UAV Design Engineer

SAAB; Great Denham; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

30 days annual leave

Workplace pension with 8% companycon‑

Private medical insurance

Group income protection

Death in service insurance

Share matching scheme (up to 5%)

Enhanced maternity/adoption & paternit

Job summary

Saab UK is seeking a UAV Design Engineer to own aircraft sizing and early-stage conceptual design. You will turn requirements and CONOPS into sized, analysed air vehicle concepts through rapid trade studies and iterative design loops.

You will develop parametric geometry, integrate propulsion concepts, and synthesize flight-test data to validate models while collaborating with a multidisciplinary team. SC clearance is required.

Qualifications

• Aircraft sizing, constraint analysis, weight and mission/energy sizing.
• Hands-on with conceptual/preliminary design tools (OpenVSP, RCAIDE, AVL, XFLR5, Datcom).
• Scripting in Python or similar for analysis and automation.
• Experience synthesising flight-test/telemetry data to calibrate models.
• Understanding full conceptual design loop: geometry, aerodynamics, weights, propulsion, mission performance.

Responsibilities

• Explore design trade space early and iterate geometry, aerodynamics, weights and propulsion.
• Perform aircraft conceptual sizing and constraint analysis to define feasible points for UAV concepts.
• Develop parametric air vehicle geometry and drive it through the analysis loop; generate core outputs.
• Run trade studies and design-space exploration; communicate design risk and mitigation.

Skills

Aircraft sizing

UAV conceptual design

Python scripting

Trade studies

Data-driven validation

Problem solving

Tools

OpenVSP

RCAIDE

AVL

XFLR5

Datcom

Job description

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:

This role is part of our Blue Bear business unit in Bedford. We are seeking a UAV Design Engineer with aircraft sizing ownership, hands‑on engineering, and data-validation experience 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

Key Responsibilities:

early exploring design trade space and rapidly iterating through geometry, aerodynamics, weights, propulsion, mission and stability. Perform aircraft conceptual sizing and constraint analysis to define feasible design points for new UAV concepts. Develop 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. Run trade studies and design‑space exploration. 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:

Aircraft sizing, concept‑design tooling, and the synthesis of flight‑test data to improve models 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. 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). Working understanding of the full conceptual design loop: geometry, aerodynamics, weights, propulsion, mission performance and stability & control, and how the disciplines couple. 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. Stability & control analysis, flight dynamics modelling, and handling‑qualities assessment. 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.

Saab UK Company Benefits:

• 30 days annual leave
• Workplace pension scheme with 8% company contribution
• Private medical insurance
• Group income protection scheme
• Death in service insurance
• Up to 5% share matching scheme
• Company enhanced Maternity/Adoption & Paternity leave. + Much more

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