Drone Major Limited is a specialist engineering company focused on the design, integration, and delivery of uncrewed and autonomous vehicle solutions across air, land, and maritime domains. We support commercial, industrial, research, and government clients with technically robust systems that combine platforms, sensors, communications, software, and supporting infrastructure into reliable operational solutions.

As a small but highly capable organisation, we pride ourselves on agility, technical depth, and the ability to solve complex engineering challenges quickly and professionally. Our work spans concept design, prototyping, systems integration, field testing, and operational deployment of uncrewed technologies and supporting networks.

Drone Major is entering a period of significant growth and this role offers a unique opportunity to drive and shape the evolution of a unique offering in the rapidly developing Defence and Commercial drone markets.

Drone Major Limited is seeking an Expert Aeronautical / Drone Systems Engineer to act as the company’s principal technical authority on all aerial and drone-related matters. This is a senior, hands-on engineering leadership role that combines technical design, systems engineering, quality assurance, and technical direction across multiple concurrent projects.

The successful candidate will work closely with Project Managers and company leadership to ensure that every technical solution delivered by Drone Major is safe, compliant, efficient, and professionally engineered.

The role requires deep knowledge and experience in the development and engineering of uncrewed systems, and the wider ecosystem of enabling technologies such as software, communications, networking, sensors, and integration platforms.

This position is critical to the company’s growth and reputation, serving as the central point of technical expertise for both internal staff and external contractors.

Key Responsibilities

1. Technical Leadership
2. Act as the primary technical authority for all engineering matters within the company
3. Act as the primary technical authority for all engineering matters within the company

• Provide expert guidance on aircraft design, configuration, and performance optimisation.
• Steer technical direction across all projects involving uncrewed systems.
• Review and approve engineering decisions, architectures, and design documentation.

2. Systems and Technical Design

• Lead end-to-end technical and systems design, from concept through to deployment.
• Define system architectures that integrate platform, propulsion, avionics, sensors, communications, and ground control.
• Ensure designs consider safety, reliability, maintainability, and scalability.
• Evaluate and select suitable hardware, software, and integration approaches.
• Liaise with contractors and ensure they deliver to technical design and meet quality standards

3. Project Collaboration

• Work side-by-side with Project Managers to translate client requirements into technical solutions.
• Contribute to project planning, risk identification, and mitigation strategies.
• Support technical proposals, bids, and client presentations.

4. Quality and Compliance

• Assure technical quality standards across projects.
• Ensure engineering outputs comply with relevant regulations, safety standards, and best practice.
• Establish and maintain design assurance, verification, and validation processes.
• Support certification or regulatory engagement where required.

       5.   Test and Evaluation

• Design, implement and monitor technical test and trial content, including Failure Modes and Effects Analysis frameworks (FMEA), ensuring that data is available at all stages to measure progress
• Engage with contractors to guide their test and evaluation at all stages of project progress.

6. Contractor and Team Direction

• Provide technical oversight and direction to external contractors, suppliers, and partners.
• Mentor and guide internal technical staff and junior engineers.
• Review and approve outsourced design or development work.

7. Systems Integration and Technology Awareness

• Resolve complex engineering issues involving:
• Conventional and novel navigation and PNT systems
• Communications systems and data links for both VLOS and BVLOS applications

• Networking and connectivity
• Sensors and payloads
• System interoperability and integration
• Control and software systems     
• Power management and environmental considerations

8. Continuous Improvement

• Stay current with emerging drone technologies across all domains (maritime, land and air), regulations, and industry standards.
• Introduce new tools, processes, and innovations that enhance technical capability.
• Contribute to internal knowledge sharing and capability development.

Essential Qualifications and Experience

• Degree (or higher) in Aeronautical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
• Significant professional experience in drone, autonomous systems, or uncrewed systems engineering.
• Demonstrable experience in systems engineering and technical design leadership.
• Strong understanding of relevant regulations and compliance frameworks relevant to uncrewed systems     .
• Experience working with multidisciplinary engineering teams and external suppliers.
• Proven ability to deliver technically complex projects from concept to deployment.
• Experience in testing and assessing technical progress.

Desirable Experience

• Experience with autonomous or semi-autonomous systems.
• Knowledge of communications protocols, networking, and secure data links.
• Sensor integration (optical, thermal, LiDAR, radar, or similar).
• Familiarity with certification or regulatory engagement processes.
• Experience within defence, research, or industrial uncrewed systems sectors.
• Chartered Engineer status or equivalent professional recognition.

Key Skills and Attributes

• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving capability.
• Clear technical communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to balance innovation with regulatory and safety considerations.
• Strong leadership and mentoring qualities.
• Commercial awareness and client-facing confidence.
• Adaptability within a small, fast-moving technical organisation.

Why Join Drone Major Limited

• Opportunity to shape the technical direction of an ambitious uncrewed      systems company.
• Direct influence over innovative and impactful engineering projects.
• Close collaboration with leadership and decision-makers.
• Varied, technically challenging work across multiple domains.
• A culture that values expertise, initiative, and professional excellence.

This is a pivotal role for an experienced engineer who wants to lead technically, influence outcomes directly, and contribute to the advancement of uncrewed system      technologies in a dynamic and specialist environment.