Head of UAV Integration

Integration Manager – UAV Systems London with European Travel | UAV / Aerospace / Defence | Competitive Package

We are recruiting an Integration Manager for a rapidly growing UK autonomous systems business developing and manufacturing advanced UAV platforms for international defence customers.

This is a technically focused integration and delivery position responsible for bringing together airframe structures, mechanical systems, avionics, electronics, propulsion and associated sub-systems into completed UAV platforms.

We are specifically looking for someone who has previously been responsible for the physical build and integration of complex engineered products.

If your background is primarily project management without significant engineering, manufacturing or integration experience, this is unlikely to be the right role.

The role You will take ownership of UAV integration from the availability of components and major sub-assemblies through to completed, configured and test-ready aircraft.

Working across engineering, production, quality, supply chain and specialist subcontractors, you will be responsible for ensuring aircraft are built to the correct specification, configuration, quality and delivery schedule.

Key responsibilities will include:

Owning the end-to-end build and integration plan for complete UAV platforms

Coordinating the integration of composite airframes, mechanical assemblies, avionics, electronics, propulsion and electrical systems

Managing build sequence and ensuring components and sub-assemblies are available at the correct point in the integration programme

Understanding and managing mechanical and electrical interfaces between aircraft sub-systems

Reviewing engineering drawings, BOMs, build documentation and manufacturing instructions

Ensuring the correct engineering configuration is maintained throughout aircraft build

Working directly with engineering teams to resolve build and integration problems

Managing engineering changes through the build process

Investigating integration failures, non-conformances and recurring build issues

Driving root-cause analysis and corrective actions

Coordinating system-level testing and fault-finding activity

Ensuring completed aircraft are ready for acceptance and subsequent customer delivery

Managing production and quality engineering activity at subcontractor sites

Driving subcontractor performance against technical, quality and delivery requirements

Identifying integration and production risks before they impact programme delivery

Improving build methodology, integration processes and manufacturing repeatability as volumes increase

The role involves working closely with integration partners in Poland and the Netherlands, so regular European travel will be required.

Essential experience We are looking for candidates who can demonstrate significant experience in complex systems integration, vehicle/aircraft build or multidisciplinary manufacturing.

You should have strong experience across several of the following:

Integration of complex electro-mechanical products or platforms

Aircraft, UAV, vehicle or similarly complex system build

Mechanical assembly and installation

Electrical and electronic systems integration

Wiring looms, harnesses, connectors and electrical installation

Avionics or embedded electronic systems

Power distribution and electrical architectures

Propulsion system installation/integration

Structural and mechanical interfaces

Configuration management and build configuration control

Engineering drawings and technical documentation

Bills of Materials / BOM control

Engineering Change Requests / Orders

Manufacturing and assembly instructions

Non-conformance management

Root Cause Analysis / corrective action

Production engineering

System-level fault finding

Verification, test and acceptance activity

Supplier or subcontract manufacturing management

Crucially, you need to understand how individual mechanical, electrical and electronic systems come together to create a functioning complete product.

Your background Direct UAV experience would be highly attractive, but it isn't mandatory.

Strong candidates could come from:

UAV / UAS | Aerospace | Defence | Formula 1 / Motorsport | Advanced Automotive | Robotics | Autonomous Systems | Complex Electro-Mechanical Manufacturing

We are particularly interested in candidates from environments where:

products are technically complex

build volumes are relatively low

specifications continue to evolve

engineering changes need to be introduced quickly

quality standards are demanding

delivery deadlines cannot move

This makes Formula 1 and high-performance motorsport particularly interesting backgrounds alongside UAV and aerospace.

What we don't need This is not a pure Programme Manager, Project Manager or general Production Manager position.

You must have enough technical and manufacturing understanding to walk onto an integration floor, understand what is preventing a system from being completed, challenge the relevant engineering discipline and drive the problem through to resolution.

You'll combine that technical credibility with the organisation and leadership required to keep multiple aircraft, suppliers, engineers and production activities aligned.

The opportunity You'll join the business at a point where it is moving from relatively low-volume builds towards significantly greater production.

That means you'll have the opportunity to influence how aircraft are:

built | integrated | configured | tested | released | industrialised

If you have previously taken responsibility for getting complex aircraft, vehicles or electro-mechanical platforms successfully through build and integration, we'd like to hear from you