Lead UAV Engineer

Shaftesbury
3 days ago
Create job alert

About this Position

Our client is seeking a Lead UAV Engineer to own and drive the design, development and integration of autonomous aerial systems, taking platforms from concept and prototyping through to flight testing and deployment. This is a hands-on technical leadership role spanning embedded hardware, firmware and robotics software, with a strong emphasis on safety-relevant engineering, reliable real-world operation, and leading delivery across the full system lifecycle.

Job Responsibilities:



Lead end-to-end UAV system development: architecture, build, integration, flight testing, iteration and deployment readiness.

*

Own platform-level technical decision-making and trade-offs across power, compute, sensing and communications.

*

Lead development of flight-critical subsystems, ensuring safety, reliability and robust operational performance.

*

Build embedded solutions on MCUs, SBCs and Pixhawk/Cube-class autopilots, setting standards for implementation and verification.

*

Lead integration and validation of navigation and perception sensors (IMU, GNSS/INS, LiDAR/cameras, ADS-B and radios).

*

Develop, maintain and govern flight/robotics software stacks (ArduPilot/PX4/ROS2), including drivers as needed.

*

Lead system-level debugging across hardware, firmware and software; perform root-cause analysis from flight/field issues and drive corrective actions through to closure.

*

Produce and review clear interfaces, documentation and test procedures to support manufacturing, maintainability and scalability.

*

Mentor and provide technical guidance to engineers, setting best practices for code quality, testing, version control and release discipline.

Experience Required:

*

Hands-on experience in UAVs, robotics, autonomous systems or avionics engineering, with demonstrable ownership of delivered systems.

*

Strong embedded systems knowledge (UART/SPI/I²C/CAN, real-time constraints, power and reliability considerations), with the ability to lead design and review.

*

Practical experience with ArduPilot and/or PX4 on Pixhawk/Cube Pilot-class hardware.

*

Working experience with ROS/ROS2 and Linux-based development; Git version control.

*

Proven sensor integration and validation (IMU, GNSS/INS, LiDAR and/or cameras; plus ADS-B/telemetry preferred).

*

Demonstrable ability to take a prototype to flight/field-ready, including robust troubleshooting in real environments and driving engineering rigour under time pressure.

*

Confident technical documentation skills; exposure to rapid prototyping (3D printing and basic electronics/PCB workflows) beneficial

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Lead Firmware Engineer

Lead IC Design Engineer

Lead Solution Architect (Data, Analytics and AI)

Lead Maintenance Engineer

Lead Engineer/Head of Software Engineering

Lead Maintenance Engineer

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.

How to Write a Robotics Job Ad That Attracts the Right People

Robotics is moving rapidly from research labs into real-world deployment. Across the UK, robots are now used in manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, defence, agriculture, autonomous vehicles and service industries. As adoption accelerates, demand for skilled robotics professionals continues to grow. Yet many employers struggle to attract the right candidates. Robotics job adverts often receive either very few applications or large numbers of unsuitable ones. Experienced robotics engineers, meanwhile, routinely skip adverts that feel vague, unrealistic or disconnected from how robotics systems actually work in practice. In most cases, the problem is not the talent pool — it is the job advert itself. Robotics professionals are systems thinkers. They care deeply about constraints, integration and real-world performance. A poorly written job ad signals weak technical understanding and unrealistic expectations. A well-written one signals credibility, seriousness and a mature robotics programme. This guide explains how to write a robotics job ad that attracts the right people, improves applicant quality and positions your organisation as a credible employer in the robotics sector.

Maths for Robotics Jobs: The Only Topics You Actually Need (& How to Learn Them)

If you are applying for robotics jobs in the UK it is easy to assume you need degree level maths across everything. Most roles do not work like that. What hiring managers usually mean by “strong maths” is much more practical: you can move confidently between coordinate frames you understand rotations without getting lost you can reason about kinematics, control, uncertainty & optimisation you can turn that maths into working code in a robotics stack This guide focuses on the only maths topics that consistently show up across common UK roles like Robotics Software Engineer, Controls Engineer, Autonomous Systems Engineer, Perception Engineer, SLAM Engineer, Robotics Research Engineer, Mechatronics Engineer & Robotics Systems Engineer. You will also get a 6 week learning plan, portfolio projects & a resources section so you can learn fast without drowning in theory.

Neurodiversity in Robotics Careers: Turning Different Thinking into a Superpower

Robotics is where software, hardware & the physical world collide. From warehouse automation & surgical robots to drones, cobots & autonomous vehicles, robots must sense, think & act reliably in messy real environments. To build that kind of technology, you need people who think differently. If you live with ADHD, autism or dyslexia, you may have been told your brain is “too distracted”, “too literal” or “too chaotic” for engineering. In reality, many traits that made school or traditional offices hard are exactly what robotics teams need: intense focus on complex systems, pattern-spotting in sensor data, creative problem-solving when hardware misbehaves. This guide is written for neurodivergent job seekers exploring robotics careers in the UK. We’ll cover: What neurodiversity means in a robotics context How ADHD, autism & dyslexia strengths map to key robotics roles Practical workplace adjustments you can ask for under UK law How to talk about your neurodivergence in applications & interviews By the end, you’ll have a clearer sense of where you might thrive in robotics – & how to turn “different thinking” into a professional superpower.