Drone Jobs

• 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

• London

Own end-to-end UAV hardware design, from early concept and analysis through to flight-ready builds, working across aerodynamic, structural, propulsion and electronic subsystems. Develop and iterate prototypes at pace, run validation and flight-readiness testing, and select components and materials with suppliers. Depth in one specialism is expected while keeping the integrated system in view.

CAD · FEA · CFD +3

• Llanbedr
• Senior

Hands-on role integrating hardware and software onto unmanned aerial systems, including sensors, actuators and control systems, and leading the design, build and test of UAS prototypes. Works with mechanical, software and systems engineers on rapid prototyping, test plans and troubleshooting, using ArduPilot, 3D printing, composites and RC piloting of VTOL and fixed-wing platforms.

ArduPilot · ROS · Lattice OS

• Bedford
• Senior

Technical owner of new UAV concepts, turning customer requirements and CONOPS into sized, analysed and flight-tested air vehicles while running several concept studies in parallel. Leads conceptual sizing and trade studies across aerodynamics, weights, propulsion, mission and stability, and closes the loop between analysis and reality by calibrating sizing methods with bench, wind-tunnel and flight-test data. Also develops the team's Python-based concept-design tools and helps develop junior engineers.

OpenVSP · AVL · XFLR5 +6

• Oakley
• Senior

Technical owner of new UAV concepts, turning customer requirements and CONOPS into sized, analysed and flight-tested air vehicles while running several concept studies in parallel. Leads conceptual sizing and trade studies across aerodynamics, weights, propulsion, mission and stability, and uses bench, wind-tunnel and flight-test data to calibrate sizing models. Also develops the team's Python-based concept-design tools and mentors junior engineers.

OpenVSP · AVL · XFLR5 +6

• London
• Hybrid
• Senior

Hands-on engineering role developing, integrating and flight-testing autonomy software for unmanned and autonomous aircraft, spanning C++/Python development, hardware bring-up, telemetry analysis and live field operations. Works across software, avionics, radios and flight controllers, supporting SIL/HIL/VIL simulation and demonstrations, primarily in the Lviv region with travel across Ukraine.

MAVLink · PX4 · ArduPilot +7

• 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

• Llanbedr

Hands-on UAS technician role focused on physical integration, configuration and maintenance of uncrewed air systems, with expert-level ownership of Pixhawk and Cube Orange flight controllers, firmware management and parameter tuning. Involves pre-, in- and post-flight diagnostics, field maintenance and close work with engineering and flight test teams, with opportunities to gain UAS flight qualifications.

Pixhawk · Cube Orange · Lattice OS +4

• London
• Hybrid
• Senior

Design and implement real-time perception algorithms for object detection, classification and multi-target tracking, fusing EO/IR cameras, radar and IMU data. Build state estimation and localization pipelines, interpret sensor ICDs, and validate performance in simulation and flight test. Works closely with autonomy and hardware teams on SWaP-constrained airborne platforms.

PyTorch · TensorFlow · IMU +3

• Fareham
• On-site
• Mid-level
• Permanent

Hands-on manufacturing, testing and repair of avionics components, sub-assemblies and cable assemblies for Windracers ULTRA vehicles, working from build packs and engineering drawings. The role also covers avionics installation onto aircraft, commissioning support, and occasional travel within the UK for post-production flight operations.

Microsoft Office · DMMs · Power Supplies +3

• Bristol
• Hybrid · 3 days in office
• Mid-level

Acts as the on-site company representative coordinating UAS flight operations with customers and external agencies such as Border Force and Coast Guard. Tasks flight crews, runs daily and weekly briefings, books airspace, disseminates flight plans, and handles mission evidence and imagery feeds into the Joint Control Room.

Tekever Systems

• .
• Hybrid
• Permanent

Operates UAVs globally, conducting pre-flight checks, flight operations, data collection, and routine maintenance while ensuring compliance with aviation regulations. When not on operations, supports the wider Flight Operations team and is expected to become an instructor, requiring teaching and leadership abilities. Involves travel, work outside normal hours, and coordination with ground crews and air traffic control.

MS Excel

• Swindon
• Hybrid · 3 days in office

Hands-on shop-floor role at a new Swindon drone manufacturing facility, covering goods-in and receiving, stores and inventory control, kitting and line-side feed, and dispatch and shipping. Works closely with Supply Chain, Production Planning & Control, Quality and the electronics and integration cells, using ERP systems, handheld scanners and material-handling equipment to keep physical stock and system records aligned as the site scales.

ERP · Handheld Scanners · Forklift +1

• Cambridge
• Remote
• £45,000 pa
• Senior · manages people

Lead pilot on complex drone missions across UK infrastructure projects, covering BVLOS, visual mitigation, fixed-wing, survey, LiDAR and inspection operations. Supervises deployed crews, mentors less experienced pilots and develops operational standards, procedures and mission plans. Involves configuring flight controllers, geofences and fail-safes, and analysing flight logs to improve performance.

• Lincoln
• On-site
• Senior
• Permanent

Owns continuing airworthiness management for a fleet of remotely piloted aircraft systems, building and maintaining maintenance programmes and keeping technical records current. Acts as the link between Engineering, Flight Operations and Quality and Compliance, leading airworthiness audits, defect investigations and regulator contact while bringing new RPAS types into service.

RPAS