Head of UAV Integration in London

We are recruiting an Integration Manager for a rapidly growing UK autonomous systems business developing and manufacturing advanced UAV platforms for international defence customers.

This is a technically focused integration and delivery position responsible for bringing together airframe structures, mechanical systems, avionics, electronics, propulsion and associated sub-systems into completed UAV platforms.

We are specifically looking for someone who has previously been responsible for the physical build and integration of complex engineered products. If your background is primarily project management without significant engineering, manufacturing or integration experience, this is unlikely to be the right role.

The role involves taking ownership of UAV integration from the availability of components and major sub-assemblies through to completed, configured and test-ready aircraft. Working across engineering, production, quality, supply chain and specialist subcontractors, you will be responsible for ensuring aircraft are built to the correct specification, configuration, quality and delivery schedule.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Owning the end-to-end build and integration plan for complete UAV platforms
• Coordinating the integration of composite airframes, mechanical assemblies, avionics, electronics, propulsion and electrical systems
• Managing build sequence and ensuring components and sub-assemblies are available at the correct point in the integration programme
• Understanding and managing mechanical and electrical interfaces between aircraft sub-systems
• Reviewing engineering drawings, BOMs, build documentation and manufacturing instructions
• Ensuring the correct engineering configuration is maintained throughout aircraft build
• Working directly with engineering teams to resolve build and integration problems
• Managing engineering changes through the build process
• Investigating integration failures, non-conformances and recurring build issues
• Driving root-cause analysis and corrective actions
• Coordinating system-level testing and fault-finding activity
• Ensuring completed aircraft are ready for acceptance and subsequent customer delivery
• Managing production and quality engineering activity at subcontractor sites
• Driving subcontractor performance against technical, quality and delivery requirements
• Identifying integration and production risks before they impact programme delivery
• Improving build methodology, integration processes and manufacturing repeatability as volumes increase

The role involves working closely with integration partners in Poland and the Netherlands, so regular European travel will be required.

Essential experience

We are looking for candidates who can demonstrate significant experience in complex systems integration, vehicle/aircraft build or multidisciplinary manufacturing. You should have strong experience across several of the following:

• Integration of complex electro-mechanical products or platforms
• Aircraft, UAV, vehicle or similarly complex system build
• Mechanical assembly and installation
• Electrical and electronic systems integration
• Wiring looms, harnesses, connectors and electrical installation
• Avionics or embedded electronic systems
• Power distribution and electrical architectures
• Propulsion system installation/integration
• Structural and mechanical interfaces
• Configuration management and build configuration control
• Engineering drawings and technical documentation
• Bills of Materials / BOM control
• Engineering Change Requests / Orders
• Manufacturing and assembly instructions
• Non-conformance management
• Root Cause Analysis / corrective action
• Production engineering
• System-level fault finding
• Verification, test and acceptance activity
• Supplier or subcontract manufacturing management

Crucially, you need to understand how individual mechanical, electrical and electronic systems come together to create a functioning complete product.

Your background Direct UAV experience would be highly attractive, but it isn’t mandatory. Strong candidates could come from: UAV / UAS | Aerospace | Defence | Formula 1 / Motorsport | Advanced Automotive | Robotics | Autonomous Systems | Complex Electro-Mechanical Manufacturing.

We are particularly interested in candidates from environments where products are technically complex, build volumes are relatively low, specifications continue to evolve, engineering changes need to be introduced quickly, quality standards are demanding, and delivery deadlines cannot move. This makes Formula 1 and high-performance motorsport particularly interesting backgrounds alongside UAV and aerospace.

What we don’t need

This is not a pure Programme Manager, Project Manager or general Production Manager position. You must have enough technical and manufacturing understanding to walk onto an integration floor, understand what is preventing a system from being completed, challenge the relevant engineering discipline and drive the problem through to resolution. You’ll combine that technical credibility with the organisation and leadership required to keep multiple aircraft, suppliers, engineers and production activities aligned.

The opportunity

You’ll join the business at a point where it is moving from relatively low-volume builds towards significantly greater production. That means you’ll have the opportunity to influence how aircraft are built, integrated, configured, tested, released, and industrialised.

If you have previously taken responsibility for getting complex aircraft, vehicles or electro-mechanical platforms successfully through build and integration, we’d like to hear from you.