Senior R&D Engineer - UAV Systems

ZipRecruiter; Leeds; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A rapidly growing technology company in Leeds is seeking a Senior R&D Engineer to lead UAV systems design and development. This role involves hands-on work in building aircraft for real-world challenges, requiring multidisciplinary collaboration and innovation. Candidates should have significant experience in UAV design, strong understanding of aerodynamics, and practical skills in CAD and prototyping.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in UAV design and development.
• Strong practical experience with CAD tools and rapid prototyping techniques.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of UAV platforms for field-deployable applications.
• Collaborate with teams to integrate communications and autonomy modules.

Skills

UAV Design

Aerodynamics

Propulsion Systems

Structural Design

Control Systems

Data-Driven Design

Education

BEng/MEng/MSc in Aerospace

Mechanical

Mechatronics

Tools

CAD Tools

3D Printing

Job description

Job Description

Job Title: Senior R&D Engineer – UAV Systems

Location: Leeds (Full-Time, On-Site)

Salary: £60,000 – £80,000 (Depending on Experience)

Reporting To: Head of Engineering

About Us

AssetCool is an rapidly growing technology company transforming the energy infrastructure sector through advanced robotics and materials science. Our robotic coating systems increase power line capacity by up to 30% at a fraction of the cost of traditional upgrades—delivering measurable impact for grid operators across the UK, Europe, and North America.

To extend our technological leadership, we’re now investing in next- UAV systems to support aerial deployment, inspection, and automation tasks as part of our broader robotic ecosystem. This role is your opportunity to shape the future of autonomous aerial systems at the interface of R&D and real-world engineering.

Role Overview

We are looking for a Senior R&D Engineer – UAV Systems to lead the design and development of UAV platforms for high-performance, field-deployable applications. You’ll take full ownership for the design of the aircraft, its architecture and subsystem integration—from initial concept through prototyping, testing, and refinement.

This is not a theoretical role—you’ll be designing and building aircraft to solve real customer challenges, from autonomous inspection to robotic delivery systems. You’ll work across disciplines including aerodynamics, propulsion, structures, control systems, and wireless comms. Field testing, iteration, and innovation will be central to your work.

What You'll Do

• Build the UAV Project and Team: This is a foundational technology and leadership role and you will be initiating it against product specifications.
• Design from First Principles: Own UAV platform architecture—including structure, aero, propulsion, power systems, and onboard sensors—driven by mission requirements and performance constraints.
• Prototype and Test: Rapidly develop, build, and test platforms in a lab and field environment. Adapt designs based on flight data and user feedback.
• Multidisciplinary Integration: Collaborate with electronics, software, and robotics teams to integrate communications, autonomy modules, and mission payloads.
• Field-Focused Innovation: Design for harsh operating environments (e.g., high EMI, remote areas, low infrastructure) and ensure robustness and reliability.
• Performance Optimisation: Conduct simulations, tuning, and physical validation for flight control, energy efficiency, and stability.
• Iterate Fast: Run tightly scoped tests to evaluate assumptions quickly and build systems that evolve based on real-world results.
• Collaborate Across Teams: Work closely with robotic systems engineers, project leads, and operational staff to ensure designs meet customer needs and integration goals.
• Broader Robotic Ecosystem Integration: integrate the UAV platforms into the broader robotic ecosystem of AssetCool.

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience in UAV design and development, preferably from clean-sheet concept to functional prototype.
• Deep understanding of aerodynamics, propulsion systems, structural design, and UAV architecture.
• Strong practical experience with CAD tools, 3D printing, and rapid prototyping techniques.
• Proven ability to lead and deliver across the full lifecycle of an R&D hardware project.
• Strong grounding in control systems, flight dynamics, and/or embedded systems integration.
• Experience with data-driven design, flight testing, and performance analysis.
• BEng/MEng/MSc in Aerospace, Mechanical, Mechatronics, or a closely related field.

Desirable Skills

• Experience with RC aircraft or custom UAV builds (rotary, fixed-wing, or VTOL)
• Python, MATLAB or C++ for modelling, control, or analysis
• Li-ion battery design and thermal management
• GVC / PfCO or other UAV pilot qualifications
• Experience working in a startup or high-accountability R&D environment
• Exposure to machine vision, autonomy, or advanced payload systems
• Hands-on experience deploying real-time perception, autonomy, or control software on NVIDIA Jetson (Xavier/Orin) or other GPU-accelerated edge platforms, including CUDA/TensorRT optimisation.
• Fluency with embedded Linux (Ubuntu & Yocto), kernel configuration, and shell/Python scripting for automation, build, and test of UAV avionics.

Why Join AssetCool?

• Be at the cutting edge of UAV design, building technology that directly contributes to global energy resilience.
• Join a high-impact R&D team developing real systems for real field deployment—no bench-only work.
• Influence the future of autonomous infrastructure solutions, from concept to first flight.
• Enjoy rapid iteration, meaningful ownership, and direct collaboration across disciplines.

If you are interested in this role, please apply with your CV and a short cover letter detailing how your experience aligns with this role.

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds. We are committed to creating an inclusive, supportive workplace where everyone can thrive, regardless of , , , marriage or civil partnership status, or maternity, , or belief, , or .

If you have a or any specific requirements that require adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process, please let us know and we’ll do our best to accommodate your needs.

We are not looking for agency support currently.