UAV Concept Engineer

SAAB; Luton; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Saab UK is seeking a UAV Concept Engineer to turn requirements and CONOPS into sized, analysed air vehicle concepts through rapid, iterative trade studies. You will synthesize flight-test data to refine models and drive propulsion/energy integration within a multidisciplinary team.

Join Saab UK to work on early-stage design capability, developing fast, defensible estimates and tools that accelerate design decisions while maintaining safety-critical standards and regulatory awareness.

Qualifications

• Hands-on aircraft sizing and concept-design tooling experience.
• Ability to synthesise flight-test/telemetry data to calibrate models.
• Strong Python scripting for automation and tools development.
• Experience with design-of-experiments and trade studies.

Responsibilities

• Perform aircraft conceptual sizing and constraint analysis to define feasible design points.
• Develop and morph parametric air vehicle geometry and drive it through the analysis loop.
• Produce core conceptual outputs: drag polars, lift curves, weight breakdowns, mission energy.
• Run trade studies and design-space exploration for rapid iteration.
• Synthesize flight-test/bench-test data to validate and improve models.
• Select and shape propulsion concepts and integrate them into performance analysis.
• Maintain and build the concept-design toolchain and automation.
• Capture design risk and feed into programme risk register.

Skills

Aircraft sizing

Conceptual design tooling

Flight-test data synthesis

Python scripting

Design-of-experiments

Stability & control analysis

multidisciplinary teamwork

Tools

OpenVSP

RCAIDE

AVL

XFLR5

Datcom

PX4

ArduPilot

SITL/HITL

FlightStream

Job description

aerodynamics, weights, propulsion, mission and stability. A defining part of this role is closing the loop between analysis and reality. You will synthesise data from bench and flight testing, flight logs, telemetry and measured performance and feed it back to correct and improve our conceptual models, sizing methods and surrogates, so each design iteration is grounded in real evidence. Working as part of the Concepts team, you will bring a proactive, collaborative approach and a passion for fast iteration, sound engineering judgement and building tools and methods that make the whole team faster.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform aircraft conceptual sizing and constraint analysis (wing loading vs thrust/power-to-weight, weight closure, mission/energy sizing) to define feasible design points for new UAV concepts.
• Develop and morph parametric air vehicle geometry and Outer Mould Line and drive it through the analysis loop, regenerating a concept from a defined parameter set.
• Produce the core conceptual outputs each iteration: drag polars, lift curves, weight breakdowns, mission energy/endurance, static margin, trim and control authority.
• Run trade studies and design-space exploration to make optimisation and sensitivity studies fast enough to explore many designs.
• Synthesise flight-test and bench-test data (flight logs, telemetry, measured aero/propulsion performance) and use it to validate, calibrate and improve conceptual models and sizing methods.
• Select and shape propulsion system concepts and integrate them into mission and energy-network performance analysis.
• Maintain, improve and where appropriate build the concept-design toolchain and automation that underpins rapid iteration (geometry, aero, mission, surrogate and data-processing tools).
• Capture and communicate design risk, where the design is immature or sensitive and feed it into the programme risk register.

Qualifications and skills

We are specifically looking for someone with hands-on experience in aircraft sizing, concept-design tooling, and the synthesis of flight-test data to improve models Demonstrable experience in aircraft / UAV conceptual design and sizing, constraint analysis, weight and mission/energy sizing, and closing a design point. Hands-on experience with conceptual and preliminary design tools such as OpenVSP, RCAIDE, AVL, XFLR5, Datcom or equivalent in-house tools. Sound applied aerodynamics knowledge, drag build-up, lift curves, drag polars and the ability to generate and interpret them for design decisions. Experience synthesising flight logs / telemetry / test data and using it to validate and improve analytical models (model calibration, correlation to test). Strong scripting and analysis skills in Python (or similar) for automation, data processing and building/using design tools. Working understanding of the full conceptual design loop: geometry, aerodynamics, weights, propulsion, mission performance and stability & control, and how the disciplines couple. Ability to work iteratively, favouring fast, defensible estimates over slow precision at the conceptual stage, and to communicate assumptions and uncertainty clearly. Strong problem-solving skills, sound engineering judgement, and a proactive approach to improving methods and tools. Ability to work collaboratively across a small, multidisciplinary engineering team. Structural analysis, FEA, airframe structural sizing. Stability & control analysis, flight dynamics modelling, and handling-qualities assessment. Design-of-experiments for sub systems. Propulsion sizing and integration of electric, hybrid-electric or gas turbine systems. Experience with PX4 / ArduPilot, SITL/HITL simulation, and processing autopilot flight logs (ULog, MAVLink). CAD and geometry handling; exporting/meshing surfaces for higher-fidelity aero (panel/CFD). Mid- to high-fidelity aero exposure (panel methods such as FlightStream, or RANS CFD) for validating key design points. Experience working in safety-critical, regulated or defence environments. Ability to gain SC Clearance.

By submitting an application to Saab UK you consent to undertaking workforce screening activities that may include but are not limited to: Baseline Personnel Security checks, National Security Vetting, reference checks, verification of working rights and in all circumstances preferred candidates will be placed through a security interview. JBRP1_UKTJ

Introduction

Saab UK is part of Scandinavia's largest defence company, bringing together the best of Swedish and British innovation. Saab offers world-leading solutions and services in defence, aviation, space, and civil security to keep people and society safe. Our UK presence has been growing at pace, meaning we can offer a wide range of opportunities for personal fulfilment and career growth. We currently employ over 600 people across eight sites in the UK, and our specialisations include software engineering, underwater robotics, radars, AI, and armed forces training.

The Role

Blue Bear is a leading autonomy and unmanned systems company. We are seeking a UAV Concept Engineer to strengthen our early‑stage design capability: turning requirements and CONOPS into sized, analysed and testable air vehicle concepts through rapid, iterative trade studies. This role is central to our conceptual design loop, by early exploring design trade space and rapidly iterating through geometry