Flight Test Engineer

Saab UK; Bedford; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

30 days annual leave

Pension 8% company contribution

Private medical insurance

Death in service insurance

Up to 5% share matching scheme

Maternity/Adoption & Paternity leave

Job summary

Saab UK in Bedford is seeking a Flight Test Engineer to manage preparation and support of UAV flight operations. You will bridge engineering and field testing, driving rigorous evaluation of systems through test planning, flight execution, and data analysis.

Ideal candidates will have hands-on UAV piloting, experience with telemetry and post-flight reporting, and familiarity with UK regulatory requirements (CAA/MAA/EASA).

Qualifications

• Experience in uncrewed or crewed flight test operations.
• UAV pilot certification with manual and autonomous flight capability.
• Strong data analysis and interpretation of flight telemetry.
• Familiarity with Civil and Military aviation regulations (CAA/MAA/EASA) and standards.

Responsibilities

• Test Planning: Design and author comprehensive flight test plans, risk assessments, and procedures aligned with engineering objectives and safety standards.
• Flight Preparation: Oversee the preparation, ground testing, and final checks of UAV systems prior to flight operations.
• Flight Test Execution: Lead or heavily support active flight testing in the field, operating as a UAV pilot to gather telemetry and performance data.
• Post Flight Analysis: Download, processing, and analysing flight data to evaluate system performance against design metrics.
• Reporting: Generate detailed flight test reports, presenting technical metrics and actionable insights to engineering teams.

Skills

UAV flight testing

UAV pilot certification

Data analysis

Regulatory knowledge

UK security clearance

Job description

Saab UK is part of Scandinavia's largest defence company, bringing together the best of Swedish and British innovation. Saab offers world-leading solutions and services in defence, aviation, space, and civil security to keep people and society safe. Our UK presence has been growing at pace, meaning we can offer a wide range of opportunities for personal fulfilment and career growth. We currently employ over 600 people across eight sites in the UK, and our specialisations include software engineering, underwater robotics, radars, AI, and armed forces training.

The Role:

This role is part of our Blue Bear Business in Bedford.

The Flight Test Engineer will manage the preparation and comprehensive support of flight operations for unmanned aerial vehicles. Bridging the gap between engineering and field testing, this role drives the rigorous evaluation of systems through test planning, flight execution, and deep-dive analysis. Ideally serving as a UAV pilot, the successful candidate will ensure safety and compliance throughout the testing lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities:

• Test Planning: Design and author comprehensive flight test plans, risk assessments, and procedures aligned with engineering objectives and safety standards.
• Flight Preparation: Oversee the preparation, ground testing, and final checks of UAV systems prior to flight operations.
• Flight Test Execution: Lead or heavily support active flight testing in the field, operating as a UAV pilot to gather required telemetry and performance data.
• Post Flight Analysis: Download, processing, and analysing flight data to evaluate system performance against design metrics.
• Reporting: Generate detailed flight test reports, presenting technical metrics and actionable insights to engineering teams.

Qualifications and Skills:

• Demonstrated experience in uncrewed or crewed flight test operations, test card generation, and telemetry analysis.
• Practical experience and certification as a UAV pilot, capable of manual and autonomous flight operations.
• Strong analytical skills for interpreting complex flight data and translating it into engineering feedback.
• Experience or familiarity with Civil and Military Aviation regulatory requirements (CAA, MAA, EASA) and industry standards.
• Ability to obtain UK Security Clearance (SC level).

Saab UK Company Benefits:

• 30 days annual leave
• Workplace pension scheme with 8% company contribution
• Private medical insurance
• Death in service insurance
• Up to 5% share matching scheme
• Company enhanced Maternity/Adoption & Paternity leave.
• + Much more