Drone Jobs

• London
• Lead · manages people

Lead a new Agile team of wargaming analysts as the first hire and plank owner of a simulation center being built in the UAE. Produce and iterate Modeling, Simulation and Analysis (M&SA) using MissionSim, developing Python and YAML scenarios, physics-based models and red/blue force wargames to connect system design choices to mission outcomes. Initial hiring is in London with relocation to Abu Dhabi.

Lattice OS · MissionSim · AFSIM +4

• London
• Mid-level

Produces and iterates modeling, simulation and analysis for defense products, running wargames and tactical experiments to train customers and inform product design. Builds physics-based models and scenarios in Python and YAML, assessing how platform, payload, autonomy and C2 choices affect mission outcomes. Joins as an early hire in an agile team standing up a new UAE simulation center.

Python · C++ · YAML +6

• Oakley
• Senior · manages people

Provides technical leadership across mechanical and aerospace development for unmanned systems, owning complex design tasks and mentoring engineers from concept through flight test and production. Involves CAD architecture in SolidWorks, FEA analysis, propulsion and payload integration, and supporting manufacturing, assembly and certification. Based in Bedford within BlueBear, a Saab company.

SolidWorks · CATIA · ANSYS +3

• Bedford

Owns aircraft conceptual sizing and constraint analysis for new UAV concepts, turning requirements and CONOPS into sized, analysed and testable air vehicle designs through rapid trade studies. Builds and maintains the concept-design toolchain (geometry, aero, mission, surrogate and data-processing tools) and synthesises flight-test and telemetry data to validate and calibrate models. Works within a small multidisciplinary team in the Blue Bear business unit.

OpenVSP · RCAIDE · AVL +7

• Bristol
• On-site
• £60,000 – £70,000 pa
• Senior · manages people
• Permanent

Lead software project teams developing flight control and autopilot simulation software, using model-based design in MATLAB and Simulink. Responsibilities span flight dynamics modelling, flight performance studies, requirements definition, code and model review, and testing, while coaching team members and supporting project scoping and estimation.

MATLAB · Simulink

• Salisbury
• On-site
• £65,000 – £75,000 pa
• Lead
• Permanent

Deliver avionics systems engineering across navigation, power, communication, payloads, aircraft management and C2 systems for unmanned air systems, providing technical leadership over design, development and integration. The role involves supervising other engineers, improving internal processes, and supporting airworthiness, safety and certification requirements within a multi-disciplined team.

Altium · SolidWorks · MATLAB +2

• Bristol
• Hybrid · 3 days in office
• Senior

Senior safety professional responsible for developing and assuring aviation safety management across civil and military air operations. Acts as focal point for air safety, liaising with the MAA, CAA, EASA and MOD duty holders, managing risk registers, safety cases, occurrence reporting and audits, and delivering safety training. Based in Bristol or Swindon with frequent UK and international travel.

MAA Regulatory Publications · CAA CAP 722 · ICAO Annexes +5

• Swindon
• Hybrid · 3 days in office
• Mid-level · manages people

Build and run a propulsion manufacturing capability from scratch at the Swindon site, covering facility layout, equipment commissioning, fuel and engine test cells, and in-house 3D printing. Recruit and lead the shop-floor team, manage supply chain outsourcing, and drive production rate, quality and continuous improvement across a European plant network.

ERP · MES

• Oakley
• Hybrid
• Mid-level
• Permanent

Support the Head of Engineering on multidisciplinary design challenges for unmanned systems, performing day-to-day CAD work, managing design requirements, and contributing to integration, verification and testing across aerospace development projects. Involves material selection for composite and metallic components, payload and propulsion integration including eVTOL applications, and preparing documentation such as DFMEAs and risk assessments.

SolidWorks

• 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

• Salisbury
• On-site
• £50,000 – £60,000 pa
• Mid-level
• Permanent

Develops, configures and tests Ardupilot-based flight control systems for UAV platforms, tuning flight behaviours in SITL and live flight, and integrating sensors such as GPS, cameras and LiDAR. Works within the Autopilot team on requirements capture, architectural design, peer reviews and documentation, using C++ and protocols including MAVLink, CAN, SPI, I2C, UDP and TCP.

Ardupilot · PX4 · MAVLink +7

• 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

• Salisbury
• On-site
• £55,000 – £65,000 pa
• Lead
• Permanent

Focuses on UAS Deep Effects, identifying and developing new defence opportunities while shaping the company's business development strategy. Involves building campaign plans, a qualified opportunity pipeline, and relationships with Army HQ, Field Army and wider defence networks, plus consultancy across defence programmes. Requires deep UK Defence and NATO UAS/Deep Fires domain expertise and security clearance eligibility.

• Salisbury
• On-site
• £30,000 – £35,000 pa
• Mid-level
• Permanent

Primary point of contact for vehicle and asset activities, coordinating maintenance, inspections, repairs and compliance across a fleet of small cars to large vans and trailers. Maintains the asset register, tracks allocation and condition, manages key control and issue/return inspections, and liaises with garages, leasing providers and insurers to keep everything operational and audit-ready.

Microsoft 365 · Excel · Outlook +3

• 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