Chief Engineer – Autonomous UAV / eVTOL | £95,000 | UK
Europes heavy-lift UAV capability is limited.
The organisation behind this role is one of a small number of companies actively closing that gap - for both defence and civilian applications.
The Chief Engineer will set the technical direction for autonomous UAV and eVTOL platforms across the full architecture: avionics, autonomy, systems integration, flight controls. Youll work across software, hardware, and flight test teams, and youll carry the technical authority to make decisions that matter and stick.
This isnt a role for someone who wants to oversee from a distance. The expectation is hands-on involvement where it counts, combined with the strategic thinking to shape a programme over years, not just quarters. Youll work directly with the most senior engineering and leadership stakeholders, and the decisions you make will be visible in aircraft that actually fly.
The company operates at the boundary of whats currently possible in autonomous aircraft - which means the problems are genuinely hard, the programme is moving fast, and the right person will have real room to shape where it goes.
What theyre looking for: Extensive UAV/UAS/eVTOL development experience at Principal, Lead, or Chief Engineer level. Deep understanding of aerospace systems integration, aircraft architecture and experience delivering flight-capable systems into operational environments. ArduPilot or PX4 (or other flight control) experience would also be beneficial.
Whats on offer: £95,000 + bonus and benefits, hybrid working (UK-based), and a role with genuine technical authority in one of the more consequential aerospace programmes currently active in the UK.
If youre operating at this level and want to know more, its worth a conversation.