UAV Flight Systems & Avionics Engineer

We are seeking a technically strong and hands-on UAV Flight Systems & Avionics Engineer to contribute to the development, integration, and validation of unmanned aerial vehicle systems within an advanced aerospace and defence engineering environment.

The role focuses on the integration of onboard electronics, flight-control systems, sensors, and embedded software to support stable, reliable, and autonomous UAV operations. The successful candidate will work across hardware, software, simulation, and flight-testing activities.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and integrate electronic hardware and avionics assemblies for unmanned aerial systems.
  
• Support the selection, configuration, and integration of flight-control computers, onboard sensors, and communication interfaces.
  
• Integrate and calibrate navigation and perception sensors, including inertial measurement units, GNSS, LiDAR, and vision-based systems.
  
• Configure, modify, and optimise open-source autopilot platforms, including PX4 and ArduPilot.
  
• Work with embedded flight-control software, including firmware deployment, parameter configuration, and system-level troubleshooting.
  
• Conduct virtual and hardware-based simulation activities to evaluate flight-control behaviour and system performance.
  
• Perform flight-controller parameter optimisation and PID tuning to improve UAV stability, responsiveness, and handling.
  
• Support ground testing, flight trials, and validation of integrated UAV systems.
  
• Investigate hardware, sensor, communication, and flight-control issues, working towards effective technical solutions.
  
• Assist with the integration of avionics, propulsion-related interfaces, payloads, and other onboard systems.
  
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams during system development, prototype integration, and testing.
  
• Maintain technical records, configuration data, test results, and engineering documentation.
  
• Follow applicable engineering, quality, safety, and operational procedures throughout development and testing activities.
  

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Mechatronics, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related discipline.
  
• Relevant professional experience in UAV systems, flight-control engineering, avionics, embedded systems, robotics, or similar engineering fields.
  
• Practical experience integrating and troubleshooting electronic hardware and avionics systems.
  
• Experience with UAV autopilot platforms such as PX4 and/or ArduPilot.
  
• Hands-on experience with UAV sensor integration, calibration, and configuration.
  
• Familiarity with embedded systems, flight-control architectures, and hardware/software integration.
  
• Understanding of communication interfaces and protocols such as UART, I2C, SPI, CAN, and telemetry systems.
  
• Experience using simulation environments for flight-control development and system validation.
  
• Knowledge of flight dynamics, aircraft control systems, and UAV operational principles.
  
• Strong troubleshooting, analytical, and technical problem-solving abilities.
  
• Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary R&D and engineering environment.
  

Technical Skills

Flight Control & Autopilot Systems

• PX4 and ArduPilot flight stacks
  
• Flight-controller configuration and firmware deployment
  
• Flight-control parameter optimisation
  
• PID tuning and stability improvement
  

Avionics & Embedded Systems

• UAV electronic hardware integration
  
• Embedded systems and flight-control architectures
  
• Pixhawk-based flight-controller ecosystems
  
• Hardware/software interface troubleshooting
  

Sensors & Communications

• IMU and GNSS integration
  
• LiDAR and vision sensors
  
• UART, I2C, SPI, and CAN protocols
  
• UAV telemetry and communication systems
  

Simulation & Validation

• Software-in-the-loop (SITL)
  
• Hardware-in-the-loop (HITL)
  
• Ground testing and flight validation
  
• UAV performance and system troubleshooting
  

Preferred Experience

• Previous involvement in UAV or drone development projects.
  
• Practical experience operating, piloting, or flight-testing UAV platforms.
  
• Experience integrating sensors, payloads, and onboard systems.
  
• Exposure to autonomous flight technologies and navigation systems.
  
• Background in aerospace, defence, robotics, or advanced R&D environments.
  
• Experience with embedded programming, firmware development, or scripting for UAV systems.
  

Key Competencies

• Strong technical judgement and analytical thinking.
  
• Effective troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.
  
• Ability to collaborate across hardware, software, and systems engineering teams.
  
• Attention to detail in testing, configuration, and technical documentation.
  
• Adaptability in a hands-on engineering and flight-testing environment.
  
• Commitment to engineering quality, safety, and continuous improvement.
  

Work Environment

This position combines desk-based engineering and software development with practical electronics integration, laboratory testing, simulation, and UAV flight-validation activities.

The role involves working with flight-control hardware, sensors, embedded systems, and autonomous UAV technologies in a technical R&D environment.