Senior USV Pilot & Autonomous Operations Lead

SYOS Aerospace; Fareham; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

SYOS Aerospace in Fareham is seeking an experienced USV Chief Pilot to lead our Maritime Operations team and drive the standards for autonomous vessel operations.

You will train operators, support trials and customer activities, and act as the technical reference for USV piloting, collaborating with Engineering, Product and Operations to ensure safe, effective, and mission-ready platforms.

Qualifications

• Advanced Powerboat CoC is required.
• Experience operating different USV platforms.
• MASS operator course completed.
• Driving licence and vessel towing experience.
• Experience developing written procedures and training plans.
• Experience leading small teams and delivering training.
• Strong knowledge of maritime regulations, USV operations, vessel safety and MCA/Workboat Code.
• Experience acting as USV Pilot in Command/Master.
• Knowledge of manual, remote and autonomous USV operations including COLREGs and collision avoidance.
• Experience developing operational plans, risk assessments, safety docs, checklists, hazard logs and crew briefings.
• Strong understanding of Safety Management Systems and risk mitigation.

Responsibilities

• Lead USV operations across commissioning, trials, demonstrations, exercises and customer activities in manual, assisted and autonomous modes.
• Establish and maintain USV operator standards, procedures and competency requirements.
• Lead development and delivery of USV operator training including practical exercises and assessments.
• Support R&D and testing of new USV capabilities with operational input.
• Lead operational delivery of USV demonstrations and customer trials ensuring safety and effectiveness.
• Provide operational feedback to improve USV systems and transition capabilities.
• Provide technical and operational leadership across the growing USV operator community.

Skills

Leadership

USV operations

Training delivery

Safety compliance

Operational planning

Education

Advanced Powerboat CoC

MASS operator course

Job description

SYOS Aerospace in Fareham is seeking an experienced USV Chief Pilot to lead our Maritime Operations team and drive the standards for autonomous vessel operations.

You will train operators, support trials and customer activities, and act as the technical reference for USV piloting, collaborating with Engineering, Product and Operations to ensure safe, effective, and mission-ready platforms.