The role involves leading the NCA’s Technical Operations unmanned vehicle programme, including flight planning, piloting a variety of drones, and developing new capabilities. Responsibilities include training staff, engaging with regulatory bodies, and maintaining cutting-edge technical surveillance.
The Software Engineer will work on the complete development lifecycle of flight safety and navigation systems, from concept and algorithm design to system integration and testing. You will collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to deliver high-performance solutions, maintain high-quality code, and produce comprehensive documentation.
Develops onboard software for uncrewed aerial systems, spanning autopilots, autonomy, payloads and mission-critical subsystems. Works on existing aircraft and clean-sheet designs, taking code from concept and SIL/HIL simulation through to real-world flight testing, with C++ and/or Rust in embedded and real-time environments.
Design and develop embedded firmware for advanced radar and sensing systems used in UAV applications. Work across the full product lifecycle in a collaborative, engineering-led environment using C/C++ on STM32 microcontrollers in bare-metal and RTOS environments. Engage in system-level debugging and contribute to software architecture for next-generation sensing technologies.
Hands-on production role preparing and bonding carbon fibre UAV airframes before final assembly, mixing and curing adhesives to specification and self-inspecting completed work. Works to manufacturing orders and deadlines within a fast-paced defence manufacturing team, with no prior experience required.
Build, test, repair and disassemble unmanned aerial and surface target systems, including fibreglass repairs, engine tuning, fault diagnosis and payload preparation, while supporting launcher operations and target recovery. Based in Ashford but involving extensive international travel, often at short notice, to deliver training support for defence forces worldwide.
Leads the QinetiQ Target Systems UK business, owning operational performance, financial delivery and strategic growth for aerial targets. Develops product strategies and a UK Centre of Excellence for manufacture and assembly, heading a cross-functional matrix team across engineering and operations. Works within the wider Air Leadership Team and interfaces with international sectors to drive global sales.
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.
Owns a capability area end to end — charter, budget, scope and roadmap — for the Enabling Technology team, partnering with an engineering lead and a cross-functional hardware, software and systems team. Drives internal R&D proposals through leadership review, defines exit criteria for transition into programmes, and coordinates test events from hardware-in-the-loop simulation to live flight demonstrations, working jointly with US teams on a shared baseline.
Joins a small Concepts team to turn requirements and CONOPS into sized, analysed UAV air vehicle concepts through rapid trade studies. Runs conceptual sizing, constraint analysis, parametric geometry and mission/energy modelling, then closes the loop by synthesising flight-test, telemetry and bench data to calibrate the models and toolchain.
Systems Engineers at all levels join a multidisciplinary team delivering land-based cyber and electromagnetic capabilities, including electronic warfare, C-UAS and counter-IED systems. The role spans the full lifecycle from requirements and architecture through integration, verification and in-service support, working with customers and specialists in safety, security and reliability.
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.
Lead the development and lifecycle management of S1000D-compliant technical publications for Unmanned Air System programmes within an Integrated Logistics Support capability. Own the CSDB, data module structures and DMRL, liaise with customers and regulators on airworthiness requirements, and manage a technical authoring team through engineering change and configuration control.
Develops and deploys visual-inertial odometry, visual SLAM and vision-based navigation for autonomous aircraft in GNSS-denied environments. Takes perception algorithms from prototype through embedded C++ implementation, field testing and flight validation, optimising for Jetson/Orin platforms. Distinctly focused on robotics perception and state estimation rather than general AI/ML.
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.
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.
