At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead technical engagements, build and fly drones, and solve real-time challenges.
- Company: Join Auterion, a leader in AI-powered autonomous systems.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible hours, stock options, generous holidays, and mental health support.
- Other info: Dynamic role with travel opportunities and a vibrant, innovative team culture.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in defence and commercial sectors with cutting-edge technology.
- Qualifications: Hands-on drone experience, strong avionics background, and excellent communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
As a Senior Solutions Engineer at Auterion, you will sit at the front line of our most ambitious sales engagements, working directly with defence and commercial customers to design, demonstrate and deploy autonomy solutions built on Auterion OS.
This is a hands-on, flight-line role: you will build, fly and troubleshoot drone systems in front of customers, translate operational requirements into technical solutions, and give our sales and mission development teams the credibility to win the largest and most complex programmes.
You will bring real, practical experience of building and flying unmanned aircraft, ideally on PX4 or Ardu Pilot, combined with a strong grounding in avionics or aeronautical engineering.
This is not a desk-bound pre-sales role.
You will be expected to get your hands dirty integrating payloads, tuning autopilots, running test flights and solving problems live in front of customers and partners.
Responsibilities and Duties
- Act as the lead technical authority in customer engagements, translating mission requirements into concrete system architectures and demonstrable solutions built on Auterion OS and Skynode.
- Build, configure, integrate and fly drone platforms using PX4 or Ardu Pilot to support customer trials, technical demonstrations and proof-of-concept deployments.
- Design and deliver technical demonstrations, flight trials and integration proofs that showcase Auterion OS capability against customer and NATO/defence requirements.
- Provide deep avionics and airframe expertise, including autopilot tuning, sensor and payload integration, power systems and airworthiness considerations.
- Partner with the sales and business development team to shape bids, technical proposals and RFI/RFP responses, ensuring solutions are credible, deployable and differentiated.
- Diagnose and resolve technical issues in the field during customer trials and demonstrations, working across flight stack, hardware and software layers.
- Build strong relationships with customer engineers and operators, acting as a trusted technical advisor throughout the sales cycle and into deployment.
- Feed customer and market requirements back into product and engineering teams to influence the Auterion OS roadmap.
- Support test activities, exhibitions, customer visits and operational deployments across the UK and NATO ecosystem, including significant travel.
- Produce clear technical documentation, solution architectures and integration guidance to support bids and deployments.
Qualifications and Skills
- Demonstrable hands-on experience building and flying drones, ideally using PX4 or Ardu Pilot.
- Proven hands on experience with C++, Docker & Linux.
- Strong background in avionics, aeronautical engineering or a related discipline, with practical understanding of airframes, autopilots, sensors and payload integration.
- Experience working with MAVLink, ground control stations and flight test procedures.
- Proven ability to operate as a technical lead in front of customers, including live demonstrations and field troubleshooting.
- Strong communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical detail into clear, compelling customer-facing narratives.
- Experience supporting sales, business development or pre-sales engineering functions is highly desirable.
- Degree in Aeronautical Engineering, Avionics, Electronics, Physics or a related engineering discipline preferred.
- Comfortable with frequent travel and field deployment, including to customer and partner sites across the UK and NATO nations.
- UK citizenship and eligibility for UK security clearance required.
Benefits
- Flexible working hours
- Stock Options
- Generous holiday allowance
- Company pension plan
- Mental health and wellbeing support
- Regular team social events
- About Auterion
We are building the leading software platform for AI-powered autonomous systems for enterprise and government customers.
Our team is supporting the most important missions and solving the most challenging problems.
At Auterion, we bring together the sharpest minds who love to solve the hardest problems.
Join a vibrant team built on innovation, openness, and excellence, where you’ll be empowered to develop ideas, collaborate across all levels, and make an impact that matters.
Forward Deployed Engineer in London employer: Auterion
Auterion is an exceptional employer for those passionate about cutting-edge technology and autonomy solutions, offering a dynamic work environment where hands-on experience is valued. With flexible working hours, generous holiday allowances, and a strong focus on mental health and wellbeing, employees are encouraged to thrive both personally and professionally. The opportunity to engage directly with defence and commercial customers while contributing to meaningful missions makes this role not just a job, but a rewarding career path.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Forward Deployed Engineer in London
✨Join Aerospace Forums and Groups
Get involved in aerospace engineering forums and online communities, like the AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics). It's a great way to meet industry peers and stay updated on job openings and trends in the field.
✨Attend Industry Conferences
Keep an eye on upcoming aerospace conferences and events where you can network with professionals and showcase your interest. Events like the Farnborough International Airshow are not just about flying machines; they're a goldmine for connections and potential job leads.
✨Spotlight Your Projects
Make sure to highlight any hands-on experience or projects on your portfolio that showcase your skills in aerospace engineering. Employers love seeing practical applications of theoretical knowledge. Show us what you've got!
✨Apply Directly on Company Websites
When you find companies you want to work for, head straight to their careers page to apply for full-time roles, like the one with Auterion for a Forward Deployed Engineer. This often puts your application in front of the right people faster than just waiting for job boards!
We think you need these skills to ace Forward Deployed Engineer in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Technical Skills:When applying for the aerospace engineering role at Auterion, make sure to highlight your technical expertise. Include specific software skills, like CAD tools or simulation software, and any relevant engineering projects you’ve worked on. This is your chance to really shine and showcase your engineering toolkit!
Don't Skip Your Projects!:Include a section in your CV dedicated to projects that demonstrate your problem-solving abilities in aerospace engineering. Whether it's a university project, an internship, or personal work, we love seeing how you’ve applied your skills in real-world scenarios. Make it clear what your role was and the impact of the project.
Show Your Passion in Your Cover Letter:At Auterion, we're not just looking for skills – we want to know why you’re passionate about aerospace engineering. Use your cover letter to express what excites you about aviation technology and your career goals. Share any relevant experiences or inspirations that have led you to apply for this full-time position.
Tailor Your CV for Aerospace:Make sure your CV is specifically tailored to aerospace engineering. Focus on your education, any certifications, and your work experience, ensuring you highlight aspects that relate directly to the role. Don’t forget to mention any internships or apprenticeships that have given you hands-on experience.
How to prepare for a job interview at Auterion
✨Brush Up on Your Technical Knowledge
Aerospace engineering is all about technical precision, so make sure you’re comfortable with key concepts like aerodynamics, propulsion, and materials science. We recommend going through any relevant coursework or projects you’ve worked on – these real-world examples can illustrate your understanding during the interview with Auterion.
✨Showcase Your Projects with Confidence
Make sure to have a portfolio ready that details any significant projects you've worked on, whether it’s a group assignment or a personal endeavour. Be prepared to discuss the challenges you faced, the tools you used, like CAD software, and what you learned from the experience, as this will show your problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Technical Interviews
Expect some technical questions or even problem-solving exercises during your interview with Auterion. Get familiar with design challenges or theoretical problems related to aerospace; this can range from calculating lift and drag forces to materials selection under stress. Practising these can help you feel more at ease when faced with tricky questions.
✨Emphasise Your Passion and Teamwork Skills
As a full-time candidate, it’s crucial to convey your passion for aerospace engineering and your ability to work in teams. Highlight any group projects or internships you've done, focusing on how you collaborated with others to achieve a goal. Companies like Auterion love seeing candidates who not only have technical skills but also fit well within their team culture.
