UAS Avionics Engineer

Elev8; England; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working options

Opportunity to work on real aircraft

Impact on future unmanned flight

Job summary

A pioneering aerospace firm in the UK is seeking a UAS Avionics Engineer to take ownership of avionics systems for unmanned aircraft. You will work on real flight testing, lead integration and support test flights. The ideal candidate has over 3 years of experience in avionics, strong problem-solving skills, and the ability to design PCB/electrical systems. This role includes flexible working options and a chance to help shape the future of unmanned flight.

Qualifications

• 3+ years in avionics or UAS systems.
• Understanding of GNSS/INS, telemetry, RF systems.
• Experience in designing PCB/electrical systems.

Responsibilities

• Take charge of avionics for next-generation aircraft.
• Lead integration, testing, and support test flights.
• Work with suppliers for hardware selection and design.

Skills

Avionics systems knowledge

Deep understanding of GNSS/INS

Ability to design PCB/electrical systems

Problem-solving skills

Experience with simulation/HIL work

Job description

UAS Avionics Engineer

Sick of working on “future tech” that never leaves the lab? You know the drill — endless prototypes, PowerPoints, and promises… but no aircraft actually flying. If you want to build systems that end up in the sky rather than in a drawer, keep reading.

Here’s what’s different: They’re actually putting unmanned aircraft into the real world. Proper platforms. Proper flight testing. Proper engineering ownership. No corporate barriers, no design‑by‑committee, no waiting 18 months for approval to change a connector.

Responsibilities

• Take charge of the avionics that make next‑generation aircraft work, including control systems, navigation, comms links, power distribution, and related hardware/software interfaces.
• Shape architectures, define requirements, and build hardware/software interfaces that survive real flight campaigns, not just simulation.
• Lead hands‑on integration, hardware‑in‑the‑loop testing, instrumentation setup, telemetry configuration, and support test flights on site.
• Work directly with suppliers on hardware selection and qualification, design electrical systems and ground control hardware, and help shape onboard and off‑board tools that keep each aircraft safe.

Qualifications

• 3+ years in avionics or UAS systems and desire for real ownership.
• Deep understanding of GNSS/INS, telemetry, CAN/UART, RF systems, redundancy, and how these behave under non‑ideal aircraft conditions.
• Ability to design PCB/electrical systems and delve into embedded software or RTOS‑based middleware.
• Enjoy solving problems without a handbook.
• Comfortable working in a context where “future air mobility” means flight test days, not buzzwords.
• Experience or comfort with simulation/HIL work, BVLOS, safety cases, or regulatory frameworks.

Benefits

• Flexible working options.
• Chance to build aircraft that actually fly, not just theory that gathers dust.
• Seat at the table shaping the future of unmanned flight.

Based full‑time on‑site at a UK aviation test and development facility, with occasional travel to test sites.

Sound like the kind of engineering you actually want to be doing? Apply now.