45 jobs for “uav systems engineer”
Flarebright Bicester £39,000 – £49,000 pa
Contributes across the full development lifecycle, from concept and algorithm design to system integration, testing and troubleshooting of safety-critical navigation and autonomy software in C++. Works with a multidisciplinary team on real-time embedded systems, hardware/software-in-the-loop testing and flight test activities, producing design documentation and test reports.
National Crime Agency Gillingham £47,049 pa
Lead drone pilot for the NCA's Technical Operations unmanned vehicle programme, responsible for flight planning and clearances, piloting a range of UAS and USV platforms, and developing innovative technical surveillance capabilities. The role involves training the drone cadre, engaging with the Civil Aviation Authority and suppliers, and acting as subject matter expert on unmanned vehicles.
Callen Lenz Salisbury £40,000 – £50,000 pa
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.
Tekever Swindon
Hands-on build role assembling, integrating and testing Unmanned Aerial System airframes and sub-systems, covering structural work such as bracketry, precision drilling and fastening plus avionics wiring, flight control and sensor installation. Also involves ground tests, fault diagnosis and completing certification and traceability records to ISO 9001/AS9100 standards within a manufacturing operations team.
Windracers Fareham
Designs aircraft structures, mechanisms and mechanical subsystems for large fixed-wing UAVs used in logistics and defence missions. Works across the full lifecycle from concept and 3D CAD through prototyping, ground and flight testing to production, producing drawings, BOMs and manufacturing documentation with multidisciplinary teams.
Shield AI London
Lead the delivery of tactical autonomy software for unmanned platforms across air, land, sea and space, architecting scalable behaviour subsystems and working hands-on through the full lifecycle from requirements to verification. Involves multi-agent coordination, motion planning, target engagement and close collaboration with vehicle integration teams and operators, with up to 20% travel.
Shield AI London
Leads delivery of tactical autonomy software for unmanned platforms across air, land, sea and space, architecting behaviours for multi-agent coordination, target engagement and survivability. Owns the full lifecycle from requirements through verification, working in C++ with sensor processing, state estimation and peer-to-peer communications. Acts as technical lead and subject matter expert, mentoring juniors and travelling up to 20% to co-locate with end-users.
Matchtech Mansfield
Hands-on role assembling airframe components, sub-assemblies and fuel systems from build packs, testing sub-systems, and installing avionics onto unmanned aerial vehicles. Supports aircraft-level acceptance testing and on-site flight testing across the UK, maintaining digital build logs and feeding improvements back to manufacturing and engineering teams.
Windracers Fareham
Entry-level role analysing airframe structures, mechanisms and payloads under static and dynamic loads, using FEA, hand calculations, vibration, modal and fatigue analysis to assess strength, stiffness and fatigue life. Works with the Airframe Lead and a Senior Stress Engineer, collaborating with design and physical testing teams and producing stress reports and compliance documentation for airworthiness certification.
Tekever Bristol
Develops and maintains software running onboard TEKEVER-designed UAVs, covering autopilots, the autonomy stack, payloads and other software-enabled subsystems. Works within a team on embedded C++/Rust code, real-time systems and simulation-based testing, supporting field trials at West Wales airport and international sites.
Saab Oakley
Manages flight test planning, ground preparation and field execution for unmanned aerial vehicles, acting as a UAV pilot to gather telemetry and performance data. Analyses flight data against design metrics and produces detailed test reports for engineering teams, bridging engineering and field testing while ensuring safety and regulatory compliance.
Saab Bedford
Lead the electronics design and prototyping department for a UAV business, guiding a team of 10+ electronic engineers across multiple programmes. Own full hardware design lifecycles from requirements capture to production release, covering digital, mixed-signal, FPGA-based and high-reliability systems, with strong emphasis on design assurance and verification traceability for safety-critical developments.
Matchtech London
Senior technical authority for a flagship aerospace and defence programme, owning the technical strategy, system architecture and engineering governance from concept through testing and certification. Leads a multidisciplinary team spanning systems, software, electronics, mechanical design, integration and test, acting as the primary technical interface with customers, suppliers and investors in a fast-moving start-up.
Ex-Mil Recruitment Ltd Denmark
Hands-on field-based role supporting UAV/UAS operations, including system modifications, hardware integration, fault finding, diagnostics and maintenance at customer locations worldwide. Involves remote technical support, flight support, hazard mitigation, and delivering training, with significant international travel to remote or austere environments.
Helsing 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.
Jonathan Lee Recruitment Herefordshire
Senior Mechanical Design EngineerUAV Systems | Aerospace & DefenceHerefordJoin an innovative British engineering company developing next-generation UAV components and interceptor launch mechanisms for the defence sector.This is not a conventional CAD-focused design role. We are looking for an engineer who...
Helsing London
Hands-on role building flight-ready drone prototypes, spanning mechanical design, electrical integration and hardware iteration. You fabricate airframes, wire avionics and power systems, configure PX4/ArduPilot flight controllers, and run field test campaigns, using telemetry to refine CAD models across successive iterations.
