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

Apply Now

UAS (Drone) Manager

MK Surveys
Milton Keynes
4 months ago
Applications closed

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Autonomous Systems Consultant

Mechanical Design Engineer

Lead Engineer

Senior Building Surveyor

Safety & Operations Specialist

Head of Post Award (Finance)

Are you an experienced UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) professional looking to take the next step in your career? Do you have the expertise to lead and develop a cutting-edge drone surveying and inspection division within one of the most respected Geospatial companies in the UK? If so, we want to hear from you!

About Us

We are a leading geospatial company at the forefront of innovation, providing advanced surveying, mapping, and inspection solutions across the UK and overseas. As part of our continued growth, we are expanding our UAS division and are seeking a dynamic UAS Manager to drive this exciting area of our business forward.

The Role

As the UAS Manager, you will play a crucial role in shaping and expanding our drone operations. You will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of UAS-based surveys and inspections, from operational planning to business development. Your expertise will help position our company as a market leader in aerial surveying for industries such as construction, infrastructure, utilities, and environmental monitoring.

Key Responsibilities:

  1. Lead and Develop - Take full ownership of our UAS division, driving innovation, efficiency, and growth.
  2. Operational Management - Plan, execute, and oversee drone surveys and inspections, ensuring compliance with UK regulations.
  3. Team Leadership - Train and manage a team of skilled UAS pilots and support staff.
  4. Business Development - Identify new opportunities, engage with clients, and develop strategies alongside company Directors to expand our aerial survey offerings.
  5. Regulatory Compliance - Ensure all operations continue to meet CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) regulations and industry standards.
  6. Technology & Innovation - Stay ahead of industry advancements, recommending new technologies and methodologies to enhance our services.

What We’re Looking For:

  1. Proven experience as a UAS Drone Pilot, with expertise in aerial surveying and inspection.
  2. Strong knowledge of CAA regulations and best practices for commercial drone operations.
  3. Experience in team leadership and project management.
  4. Ability to drive business growth and develop new service offerings.
  5. Expertise in data processing and geospatial analysis (experience in photogrammetry and LiDAR processing is a plus).
  6. Experience of leading operations in high risk environments such as rail, airports, etc.
  7. Commercial awareness and a track record of delivering high-quality projects to clients.

Why Join Us?

  1. Industry leading Geospatial company using cutting-edge technology.
  2. Opportunity to lead and shape a division of an ever-growing business.
  3. Competitive salary and benefits package including:
  4. Company vehicle
  5. Private Medical Insurance
  6. Life Insurance
  7. Pension
  8. Work anniversary and milestone gifts
  9. Support via CICES Approved Development Scheme
  10. Performance Benefits
  11. Exciting projects across multiple sectors and regions
  12. Supportive and innovative team environment

If you’re ready to take your expertise to the next level and make a real impact, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply now by sending your CV and a cover letter to outlining your experience and vision for the role.

Seniority level

Mid-Senior level

Employment type

Full-time

Industries

Construction


#J-18808-Ljbffr

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.

Jobs

UAV & Drone Hiring Trends 2026: What to Watch Out For (For Job Seekers & Recruiters)

As we move into 2026, the UK UAV (uncrewed aerial vehicle) and drone jobs market is maturing fast. The “shiny new toy” phase is over. Public expectations and regulation are tougher, budgets are more closely scrutinised, and clients want measurable outcomes – safer inspections, faster data, lower costs, better evidence – not just impressive footage. At the same time, demand for UAV services in infrastructure inspection, construction, energy, agriculture, emergency response, defence and media continues to grow. Long-term trends like asset digitisation, smart cities, and net-zero infrastructure all rely on high-quality aerial data and remote operations. The result: fewer opportunistic one-off drone gigs, and more emphasis on professional UAV operations, data workflows and compliant, scalable services. Whether you’re: A job seeker looking for “UAV jobs in the UK”, “drone pilot jobs UK”, or “remote UAS operator roles”, or A recruiter or hiring manager trying to understand “UAV hiring trends 2026” and “how to hire drone pilots and UAS engineers”, …this guide breaks down what’s changing – and what to do about it.

Jobs

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.

Jobs

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.

🍪 We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience on our website. By continuing to use this site, you consent to the use of cookies as described in our Cookie Policy. You can review our Cookie Policy for more information.