UAS Chief Pilot
Bournemouth or Teesside, UK | Frequent UK & International Travel
£80,000+ DOE + Executive Benefits Package
Permanent
UAS Chief Pilot – BVLOS Operations, Defence Aviation & Strategic Capability Development
A unique opportunity has arisen for an experienced UAS aviation leader to join a rapidly expanding defence aviation organisation delivering advanced operational training and capability support services to military customers across the UK and allied nations.
This appointment represents considerably more than a traditional Chief Pilot position. The successful candidate will assume operational leadership of an evolving Uncrewed Air Systems function and play a key role in shaping the organisation's long-term UAS strategy, capability development and regulatory framework.
With significant investment being made into next-generation UAS capability, this role offers a genuine pathway towards future senior leadership positions, including Head of UAS Operations and Vice President level responsibilities as the capability continues to mature and expand.
The successful individual will be responsible for establishing the operational, regulatory and safety architecture necessary to support the deployment of sophisticated UAS platforms in support of defence training and operational support missions.
This is a rare opportunity for an experienced military or commercial BVLOS operator to move into a role where they will directly influence capability development, organisational growth and the future direction of UAS operations.
The Opportunity
The organisation is undertaking a significant expansion of its uncrewed aviation capability and is seeking a recognised Subject Matter Expert to lead the transition from developmental and trial activity into scalable, operationally assured service delivery.
Operating at the intersection of defence aviation, military training and advanced uncrewed technology, the UAS Chief Pilot will hold responsibility for the development and governance of all flight operations activities whilst acting as the principal authority on UAS operational employment.
The role requires an individual capable of operating comfortably across strategic, regulatory and operational domains, engaging with military stakeholders, aviation regulators, senior leadership teams and industry partners.
You will be expected to build, lead and develop a highly capable team of UAS operators whilst creating the operational standards, procedures and governance frameworks necessary to support complex BVLOS operations in increasingly demanding airspace environments.
Core Responsibilities
Flight Operations Leadership
- Act as the senior operational authority for all UAS flight activities.
- Maintain operational oversight of all BVLOS and VLOS operations conducted under organisational approvals and authorisations.
- Establish and maintain the flight operations framework supporting safe, compliant and effective mission execution.
- Ensure operational standardisation across all deployed UAS platforms and operational locations.
- Develop long-term operational strategies supporting capability growth and future service expansion.
- Lead mission assurance activities and operational readiness reviews.
Regulatory Strategy & CAA Engagement
- Serve as the primary operational interface with the UK Civil Aviation Authority.
- Lead regulatory engagement activities relating to:
- Operational Authorisations
- Specific Category Operations
- BVLOS approvals
- Airspace access applications
- Safety Case submissions
- Future operational expansion programmes
- Maintain awareness of evolving UK and international UAS regulatory frameworks.
- Drive compliance with CAP publications, UK UAS regulations and emerging BVLOS operational requirements.
- Support the development of future operational concepts aligned to anticipated regulatory developments.
Safety & Risk Governance
- Work in partnership with the Aviation Safety Manager to ensure effective implementation and continuous improvement of the Safety Management System.
- Lead operational risk management activities across all UAS programmes.
- Oversee occurrence reporting, investigations and corrective action implementation.
- Ensure hazards associated with complex BVLOS operations are identified, assessed and appropriately mitigated.
- Support internal and external audit programmes, ensuring regulatory findings are effectively addressed.
Military Capability Delivery
- Provide operational expertise supporting advanced military training and readiness programmes.
- Support the delivery of realistic threat-representation services through the employment of advanced UAS capabilities.
- Advise military customers on operational employment, capability integration and mission planning.
- Contribute to the development of future operational concepts and tactical employment methodologies.
- Support integration activities with manned aviation and wider defence training environments.
UAS Capability Development
- Lead operational input into future platform integration and service development programmes.
- Contribute to concept development, experimentation and operational evaluation activities.
- Support the introduction of increasingly sophisticated UAS platforms and mission systems.
- Provide operational guidance regarding capability requirements, crew structures and support infrastructure.
- Work closely with engineering, programme delivery and business development teams to support growth initiatives.
Crew Development & Operational Standards
- Recruit, mentor and develop UAS pilots and operational personnel.
- Establish competency frameworks and training standards.
- Maintain oversight of pilot qualifications, currency and continuation training requirements.
- Conduct operational evaluations and competency assessments.
- Promote a culture of professionalism, accountability and operational excellence.
Stakeholder Engagement
- Act as the senior customer-facing representative for UAS operational delivery.
- Engage with military customers, regulatory authorities and strategic industry partners.
- Support business development activities through technical leadership and operational credibility.
- Provide strategic advice to senior leadership regarding future UAS capability growth opportunities.
Essential Experience
We are seeking applications from candidates with substantial experience in the operation and management of complex UAS programmes.
Candidates should possess:
- Extensive BVLOS operational experience within military, defence or commercial aviation environments.
- Experience operating medium-altitude and tactical UAS platforms.
- Strong understanding of UK and European UAS regulatory frameworks.
- Previous responsibility for operational approvals, authorisations and regulatory engagement.
- Demonstrable experience leading aviation operations teams.
- Significant knowledge of:
- Airspace integration
- Flight operations management
- Operational risk management
- Aviation safety systems
- Crew competency management
- Operational assurance processes
- Military aviation operations
- Experience producing and maintaining:
- Operations Manuals
- SOPs
- Safety Cases
- Risk Assessments
- Training and Competency Frameworks
- Strong stakeholder management capabilities with experience engaging senior military and regulatory personnel.
- Eligibility to obtain and maintain UK security clearance.
Highly Desirable Experience
Applications are particularly welcomed from candidates with operational experience relating to:
- Remotely Piloted Air Systems (RPAS) employed within defence environments.
- UK MOD UAS programmes.
- Tactical or MALE UAS operations.
- Military intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.
- Operational experience involving platforms such as Reaper, Watchkeeper or equivalent military UAS systems.
- Defence aviation training and readiness programmes.
- NATO operational environments.
- Airspace integration and BVLOS demonstration programmes.
- Previous military UAS Pilot, Mission Commander, Squadron Leadership or Flight Operations Management appointments.
Career Progression
This role has been identified as a key succession position within the organisation's long-term UAS growth strategy.
The successful candidate will work directly alongside senior operational leadership and will have the opportunity to influence strategic decision-making, future capability investment and organisational development.
For ambitious aviation leaders seeking a pathway into broader operational and executive leadership, this position offers a clear route towards future Head of UAS Operations and Vice President-level responsibilities as the organisation continues to expand its uncrewed aviation capability.
For experienced military UAS professionals or senior BVLOS operators looking to transition into a strategic leadership appointment, opportunities of this nature are exceptionally rare within the UK defence aviation sector.
Max Carr at DCS is the point of Contact
