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- Tasks: Design and manage systems for innovative aircraft technology.
- Company: Join a passionate startup transforming aviation near Salisbury.
- Benefits: Significant equity, competitive salary, unlimited paid time off.
- Why this job: Be a founding engineer and shape the future of aviation technology.
- Qualifications: Deep knowledge of systems engineering and aeronautical background required.
- Other info: Immediate impact in a dynamic team with growth opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
A small and focussed team has been developing our prototype aircraft for technical demonstrations and seed fundraising in Q1 2026. Now in receipt of 2 separate grant funding awards, Flyer is expanding our 3-person founding team with 3 key, critical roles. You will join this incredible team, onsite, working directly with the founder and our expanding team to take Flyer from tech startup to global phenomenon over the next 5 years.
LOCATION
We are currently located near the beautiful and vibrant city of Salisbury, in Wiltshire. A move early next year to premises nearer Bristol or London is under consideration.
What you'll be doing
As a founding engineer for Systems and Safety Engineering at Flyer AI, you'll own the design. Specifically:
- Requirements Management: You will capture and manage the requirements for the entire system, from the flight controller to our proprietary autonomous winch system (the "Puck") and Detect & Avoid (DAA) computer vision systems.
- Architectural Trade-offs: You will help make critical decisions on hardware selection (e.g., sensor redundancy vs. weight) to keep the aircraft under our 15kg target.
- Regulatory Pathfinding: You will support the generation of the Operational Authorisation from the CAA, helping us move from the A3 Open Category into the Specific Category.
- The Safety Case: You will lead the safety assessment process which will lean on aspects of ARP4761, helping to define how we handle failures and manage emergency procedures.
Our vehicle is not just an aircraft - it is a complex robotic system integrating multiple sensors and processors, and executing multiple functions.
What we're looking for
We are not looking for ordinary people. We're looking for passionate, driven and enthusiastic team members who dream of doing impossible things with technology, and changing the world around us. Team players who live our values: passion, commitment, courage, integrity, and trust.
- Deep knowledge of systems engineering principles.
- Structured yet Agile - you can implement systems engineering processes (Vmodel, requirements tracing) that are lightweight enough for a startup but robust enough for aviation.
- A detail-obsessed mindset who thrives on comprehensive analysis and planning, and spots the single point of failure that everyone else missed.
- Intuitive problem-solving skills and first-principles thinking.
- Knowledge of ARP 4761, SORA Methodology, CAA and overseas drone aircraft regulations.
- Aeronautical engineering background.
- Experience in flight testing of piloted or UAV systems.
- Familiarity with commercial / open source UAV flight controllers and firmware.
What you'll get
- Significant Equity – as a founding team member, you will own a significant stake in the future we are building.
- Immediate Impact - you will be one of the first 6 employees, shaping the engineering culture from day one.
- Competitive salary – an initial stipend plus salary uplift following Q1 2026 fundraising.
- Unlimited paid time off – take what you need, when you need it.
Founding Engineer – Systems and Safety Engineering in Salisbury employer: Flyer AI
Contact Detail:
Flyer AI Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Founding Engineer – Systems and Safety Engineering in Salisbury
✨Tip Number 1
Get ready for that Q&A session with our LLM interviewer! Brush up on your systems engineering principles and be prepared to discuss your experience in flight testing. We want to see your passion and problem-solving skills shine through!
✨Tip Number 2
Show us your enthusiasm for the role! When you’re chatting with us, share your dreams of doing impossible things with technology. We’re looking for team players who embody our values of passion, commitment, courage, integrity, and trust.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t forget to highlight your detail-obsessed mindset! Talk about how you’ve tackled complex problems in the past and how you approach requirements management. We love candidates who can spot the single point of failure that others miss.
✨Tip Number 4
Finally, make sure to apply through our website! It’s the best way to get noticed by our team. We’re excited to meet passionate individuals who are ready to help us take Flyer from a tech startup to a global phenomenon!
We think you need these skills to ace Founding Engineer – Systems and Safety Engineering in Salisbury
Some tips for your application 🫡
Be Yourself: When filling out your application, let your personality shine through! We want to see the real you, so don’t be afraid to show your passion for technology and innovation.
Tailor Your Responses: Make sure to tailor your answers to reflect the specific skills and experiences that align with the role of Founding Engineer. Highlight your knowledge of systems engineering principles and any relevant projects you've worked on.
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills: We love a good problem-solver! Use your application to demonstrate how you've tackled complex challenges in the past, especially in aeronautical engineering or flight testing.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, it shows us you’re serious about joining our team at Flyer.
How to prepare for a job interview at Flyer AI
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on systems engineering principles and the specific methodologies mentioned in the job description, like ARP4761 and SORA. Being able to discuss these topics confidently will show that you're not just a fit for the role, but that you're genuinely passionate about the field.
✨Show Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare to share examples of how you've tackled complex problems in the past. Think about situations where you had to make architectural trade-offs or manage requirements under pressure. This will demonstrate your intuitive problem-solving skills and first-principles thinking.
✨Emphasise Teamwork and Values
Since they're looking for team players who embody passion, commitment, courage, integrity, and trust, be ready to discuss how you've worked effectively in teams before. Share stories that highlight your collaborative spirit and how you align with their values.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare some thoughtful questions about the company's vision, the challenges they face, or the specifics of the role. This shows that you're not only interested in the position but also invested in the company's future and your potential impact within it.