UAV Test & Validation Engineer

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

Role Overview

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

This role is for someone who genuinely loves flying and is equally at home planning a safe experiment, piloting an aircraft and investigating a difficult technical fault. You will work at the intersection of propulsion, flight control, navigation, avionics, autonomy and regulatory compliance. Please note that this role will require quite a bit of field based work.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the UAV verification and validation lifecycle: test strategies, requirement traceability, test plans and cases, acceptance criteria, readiness reviews and final reports.
• Plan and lead safe indoor and outdoor ground and flight testing of in-house platforms and integrated payloads, coordinating sites, crew, equipment, weather and airspace.
• Design experiments to characterise performance, endurance, handling, robustness and failure behaviour across propulsion, control, navigation, communications, power and payload subsystems.
• Configure and operate PX4 and ArduPilot systems end to end: airframe setup, sensor calibration, parameters, flight modes, failsafes, geofencing, telemetry, logging and ground-control-station configuration.
• Diagnose faults across subsystem boundaries: propulsion and powertrain (motors, ESCs, props, batteries, thrust, thermal, vibration); flight control (stability, tuning, actuator limits, control allocation, mode transitions, failsafes); and navigation and state estimation (IMUs, GNSS, compasses, barometers, RTK, sensor fusion, estimator health).
• Develop supporting test methods, instrumentation and rigs, including bench and propulsion tests, data acquisition and SITL/HITL testing where appropriate.
• Own test records, configuration baselines, flight logs, anomalies and evidence. Analyse log data, identify root causes, communicate findings and verify corrective actions.
• Run flight-readiness reviews, safety briefings and post-flight debriefs, and maintain accurate checklists, risk assessments, occurrence records and test documentation.
• Support regulatory compliance, operational authorisations and certification by defining suitable tests, maintaining auditable evidence and contributing to safety cases, manuals and technical submissions.

Required Skills & Experience

• A degree, HND/HNC or equivalent practical experience in aerospace, avionics, control, robotics, mechatronics or a related discipline.
• Proven hands‑on experience testing, operating and troubleshooting multirotor or other UAS in real flight environments.
• Strong practical expertise with both PX4 and ArduPilot across the full workflow: new airframe through calibration, parameterisation, flight modes, failsafes, mission setup and log retrieval. Confident with QGroundControl, Mission Planner and MAVLink telemetry.
• Strong grasp of UAV propulsion, flight dynamics, feedback control, tuning and actuator behaviour, with the ability to isolate faults across mechanical, electrical and software boundaries.
• Good understanding of navigation and estimation fundamentals: inertial sensing, GNSS, magnetometers, barometers, coordinate frames, sensor fusion and EKF diagnostics.
• Able to analyse PX4 ULog and ArduPilot DataFlash logs, define useful metrics and turn test data into clear engineering conclusions.
• A disciplined approach to experimental design, configuration control, risk management, test documentation and evidence-based sign-off.
• Working knowledge of UAV flight safety and the UK UAS regulatory environment, with the judgement to know when operational or compliance support is required.
• Clear technical communication, strong teamwork and willingness to travel to test sites and work outdoors in changing conditions.

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Experience testing heavy‑lift, custom‑built or safety‑critical UAV platforms and complex integrated payloads.
• PX4/ArduPilot SITL/HITL, simulation, automated regression testing or test scripting in Python, MATLAB or similar. Familiarity with autopilot firmware builds, parameter automation, embedded systems or C/C++.
• Experience with advanced navigation sensors such as RTK GNSS, optical flow, lidar, radar or vision‑based positioning.
• Experience designing propulsion test rigs, flight‑test instrumentation, synchronised data‑acquisition systems or vibration measurements.
• Practical involvement in SORA, PDRA, operational manuals, airworthiness evidence, conformity assessment or other UAV approval and certification activities.
• A current CAA‑recognised remote‑pilot qualification appropriate to the intended operation, or formal flight‑test training.

Why Join AssetCool?

• Work on groundbreaking technology revolutionising the power grid.
• Fast‑growing startup with significant industry traction and large‑scale projects.
• Collaborative, innovation‑driven team with exciting career growth opportunities.
• Competitive salary and flexible work options

Research shows that some candidates may hesitate to apply unless they meet every listed requirement. If this role excites you but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification, we still encourage you to apply. You might be exactly who we're looking for, either for this role or another opportunity within our team.

We're proud to be an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. We're committed to building an inclusive, supportive workplace where everyone can thrive, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

If you have a disability or any specific requirements and need adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process, just let us know and we’ll do our best to accommodate your needs.