Coxswain / Operator

UForce; Greater London; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

UFORCE, a London-based defence-technology company, is expanding its UK maritime operations and seeks an experienced Operator / Coxswain to support safe, credible activities across crewed vessels and USV demonstrations.

You will work with engineering, systems and training teams to translate operational plans into reliable outcomes, lead small teams, and maintain strict security and export-control practices in a sensitive environment.

Qualifications

• Credible military or comparable high-reliability operational experience.
• Maritime or equivalent military qualifications (RYA/MCA/Powerboat/Yachtmaster/STCW/VHF).
• Coxswain judgement and safe boat-handling experience beyond certificates.
• Experience in safety-focused mission delivery and clear communication.
• Exposure to USVs/UAS/robots, autonomy, C2, sensors or related tech.
• Experience training or assessing military/government or mixed users.
• Strong security awareness for controlled information.
• Ability to plan and brief with limited direction.
• Ability to work regularly on site.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute maritime activity, including briefings, launch and recovery, debriefs and post-run checks.
• Act as Coxswain / operator during demonstrations, trials, training and internal testing.
• Support safe USV operations, including envelopes, handovers and emergency procedures.
• Train military, government, partner-force and customer users.
• Collaborate with engineering to prepare activity and capture defects.
• Brief plans, risks and tactical considerations to leaders and stakeholders.
• Maintain security, export-control awareness and customer sensitivity.
• Develop SOPs, checklists and risk controls.
• Lead small teams during operations and training.

Skills

High-reliability ops

Maritime qualifications

Coxswain judgement

Safety and coordination

USV/UAS familiarity

Training and coaching

Security awareness

Planning and risk management

On-site work

Job description

UFORCE exists to make aggression unaffordable. Founded in Ukraine and headquartered in London, UFORCE is a defence-technology company with operations across Europe, the United States and Asia. UFORCE builds uncrewed vessels, ground robotics and aircraft, autonomy software, and the command-and‑control layer that operates them together. Each platform is deployable on its own, and stronger as part of the system. Its product lines include the MAGURA family of uncrewed surface vessels, the NEMESIS family of strike platforms, the LIUT family of ground robotic platforms, and counter‑UAS systems.

About the role

UFORCE is building its UK maritime operations capability and is looking for an experienced Operator / Coxswain to support safe, credible operational activity.

This hands‑on role covers crewed vessels, USV operations, customer demonstrations, trials and foreign‑user training. You’ll work across programme delivery, engineering, systems and training teams to turn operational plans into safe, assured outcomes.

You’ll bring strong maritime credibility, practical Coxswain judgement and the discipline to operate with limited direction in a sensitive defence technology environment.

What you’ll do

• Plan and execute maritime activity, including briefings, launch and recovery, communications, debriefs and post‑run checks.

• Act as Coxswain / operator during demonstrations, trials, training and internal testing.

• Support safe USV operations, including operating envelopes, handovers, emergency procedures and coordination with crewed vessels.

• Train military, government, partner‑force and customer users.

• Work with engineering and systems teams to prepare activity, capture defects and improve operational readiness.

• Brief plans, risks, limitations and tactical considerations to internal leaders, customers and senior stakeholders.

• Maintain high standards of security, export‑control awareness and customer sensitivity.

• Develop practical SOPs, checklists, risk controls and training materials.

• Lead small teams during operational and training activity.

Required Skills

• Credible military or comparable high‑reliability operational experience, ideally in a maritime or littoral environment.

• Relevant maritime or equivalent military qualifications, such as RYA / MCA Powerboat, Advanced Powerboat, Yachtmaster, STCW, VHF, first aid or sea survival.

• Proven Coxswain judgement and safe boat‑handling experience—not certificate ownership alone.

• Experience working where safety, mission delivery, coordination and clear communication are critical.

• Exposure to USVs, UAS, robotics, autonomy, C2, sensors or similar operational technology—or the ability to learn quickly.

• Experience training, coaching or assessing military, government, commercial or mixed‑experience users.

• Strong security awareness and confidence handling controlled information on a need‑to‑know basis.

• Ability to plan, manage risk, brief and deliver practical outcomes with limited direction.

• Ability to work regularly on site.

Nice to have

• Experience supporting trials, demonstrations, deployments or exercises.

• Basic engineering or maintenance awareness, including checks, defect capture and fault reporting.

• A local maritime network or experience in defence, government, security‑cleared or export‑controlled environments.

• Experience with wider multi‑domain systems, including UAS, ISTAR, sensors or payloads.

The nature of combat has changed.

Tomorrow’s battlefield success depends on autonomy, speed, and adaptability.

And UFORCE is ready.

Are You?