UAV Flight Test & Validation Lead

AssetCool; Leeds; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Flexible work options

Groundbreaking technology

Job summary

AssetCool in Leeds is seeking a UAV Flight Test & Validation Engineer to own end-to-end testing and validation of our in-house UAV systems. You will define test strategies, lead indoor and outdoor flight campaigns and ensure decisions are backed by clear, traceable evidence.

The role blends hands-on flying with rigorous analysis across propulsion, flight control, navigation and regulatory compliance. Expect field-based work, site coordination, data review and close collaboration to drive safe,

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent practical experience in aerospace, avionics, control, robotics or related discipline.
• Proven hands-on experience testing, operating and troubleshooting UAS in real flight environments.
• Strong expertise with PX4 and ArduPilot across the full workflow: airframe setup, calibration, flight modes, failsafes, mission setup and log retrieval.

Responsibilities

• Own the UAV verification and validation lifecycle: test strategies, traceability, plans and reports.
• Plan and lead safe indoor and outdoor ground and flight testing, coordinating sites, crew and equipment.
• Design experiments to characterise performance, endurance, handling and failure behaviour across subsystems.
• Configure PX4 and ArduPilot end-to-end: airframe setup, parameters, geofencing, telemetry and GCS configuration.
• Diagnose faults across mechanical, electrical and software boundaries; identify root causes and verify corrective actions.
• Develop test methods, instrumentation and SITL/HITL testing as appropriate.
• Maintain test records, flight logs and evidence; run readiness reviews and post-flight debriefs.
• Support regulatory compliance and safety cases with auditable evidence.

Skills

UAS testing

Test planning

Data analysis

Safety & risk mgmt

Education

Bachelor's or higher in aerospace/avionics/controls/robotics or related

Tools

PX4

ArduPilot

QGroundControl

Mission Planner

Job description

AssetCool in Leeds is seeking a UAV Flight Test & Validation Engineer to own end-to-end testing and validation of our in-house UAV systems. You will define test strategies, lead indoor and outdoor flight campaigns and ensure decisions are backed by clear, traceable evidence.

The role blends hands-on flying with rigorous analysis across propulsion, flight control, navigation and regulatory compliance. Expect field-based work, site coordination, data review and close collaboration to drive safe,