R&D Remote Pilot

SkyBound; Southampton; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading drone technology company in Southampton is seeking an R&D Remote Pilot to be a part of their Innovation team. The successful candidate will integrate and test novel UAS while managing flight operations and ensuring compliance with safety standards. Applicants should have substantial experience in piloting UAS along with a relevant degree. Attractive salary package ranging from £40,000 to £50,000 is offered alongside several employee benefits, including annual leave, pension contribution, and professional development opportunities.

Benefits

23 days annual leave + public holidays

Auto Enrolled pension with employer contribution

Free parking at work

Industry required training courses

Casual dress

Company pension

Discounted or free food

Health & wellbeing programme

Sick pay

Free tea, coffee and fruit

24 / 7 Employee Assistance Programme

EV charging points

Employee development courses

Qualifications

• Experience piloting UAS in a research and development environment.
• Extensive experience with fixed-wing, or VTOL UAS.
• Ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders.
• Strong problem-solving skills in pressured environments.
• Dynamic risk assessment under pressure.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks safely and efficiently.
• Collaborative team member focused on achieving goals.
• Open-minded to new ideas for operational procedures.
• Ability to take responsibility for tasks and deliver results.
• Trustworthy with sensitive information.
• Full UK Driving License required.
• Willingness to travel within the UK and internationally.

Responsibilities

• Conduct safe flight operations following established procedures.
• Collaborate with teams during live operations for data capture.
• Mitigate and manage risks during flight trials.
• Operate BVLOS flights across the UK and internationally.
• Produce accurate post-flight reports and feedback.
• Maintain records of flight operations as per regulations.
• Perform basic maintenance on operational systems.
• Support procedure development based on testing feedback.

Skills

Remote Pilot Experience

Fixed-Wing UAS

Effective Communication

Problem Solving & Decision Making

Dynamic Risk Management

Workload Management

Team Work

Innovative & Open-Minded

Taking Ownership

Confidentiality

Driving License

Ability to Travel

Education

Relevant Bachelor's Degree

Tools

ArduPilot Mission Planner

QGroundControl

Job description

Job title

R&D Remote Pilot

Salary

£40,000–£50,000 per year (depending on experience and capabilities)

Department / Section

Innovation

Who are SkyBound Rescuer?

SkyBound Rescuer is dedicated to automating drones for rapid response, optimised performance, and better cost-effectiveness, ultimately saving, protecting, and improving lives.

Location

Predominantly, the location of work will be our HQ in Southampton. You will also be required to work at other locations around the UK on an ad-hoc basis, as well as outside the United Kingdom as needed. Applicants should live within a commutable distance from our premises (ideally within 1 hour).

Role Summary

SkyBound Rescuer is seeking an R&D Remote Pilot with a strong background in the testing and implementation of new and novel robotics technologies.

The R&D Remote Pilot will be a key part of our Innovation team, integrating and testing novel fixed-wing, VTOL and multirotor UAS.

Based out of our Southampton Office, the Innovation team are principally responsible for accessing new markets and aircraft platforms, working closely with our design, software and engineering teams, whilst liaising with external stakeholders to ensure the robust development of new capabilities and services.

Main responsibilities of job

• Operations & Test Flights
• Conduct safe and compliant fixed-wing and multirotor flight operations, following established procedures and working with the Maritime Technical Lead, Director of Flight Operations, and engineering team to ensure operational requirements and site suitability are met.
• Team Liaison
• Collaborate with internal teams before, during, and after live operations to achieve operational objectives, including effective data capture and feedback.
• Risk Mitigation & Management
• Identify, mitigate, and manage operational risks during flight trials to maintain the highest safety standards.
• BVLOS Flight Operations
• Operate as a Remote Pilot Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) across the UK and internationally, either from the Remote Operations Centre in Southampton or on-site.
• Reporting & Data Capture
• Produce accurate post-flight reports, escalating anomalies where required, and ensure timely submission of operational feedback.
• Record Keeping
• Maintain precise records of all flight operations in line with regulatory and company requirements.
• Technical Knowledge
• Perform basic maintenance and repairs on systems to minimise downtime and ensure operational readiness.
• Procedure Development
• Support the Director of Flight Safety by feeding lessons learned from testing and trials into procedure development, enabling their integration into standard operations.

Competencies & Experience

Required

• Remote Pilot Experience
• Applicants must have experience piloting UAS in a research and development environment. Applicants are not however, required to hold a UK GVC or A2CofC, so long as relevant experience, such as in the international or UK defence sector, can be robustly demonstrated.
• Fixed-Wing UAS
• Extensive experience in the deployment and operation of fixed-wing, or VTOL UAS, utilising flight software such as ArduPilot Mission Planner, QGroundControl etc.
• Communication
• Utilising effective communication with internal and external stakeholders to ensure safe operations and accurate delivery of tasks as required by our clients.
• Problem solving & decision making
• The ability to identify, analyse and address problems, making sound judgements whilst operating in a pressured environment, utilising problem-solving skills to effectively and efficiently ensure the maintenance of service where challenges have arisen.
• Dynamic risk management
• The ability to dynamically assess risk under pressure and take appropriate action / steps to mitigate that risk
• Workload management
• Evidence an ability to plan, schedule and manage tasks assigned to you in order to ensure the safe and efficient delivery of tasks.
• Team Work
• An aptitude to work as part of a close team, working together in a collaborative effort to ensure the achievement of goals in a safe and efficient manner.
• Innovative & Open-Minded
• Working in a startup means you’ll be encouraged to suggest new approaches to develop our operational procedures. In our fast-paced environment, being open-minded to new ideas and approaches is a key competence.
• Taking Ownership
• Evidenced ability to take ownership of a specific task and ensure delivery in-line with the required scope.
• Confidentiality
• Some of our work is sensitive and cannot be openly discussed; we need trustworthy individuals who understand the dynamics of working in an environment where confidential information is present.
• Driving License
• A full UK Driving license is required to ensure that you are able to support trials and testing activities across the UK and internationally.
• Ability to travel
• Applicants are required to have the ability to travel within the UK and internationally occasionally. Periods of travel could exceed 1 month; however, suitable notice periods of deployments will be provided.

Desirable

• Flight test engineer
• Be a graduate flight test engineer of a recognised test pilot training establishment, or equivalent experience.
• Aviation Qualifications
• Qualifications relating to UAS design, test flight operations, safety and risk management.
• Degree Eduction
• Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline.

What can we offer you?

In addition to the opportunity of being involved in exciting work, utilising cutting-edge technology, working with a great team, we offer the following benefits :

The normal things

• 23 days annual leave + public holidays
• Auto Enrolled pension with Smart pension scheme, with a 4% employer contribution (You may increase your own personal contribution)
• Free parking at work
• We provide a competitive salary, with a banding of £40,000 - 50,000. We do however, encourage applications from experienced professionals who are able to offer additional value and skills, under which circumstances we would discuss your salary expectations prior to issuance of a formal offer.
• Industry required training courses

Benefits

• Casual dress
• Company pension
• Discounted or free food
• Health & wellbeing programme
• On-site parking
• Sick pay

Added perks

• Free tea, coffee and fruit at our premises
• A 24 / 7 Employee Assistance Programme
• EV charging points
• Employee development courses internally and externally where required