Description
LiveLink Aerospace is seeking a skilled and passionate UAV Design Engineer with 4‑5 years of dedicated experience in the unmanned aerial vehicle field. In this role, you will own the lifecycle of our UAV systems – from initial concept and prototyping through to integration, validation, and low‑volume production.
You will blend cutting‑edge mechanical design with hands‑on hardware integration, working in a fast‑paced environment to build, test, and refine the next generation of aerospace technology.
Important Requirements
Security Clearance: Candidates must be able to obtain and maintain UK Security Clearance (SC), typically requiring having lived in the UK for the last 5 years and holding a valid passport.
Details
* Application Deadline: 30 June 2026
* Department: Hardware
* Location: Havant
* Compensation: £40,000 - £50,000 / year
Key Responsibilities
* Mechanical & Structural Design: Design high‑performance UAV airframes, payload structures, and mechanical assemblies using Fusion 360. Develop detailed CAD models and production‑ready technical drawings.
* Component Specification: Select and specify optimal UAV components, including propulsion systems, motors, ESCs, batteries, telemetry modules, sensors, and flight controllers.
* Rapid Prototyping: Design and rapidly iterate prototypes utilizing 3D printing, sheet metal, laser CNC, and other advanced manufacturing methods to optimise performance and manufacturability.
* Manufacturing & Documentation: Produce comprehensive assembly drawings, Bills of Materials (BOMs), and detailed build instructions to ensure seamless knowledge transfer and traceability for production teams.
* Systems Integration & Testing: Perform hands‑on integration, wiring, and soldering of electronics. Configure, tune, and troubleshoot flight stacks running Betaflight and ArduCopter firmware.
* Field Operations & Validation: Conduct field testing and flight validation. Debug UAV performance issues under real‑world conditions, identifying root causes to drive iterative design improvements.
* Cross‑Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with RF and software engineers to ensure hardware accommodates system requirements, and collaborate with production teams to transition prototypes into scalable, low‑volume manufacturing workflows.
* Vendor Management: Coordinate with external suppliers and manufacturers for prototype fabrication and low‑volume production runs.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
Technical Design & Manufacturing
* Advanced proficiency in parametric CAD (Fusion 360) and technical drawing creation.
* Deep understanding of UAV architecture, system integration, and weight/balance optimisation.
* Hands‑on experience with additive manufacturing (3D printing), sheet metal design/fabrication, laser cutting, and CNC bending machinery.
* Strong practical skills in electronics assembly, routing, and precision soldering.
Flight Systems & Testing
* Proven experience configuring and tuning ArduCopter and Betaflight flight stacks.
* Excellent field troubleshooting, debugging, and data‑logging analysis skills.
* GVC (General Visual Line of Sight Certificate) certification for operating multirotor and fixed‑wing UAV platforms is highly desirable.
Professional Attributes
* A proactive problem‑solver who thrives in rapid development cycles.
* Strong collaborative communication skills for working alongside multidisciplinary engineering teams.
* Excellent organisational skills for managing BOMs, suppliers, and technical documentation.
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