Lead Systems Engineer – UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles)

Overview

We are seeking an experienced Lead Systems Engineer to drive the end-to-end systems engineering lifecycle for advanced UAV platforms. This role will lead the integration of multidisciplinary subsystems—including avionics, propulsion, communications, autonomy, and ground control systems—ensuring robust, scalable, and certifiable unmanned solutions.

You will act as the technical authority across programmes, working closely with engineering, product, regulatory, and operations teams to deliver high-performance UAV systems from concept through to deployment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead system architecture development for UAV platforms, defining requirements, interfaces, and system behaviours
• Own the full systems engineering lifecycle (requirements capture, design, integration, verification & validation)
• Translate customer and regulatory requirements into technical specifications and system requirements
• Drive cross-functional integration across hardware, software, avionics, and autonomy teams
• Develop and maintain system models, interface control documents (ICDs), and architecture diagrams
• Lead design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR) and ensure technical readiness at each stage
• Oversee system verification & validation (V&V), including lab testing, simulation, and flight trials
• Manage technical risks, dependencies, and trade-offs across complex UAV systems
• Support certification and regulatory compliance (e.g. airworthiness, safety cases)
• Act as a mentor and technical leader to junior engineers and wider project teams
• Interface with external stakeholders, including customers, suppliers, and regulatory bodies

Required Skills & Experience

• Degree in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or related field
• 7–10+ years’ experience in systems engineering, ideally within aerospace, defence, or robotics
• Proven experience working on UAV/UAS platforms or closely related systems (e.g. avionics, autonomy, flight control)
• Strong understanding of:
• Systems engineering frameworks (e.g. V-model, MBSE)
• Requirements management tools (e.g. DOORS, Jama)
• UAV subsystems (flight control, payloads, comms, navigation)
• Experience with system integration and testing, including flight testing environments
• Knowledge of safety-critical systems and standards (e.g. DO-178C, DO-254, ARP4754A)
• Ability to manage complex, multidisciplinary engineering programmes
• Strong stakeholder communication and leadership skills

Desirable Experience

• Experience with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) tools (e.g. SysML, Cameo)
• Familiarity with autonomy, AI/ML, or computer vision systems in UAVs
• Understanding of BVLOS operations and regulatory frameworks (CAA, EASA, FAA)
• Experience with defence or secure programmes
• Exposure to ground control systems and cloud-based fleet management