Senior UAV Design Engineer

Technology, Data & Digital · Software & Web Development · Software Engineering · Embedded Systems

In short

Saab UK seeks a Senior UAV Design Engineer in Bedfordshire to lead new UAV concepts, manage the end-to-end design process from requirements to flight testing, and mentor junior engineers. The role involves detailed conceptual sizing, trade studies, and leveraging test data to refine design models, requiring strong Python skills and experience in aircraft/UAV conceptual design.

Responsibilities

Own UAV concepts end to end, from requirements and CONOPS to a closed design point, build and flight test, running several studies in parallel.
Lead conceptual sizing and trade studies: constraint analysis, weight closure, aerodynamics, propulsion, mission and energy sizing, and stability and control.
Plan and analyse bench, wind-tunnel and flight tests, and use flight logs and test data to calibrate our sizing methods and models.
Develop the team's Python-based concept-design tools and methods.

Requirements

Typically, 5+ years in aircraft or UAV design, including at least one design you sized that was then built and flown.
Hands-on use of flight-test or test data to calibrate and correct design models.
Depth across the conceptual design loop: aerodynamics, weights, propulsion, mission performance, and stability and control.
Concept-design tools such as OpenVSP, AVL or XFLR5, and strong Python for automation and data processing.
Sound judgement on fidelity, clear communication of assumptions and uncertainty.
Ability to gain SC clearance.

Desired Qualifications

PX4 or ArduPilot, SITL/HITL simulation, and processing autopilot logs (ULog, MAVLink).
VTOL, hybrid or unconventional configurations.
Electric, hybrid-electric or small gas-turbine propulsion integration.
Mid- to high-fidelity aerodynamics (panel methods or CFD), surrogate modelling and optimisation.
Defence, safety-critical or regulated environments

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.

Skills

Pythonaerodynamicsweightspropulsionmission performancestability and controlOpenVSPAVLXFLR5PX4ArduPilotMAVLinkCFD

#defence#aviation#engineering#UAV#design#research and development

About Saab

As a leading defence and security company, we offer solutions that range from the depths of the oceans to high in the sky, on land and in cyberspace, to keep people and society safe. Empowered by our 22,000 talented people, we constantly push the boundaries of technology to create a safer, more sustainable and more equitable world. We design, manufacture and maintain advanced systems in aeronautics, weapons, command and control, sensors and underwater systems. We are headquartered in Sweden and have major operations all over the world and are part of the domestic defence capability of several…

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