Senior UAV Systems Engineer – Autonomy & Flight Control

MARSS Group; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

MARSS Group seeks a UAV Engineer to lead the design, development, integration and flight testing of an advanced interceptor UAV system. The role spans air vehicle, propulsion, avionics, flight-control, sensors, communications and autonomy, with close collaboration across Systems, GNC, Software and AI/ML teams.

Responsibilities include integrating autopilots, sensors and mission-system hardware, tuning flight controls (PX4/ArduPilot), planning tests, and producing documentation.

Qualifications

• Degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electronic Engineering, Robotics or a related technical discipline.
• Practical experience developing and integrating UAVs or autonomous aerial systems.
• Good understanding of UAV flight controls, aerodynamics, propulsion, power systems and avionics.
• Experience with autopilot systems such as PX4 or ArduPilot.
• Experience integrating UAV hardware and software, including sensors and communications systems.
• Familiarity with C/C++, Python and/or MATLAB/Simulink.
• Understanding of MAVLink, CAN and RF datalinks.
• Hands-on experience building, configuring, testing and troubleshooting UAV hardware.
• Experience planning and supporting UAV flight-test activities.
• Strong analytical, technical communication and problem-solving skills.
• Applicants must be eligible to obtain UK Security Clearance (SC) due to the nature of the work and projects involved.

Responsibilities

• Support the design and development of the UAV platform, including airframe, propulsion, power, avionics and flight-control systems.
• Integrate and troubleshoot autopilots, sensors, communications, payloads and mission-system hardware/software.
• Configure, develop and tune UAV flight-control systems, including PX4 or equivalent autopilot platforms.
• Support integration of GNC, autonomous behaviours and AI/ML-enabled perception onto the aircraft.
• Plan and conduct ground and flight testing, analysing results and using them to drive design improvements.
• Diagnose UAV system issues and implement practical hardware and software solutions.
• Support rapid prototyping and iterative development through a build-test-learn approach.
• Work with suppliers and engineering partners to define requirements and integrate third-party equipment.
• Support system verification, customer demonstrations and operational trials.
• Produce appropriate technical documentation, test plans, operating procedures and risk assessments.
• Support testing and customer demonstrations - travel required.

Skills

UAV design

Autonomy/flight control

C/C++

Python

MATLAB/Simulink

MAVLink/CAN/RF

ROS/ROS2

GNC integration

System integration

Testing & debugging

Education

Aerospace/Mechanical/Electronic Engineering or Robotics degree

Tools

PX4 autopilot

ArduPilot

QGroundControl

ROS/ROS2 tooling

CAN/MAVLink interfaces

Job description

MARSS Group seeks a UAV Engineer to lead the design, development, integration and flight testing of an advanced interceptor UAV system. The role spans air vehicle, propulsion, avionics, flight-control, sensors, communications and autonomy, with close collaboration across Systems, GNC, Software and AI/ML teams.

Responsibilities include integrating autopilots, sensors and mission-system hardware, tuning flight controls (PX4/ArduPilot), planning tests, and producing documentation.