Be at the heart of actionFly remote-controlled drones into enemy territory to gather vital information.

Apply Now

Firmware Engineer

Advanced Resource Managers
Luton
1 year ago
Applications closed

Principal Firmware Engineer
12 Month Contract
Bedfordshire
£80-ph Inside IR35

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Firmware/FPGA Engineer.
You will help us deliver the complex Firmware that forms part of our self-protection systems installed on fast jet, UAV, land and naval platforms.

Would like to deliver the complex Firmware that forms part of our self-protection systems installed on fast jet, UAV, land and naval platforms?

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Firmware Engineer to join our growing Luton based team.

What you will do
As a Firmware/FPGA engineer will work with the support of experts in their field, using world-class facilities to deliver Firmware for complex digital systems that meet challenging future customer requirements.
What you really must have:
* Design tools such as Xilinx, TCL, Verilog, System Verilog and UVM
* FPGA architectures such as Xilinx 7. Xilinx UltraScale; Intel (Altera) or Microsemi (Actel).
* Fast interfaces such as PCIe, Ethernet, and JESD is also required.
* Auto-generated code using model driven engineering using Matlab and Simulink tools
* Derivation of detailed Firmware requirements and architecture from system requirements
* A structured approach to firmware design (RTCA DO- or similar)
* Cryptography and anti-tamper techniques
* Artificial Intelligence including machine learning and genetic algorithms
* Electronics test methods and equipment
* Good verbal and written communication skills
* Working in mixed discipline teams
* HNC/HND or Undergraduate Degree (Electronic Engineering, Computer Science, AI, Games Programming, Physics, or Applied Physics) or you may just have lots of skills and experience gained through your hard work.

Subscribe to Future Tech Insights for the latest jobs & insights, direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.

Industry Insights

Discover insightful articles, industry insights, expert tips, and curated resources.

UAV (Drones) Recruitment Trends 2025 (UK): What Job Seekers Need To Know About Today’s Hiring Process

Summary: UK unmanned aviation (UAV/UAS/RPAS) hiring has shifted from aircraft‑type buzzwords to capability‑driven evaluation across flight ops, autonomy, data products, safety & regulatory compliance. Employers want proof you can plan, fly, analyse and scale UAV systems safely and economically—VLOS/A2 CofC, GVC, BVLOS & SORA ops, UTM integrations, command‑and‑control resilience, sense‑and‑avoid, payload pipelines, and fleet reliability. This guide explains what’s changed, what to expect in interviews & how to prepare—especially for UAV pilots/ops managers, flight test engineers, autonomy/perception, GNC/control, UTM/backend, safety & airworthiness, data processing/analysis, and field engineering roles. Who this is for: UAV pilots & flight ops, mission planners, flight test & safety engineers, autonomy/SLAM/perception, GNC/control engineers, embedded/avionics, communications & C2 links, UTM/airspace integrations, data processing (imagery/LiDAR/thermal), GIS/photogrammetry, maintenance & field techs, and programme/product managers in the UK.

Why UAV (Drone) Careers in the UK Are Becoming More Multidisciplinary

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, have seen rapid adoption across sectors in the UK — agriculture, logistics, inspection, mapping, delivery, search & rescue, environmental monitoring, media, defence, and more. As UAV use proliferates, the roles supporting them are shifting. Modern UAV careers are no longer just about aerodynamics, electronics or autopilot algorithms. They now require knowledge of law, ethics, psychology, linguistics & design — because flying machines in public airspace must be safe, trusted, legal, intuitive and well communicated. In this article, we’ll explore why UAV careers in the UK are becoming more multidisciplinary, how those allied fields intersect with UAV work, and what job-seekers & employers should do to adapt.

UAV Team Structures Explained: Who Does What in a Modern UAV Department

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), commonly called drones, are transforming industries across the UK—from agriculture, surveillance, mapping, and inspection to logistics, environmental monitoring, and emergency response. UAV systems combine hardware, embedded systems, controls, autonomy, sensors, communications, regulatory / airworthiness, and operations. As the UAV ecosystem grows, companies need team structures that ensure safety, reliability, regulatory compliance, and operational readiness. If you are applying for UAV roles via UAVJobs.co.uk or building a UAV team, this article will help you understand the roles typical in a modern UAV department, how they collaborate throughout the UAV lifecycle, what skills and qualifications employers expect in the UK, what salaries look like, common challenges, and best practices for structuring teams that deliver capable UAV systems.