Test & Development Remote Pilot

Skyports
Aylesbury
11 hours ago
Create job alert

About Us

Founded in 2018, Skyports is at the forefront of the Advanced Air Mobility revolution, developing and operating cutting-edge infrastructure for electric air taxis and using drone technology to transform business operations across industries.


Our business is split into two key areas

Skyports Drone Services uses drones to streamline logistics, capture data, and enhance operational efficiency, with a focus on rural deliveries, surveying, surveillance, and maritime services.

Skyports Infrastructure plays a vital role in the Urban Air Mobility ecosystem, designing, building, owning, and operating vertiports that enable eVTOL operators to take off and land in cities around the world.

With our presence in this dynamic, high-growth industry, there has never been a more exciting time to be part of our mission to reshape the future of air mobility.


The Role

As a Test and Development Pilot, you’ll play a key role in transforming the future of drone services and redefining global logistics. An average month may look like:

  • Travelling to the USA to perform joint test programs with one of our supplier partners
  • Working with our technical teams across our offices to develop new operational procedures and share learnings from operations
  • Operating on novel delivery programs to demonstrate industry leading capabilities to blue-chip customers in markets such as oil and gas


How Can I Be A Part Of The Team?

We’re after experienced UAS operators who live and breathe technology. You won’t just be flying drones; you’ll be part of a team developing solutions that don’t exist anywhere else.

As the industry matures and Skyports operations grow in size and complexity we are onboarding new UAS platforms to meet the needs of our customers. You will be responsible for working directly with our technology team and partners to test new functionality and develop operational procedures to refine the UAS platform an enable .


Key Responsibilities

  • Collaborate with our technology team and UAS provider’s engineers to expand UAS capabilities and enhance the delivery service.
  • Operate advanced UAS platforms and execute test programs to validate system performance.
  • Work with technology and regulatory teams to present evidence of safe and well-planned UAS operations to global aviation regulators.
  • Ensure operational safety through effective risk assessment, hazard mitigation, and adherence to procedures and checklists.
  • Analyse flight data and provide actionable insights for both Skyports and external partners.
  • Troubleshoot and resolve technical UAS issues, ensuring accurate logging within the Skyports maintenance management system.
  • Design mission profiles, coordinate with air traffic control, and adapt to real-time conditions while ensuring regulatory compliance.
  • Lead cross-functional teams on various projects, maintaining alignment on safety and project goals.
  • Stay up to date with UAS technologies and proactively develop your operational expertise.


About you

This role requires a diverse skill set and a passion for technology testing and development. There's no single path or qualification that defines the ideal candidate. Our team members come from various backgrounds, some having transitioned from entirely different industries to UAS operations. If the following describes you, you could be a great fit:

  • You are an proven remote pilot having previously worked with large-format UAS platforms, either military or civilian.
  • You are not afraid to get your hands dirty and have a passion for tinkering with electronics and internal combustion engines.
  • You have a deep understanding of key components of a UAS and are comfortable performing maintenance activities on large platforms in accordance with manufacturer provided instructions.
  • You are used to owning your own work and being held accountable for your tasks.
  • You work well within a team where required and understand the importance of distributing tasks between a team.
  • You understand the need for robust processes within a safety management system and are able to produce high quality documentation to enable that.
  • You’re an excellent communicator who is capable of handling ambiguity and has a proven track record when it comes to dealing with both internal and external stakeholders.
  • You have an eye for identifying the work that needs to get done to reach our goal and are confident operating with a certain degree of autonomy.


Example background

  1. You’re an ex-military UAS operator capable of handling Group 3 UAS or bigger
  2. You’ve built and crashed a bunch of your own drones, know your way around an internal combustion engine and love getting your hands dirty
  3. You’ve got an aviation related degree and have built and maintained something that relies on an engine before yourself.


What We Offer

  • Competitive salary and benefits package.
  • Opportunity to work in an innovative and growing industry.
  • A collaborative and dynamic work environment with ample opportunities for professional development.
  • Flexible working arrangements and a supportive team culture


How to Apply

If you’re passionate about marketing and keen to be part of a pioneering company that is changing the future of transportation, we would love to hear from you. Please submit your CV and a cover letter outlining your experience and why you’re a great fit for this role.

Skyports is an equal-opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Remote Pilot Specialist

UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) Remote Pilot

UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) Remote Pilot

UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) Remote Pilot

Senior R&D Engineer – UAV Systems

Get the latest insights and jobs direct. Sign up for our newsletter.

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

Industry Insights

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

Rural-Remote UAV Jobs: Charting New Flight Paths Beyond the City

A New Horizon for Drone Enthusiasts Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have soared from niche military tools and hobbyist gadgets to an essential technology across a broad range of sectors—from agriculture and mapping to construction and public safety. Historically, those seeking a career in UAV technology might have assumed they needed to live in a bustling city hub or near major airports to stand a chance of landing a good role. But times are changing. Advances in remote communication, cloud-based data processing, and drone autonomy now enable professionals to work on sophisticated UAV projects from almost anywhere in the UK, including rural and coastal regions. At UAVJobs.co.uk, we’re witnessing a significant shift. More employers are open to hiring remote UAV pilots, data analysts, software developers, and project managers—provided they can access reliable internet and handle occasional on-site visits. Likewise, an increasing number of professionals are seeking “tech jobs by the sea” or “UAV remote countryside” roles, motivated by rising urban living costs, quality-of-life aspirations, and the growing acceptance of distributed teams. In this article, we’ll explore why “rural-remote UAV jobs” are no longer a pipe dream, the benefits and challenges of stepping beyond the city, and how to position yourself for success if you’re ready to settle among rolling hills or scenic coastlines. Whether you’re a seasoned drone pilot, a software engineer working on flight autonomy, or a GIS analyst processing aerial data, you might be pleasantly surprised by the opportunities waiting for you outside metropolitan areas.

Quantum-Enhanced AI in UAVs—A New Frontier in Aerial Autonomy

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)—often called drones—have transformed industries from agriculture and logistics to emergency response and filmmaking. Yet as UAV technology scales in sophistication and widespread adoption, existing computational models struggle with the immense complexity of tasks like real-time path planning, obstacle avoidance, sensor fusion, and multi-agent coordination. Conventional hardware and AI algorithms can handle many missions adequately, but the next level—think fully autonomous UAV fleets, high-speed real-time analytics, and intricate swarm operations—demands a paradigm shift in computational capability. That’s where quantum computing enters the picture. Capitalising on quantum mechanical phenomena (superposition and entanglement), quantum computers can tackle specific challenges (like large-scale optimisation and rapid sampling) much faster than classical machines. When fused with Artificial Intelligence (AI) in a quantum-enhanced synergy, it opens fresh possibilities for UAV autonomy—ranging from improved flight safety and swarm coordination to advanced image processing and sensor analytics. In this article, we will: Examine current demands in the UAV sector, highlighting core limitations of classical methods. Explain the basics of quantum computing—what qubits are and how they might bolster AI workflows. Explore how quantum-enhanced AI can elevate UAV applications, spanning everything from route optimisation to swarm coordination. Discuss the hurdles we must overcome (such as noisy quantum hardware or data encoding) and ways to address them. Look at the emerging roles, skill sets, and career pathways to ride this wave of innovation—especially in the UK UAV market. If you are an aviation engineer, data scientist, robotics specialist, or simply intrigued by drones and next-gen computing, read on. Quantum-enhanced AI may well define the next evolution of UAV technology, bridging the gap between current capabilities and truly autonomous flight across the skies.

UAV Jobs at Newly Funded UK Start-ups: Q3 2025 Investment Tracker

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)—often called drones—are transforming industries worldwide, from agriculture and mapping to security and logistics. Thanks to improved sensor technology, AI-driven autonomy, and expanding commercial applications, UAV innovation is on a rapid rise. In the UK, a potent blend of tech-savvy entrepreneurs, strong venture funding, and supportive regulations has spawned a vibrant UAV ecosystem. This Q3 2025 Investment Tracker shines a light on the newly funded UAV start-ups across the UK—revealing how much they’ve raised, what they’re developing, and the job roles they’re keen to fill. We’ll also show you how to connect with these companies through UAVJobs.co.uk, a dedicated platform bringing UAV professionals and high-growth drone ventures together. Whether you’re an aeronautical engineer, a robotics software developer, or someone in operations and compliance, read on to discover your next big opportunity.