Hardware Engineer - UAV Technology

Chichester, West Sussex | On-site

Not every engineering job lets you see your work flying real missions within days. This one does.

Join a Boeing-backed team building autonomous drones that are already inspecting critical infrastructure for National Grid and other major operators. These aren't prototypes gathering dust, they're aircraft conducting real Beyond Visual Line of Sight missions across the UK today.

Why Join?

Your work takes flight in days, not years: Design, integrate, test, fly. Rapid iteration cycles mean you'll see immediate results from your engineering.

Real hands-on engineering: Soldering, prototyping, PCB design, system integration, testing — all part of the job. This isn't just CAD work.

Cutting-edge technology: We're the first UK company with routine BVLOS permissions in non-segregated airspace. You'll be working on technology that's genuinely pioneering.

Full development lifecycle: From initial concept through design, integration, production, and flight testing — you'll see the complete journey.

Immediate impact: Your systems will be flying missions over power grids, inspecting critical infrastructure that keeps the lights on.

A company that's scaling: With major clients already onboard and expanding operations across the UK and Europe, this is the right time to join.

The Role

You're a hardware engineer who doesn't just want to design circuits — you want to see them fly. You're confident across the full hardware development process, methodical when debugging complex systems, and collaborative enough to work seamlessly with software, operations, and client teams.

This isn't a role where you're stuck in one corner of a project. You'll be at the centre of it all, working on the complete hardware systems that power real autonomous aircraft — from electronic design and PCB layout to system integration and flight testing.

Working as part of our Integration Team and reporting to the Integration Manager, you'll tackle everything from miniaturised sensor packages to robust communication systems that operate reliably in challenging electromagnetic environments near power infrastructure.

What You'll Do

Design & Development: Create electronic systems, PCB layouts, and integration solutions for flight-critical applications

Build & Integration: Hands-on assembly, integration, and testing of complete drone systems — from components to flight-ready aircraft

Production & Quality: Develop production processes and ensure systems meet rigorous standards for operational deployment

Flight Testing: Support real-world validation through actual autonomous missions, with immediate feedback on performance

Rapid Iteration: Continuous improvement cycles based on operational data — design, test, deploy, refine

Cross-functional Collaboration: Work directly with software engineers, pilots, and field operations teams

About You

Hardware Development Experience: Strong background across design, integration, testing, and production of complex electronic systems

Hands-on Skills: Comfortable with soldering, prototyping, debugging, and working with test equipment — this is practical engineering

Technical Breadth: Experience with electronic design, PCB layout, system integration, or production processes

Problem-Solving Mindset: Calm under pressure when systems don't work first time, methodical in troubleshooting complex issues

Fast-Paced Environment: Thrive in rapid development cycles where you see immediate results from your work

Collaborative Approach: Work effectively with diverse teams — from software engineers to field operators

Educational Background: Qualification in Electronic or Electrical, or equivalent practical experience

Bonus Points For:

UAV, avionics, or aerospace hardware experience

Production or manufacturing optimisation experience

Familiarity with safety-critical systems development

Why This Matters

Your hardware will be flying autonomous missions over the infrastructure that powers modern society. Unlike traditional aerospace projects where you might wait years to see deployment, here you'll experience the satisfaction of rapid iteration — design, integrate, test, fly, and improve in continuous fast cycles.

Join engineers from F1, aerospace, and AI backgrounds who are passionate about solving real-world problems with technology that's already making a difference.