned aerial systems (UAS). The company’s growing portfolio spans design, manufacture, test, evaluation and in‑service support—offering UK engineers and pilots a rare chance to work end‑to‑end on cutting‑edge UAV technology without leaving the country. A quick scan of the QinetiQ careers portal shows roles open across systems engineering, flight software, operations and product support. (careers.qinetiq.com)
Whether you dream of writing guidance code for swarm autonomy, flying targets at 350 knots for missile‑defence trials, or helping the RAF certify the next unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV), this guide explains how to land a QinetiQ UAV job in 2025.
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