Unmanned Aircrew Systems (UAS) Chief Pilot in Bournemouth

Draken offer exciting careers that matter. We believe that mission success does not start with the mission itself. It begins with our people. We also believe in fair reward and recognition for our employees. As such, we offer competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package including up to 12% matching pension contributions, bonus incentives, discounted PMI, electric car scheme, tech vouchers, wellbeing programmes and much more.

Location: Bournemouth or Teesside, UK (Frequent travel required)

The Role

As we accelerate the development of our Uncrewed Air System (UAS) capabilities, we are seeking a UAS Chief Pilot. This is a high-impact leadership role focused on recruiting and building a world-class delivery team and transitioning our UAS services from trial phases to full-scale operational excellence. As a Subject Matter Expert (SME), you will provide critical live threat training to military customers, ensuring our "Red Force" services remain at the cutting edge of the modern battlespace. The role reports to the AM / VP on matters of flight operations, safety, regulations, compliance, SOPs and tactical service provision.

Key Responsibilities

• Operational Leadership - Ensure safe, compliant, and standardised service delivery of all UAS operations.
• Regulatory & Compliance - Manage CAA engagement, generate operating permissions for trials and service delivery, and ensure strict adherence to regulatory authorisations.
• Team Development - Lead the initial and continued development of the UAS service delivery team.
• Standards & Procedures - Create and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure operational rigour.
• Commercial & Stakeholder Management - Oversee budgets, manage teaming/partnering relationships, act as the primary customer interface for service delivery and support business development.
• Collaborate with the Aviation Safety Manager to contribute to the Safety Management System; through risk assessment, occurrence reporting, action management and reviews.
• Support internal and CAA audit programmes and meet required timescales to assess, comprehensively address and close out findings and requirements.
• Ensure UAS operations are conducted in accordance with the relevant UK SHE standards.
• Act as the SME in the provision of advice to the programmes and business development teams.
• Recruit UAS pilots in collaboration with HR, ensuring alignment with Ops Manual procedures and appropriate regulatory requirements.
• Through liaison with ground operations, maintain detailed oversight for the currency and competency requirements stipulated for UAS pilots.
• Manage the welfare, development and potential of UAS pilots through regular reviews and the company PDR process.
• Uphold the core company values and seek opportunities to enhance the company’s reputation and influence.
• Any other duties that are reasonably requested by Draken management and within the capability of the incumbent.

Essential Experience & Qualifications

• BVLoS Expertise: Current or previous Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLoS) operator with commercial BVLoS operational management experience.
• Regulatory Knowledge: Deep understanding of current UK civil UAS and airspace regulations.
• Military Insight: Solid knowledge of military structures and protocols.
• Leadership Traits: High integrity, resilience, and the ability to solve complex commercial challenges through data-driven judgement.
• Communication: Strong written and verbal skills, with the ability to manage tight timelines and frequent travel.
• Security: Must hold current UK security clearance or have the ability to obtain it.
• Previous Military UAS experience.
• Previous regulatory experience in UAS flight operations.

Our employee values

Draken is committed to eliminating unlawful and unfair discrimination and we celebrate the differences that a diverse workforce brings. A range of perspective and talent supports our values and drives our success, with a mix of voices generating better discussions, business decisions and outcomes for all. At all our sites internationally, every member of the Draken team is accountable to ensure that we are all treated fairly and with respect. We are also an Armed Forces friendly organisation, and as part of our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant, welcome applications from veterans and services spouses and partners who meet the criteria in our job specifications. In line with our Disability Confident Commitments, we provide reasonable adjustments to facilitate our interview process, please liaise with us if any reasonable adjustments are required.

About Us

Whether it is adversarial support, electronic attack or customised rotary-wing training, we offer the most accurate and advanced readiness training in the industry. Our vast, differentiated fleet, cutting edge hardware and experienced instructors are engaged to help your mission take off. Being ready is not only a matter of when. But where. We provide services in the UK, US and across the NATO countries. Making sure that our allies can manoeuvre around defeat and prepare to prevail.