Test & Development Remote Pilot

Skyports Limited; Aylesbury; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Skyports Limited, a leader in Advanced Air Mobility, is seeking a Test and Development Pilot to join their Flight Operations team. In this exciting role, you will collaborate on innovative drone services and be part of a team pushing the boundaries of technology and logistics in aviation. The ideal candidate has a proven track record with UAS platforms, excellent communication skills, and a strong passion for technology development.

Benefits

Competitive salary and benefits package

Flexible working arrangements

Opportunities for professional development

Supportive team culture

Qualifications

• Proven remote pilot with large-format UAS platform experience.
• Comfortable with maintenance activities on UAS according to manufacturer instructions.
• Accountable for tasks and capable of working autonomously.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with technology teams to enhance UAS delivery capabilities.
• Operate UAS platforms and validate system performance.
• Perform risk assessment and ensure adherence to safety procedures.

Skills

Remote pilot experience

UAS platform maintenance

Communication

Team collaboration

Education

Aviation-related degree

Job description

Location: Westcott, Aylesbury – 25%, Remote – 25%, International Travel – 50% (Must have right to work in the UK)

Department: Flight Operations

Type: Full-time, Permanent

About Us:

Founded in 2018, Skyports is at the forefront of the Advanced Air Mobility revolution, developing and operating cutting-edge infrastructure for electric air taxis and using drone technology to transform business operations across industries.

Our business is split into two key areas:

Skyports Drone Services uses drones to streamline logistics, capture data, and enhance operational efficiency, with a focus on rural deliveries, surveying, surveillance, and maritime services.

Skyports Infrastructure plays a vital role in the Urban Air Mobility ecosystem, designing, building, owning, and operating vertiports that enable eVTOL operators to take off and land in cities around the world.

With our presence in this dynamic, high-growth industry, there has never been a more exciting time to be part of our mission to reshape the future of air mobility.

The Role

As a Test and Development Pilot, you’ll play a key role in transforming the future of drone services and redefining global logistics. An average month may look like:

• Travelling to the USA to perform joint test programs with one of our supplier partners
• Working with our technical teams across our offices to develop new operational procedures and share learnings from operations
• Operating on novel delivery programs to demonstrate industry leading capabilities to blue-chip customers in markets such as oil and gas

How Can I Be A Part Of The Team?

We’re after experienced UAS operators who live and breathe technology. You won’t just be flying drones; you’ll be part of a team developing solutions that don’t exist anywhere else.

As the industry matures and Skyports operations grow in size and complexity we are onboarding new UAS platforms to meet the needs of our customers. You will be responsible for working directly with our technology team and partners to test new functionality and develop operational procedures to refine the UAS platform an enable .

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with our technology team and UAS provider’s engineers to expand UAS capabilities and enhance the delivery service.
• Operate advanced UAS platforms and execute test programs to validate system performance.
• Work with technology and regulatory teams to present evidence of safe and well-planned UAS operations to global aviation regulators.
• Ensure operational safety through effective risk assessment, hazard mitigation, and adherence to procedures and checklists.
• Analyse flight data and provide actionable insights for both Skyports and external partners.
• Troubleshoot and resolve technical UAS issues, ensuring accurate logging within the Skyports maintenance management system.
• Design mission profiles, coordinate with air traffic control, and adapt to real-time conditions while ensuring regulatory compliance.
• Lead cross-functional teams on various projects, maintaining alignment on safety and project goals.
• Stay up to date with UAS technologies and proactively develop your operational expertise.

About you

This role requires a diverse skill set and a passion for technology testing and development. There's no single path or qualification that defines the ideal candidate. Our team members come from various backgrounds, some having transitioned from entirely different industries to UAS operations. If the following describes you, you could be a great fit:

• You are an proven remote pilot having previously worked with large-format UAS platforms, either military or civilian.
• You are not afraid to get your hands dirty and have a passion for tinkering with electronics and internal combustion engines.
• You have a deep understanding of key components of a UAS and are comfortable performing maintenance activities on large platforms in accordance with manufacturer provided instructions .
• You are used to owning your own work and being held accountable for your tasks.
• You work well within a team where required and understand the importance of distributing tasks between a team.
• You understand the need for robust processes within a safety management system and are able to produce high quality documentation to enable that.
• You’re an excellent communicator who is capable of handling ambiguity and has a proven track record when it comes to dealing with both internal and external stakeholders.
• You have an eye for identifying the work that needs to get done to reach our goal and are confident operating with a certain degree of autonomy.

Example background:

• You’re an ex-military UAS operator capable of handling Group 3 UAS or bigger
• You’ve built and crashed a bunch of your own drones, know your way around an internal combustion engine and love getting your hands dirty
• You’ve got an aviation related degree and have built and maintained something that relies on an engine before yourself.

What We Offer:

• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Opportunity to work in an innovative and growing industry.
• A collaborative and dynamic work environment with ample opportunities for professional development.
• Flexible working arrangements and a supportive team culture

How to Apply:

If you’re passionate about aviation and keen to be part of a pioneering company that is changing the future of transportation, we would love to hear from you. Please submit your CV and a cover letter outlining your experience and why you’re a great fit for this role.

Skyports is an equal-opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.