At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead engineering for air platforms and turn operational lessons into reliable products.
- Company: UFORCE, a cutting-edge defence-technology company based in London.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, travel opportunities, and a chance to shape the future of defence technology.
- Other info: Dynamic startup environment with opportunities for growth and collaboration.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on global security with innovative air technology.
- Qualifications: Experience in UAS design, systems engineering, and leading multidisciplinary teams.
The predicted salary is between 75600 - 92400 £ per year.
UFORCE exists to make aggression unaffordable. Founded in Ukraine and headquartered in London, UFORCE is a defence-technology company with operations across Europe, the United States and Asia. UFORCE builds uncrewed vessels, ground robotics and aircraft, autonomy software, and the command-and-control layer that operates them together. Each platform is deployable on its own, and stronger as part of the system. Its product lines include the MAGURA family of uncrewed surface vessels, the NEMESIS family of strike platforms, the LIUT family of ground robotic platforms, and counter-UAS systems.
About the role
UFORCE is looking for a Chief Engineer, Air to lead the engineering of our Western-facing air platforms and turn operational lessons from Ukraine into reliable, manufacturable products that global customers can test, deploy and reorder. You'll own the technical baseline across the air portfolio, initially focusing on Platform N and expanding to other platforms sold outside Ukraine. You'll work closely with Ukrainian engineering teams to understand the wider Nemesis pipeline, translate field experience into product improvements and build a consistent view of configurations and engineering evidence across the portfolio. This is a hands‑on senior technical leadership role. You'll stay close to the hardware and the field, build a small engineering team, and bring engineering, manufacturing, supply chain and commercial partners together to deliver products at pace without compromising technical rigor. The role is based in the UK and involves regular travel to engineering teams, manufacturing sites, test ranges and customers. Reporting arrangements and travel expectations will be confirmed during the hiring process.
What You'll do
- Own the air portfolio's technical baseline.
- Establish controlled requirements, configurations, bills of materials and test evidence, starting with Platform N and extending across Western and Ukrainian air platforms. Put clear ownership and practical change control in place.
- Lead end-to-end systems engineering. Make and coordinate technical decisions across airframe, propulsion, power, avionics, flight control, communications, navigation, payload interfaces, software interfaces and ground systems, bringing in specialists where needed.
- Improve reliability and performance. Establish a disciplined failure-reporting and corrective-action process, investigate priority field and test issues, and demonstrate improvements against agreed requirements through repeatable testing.
- Turn operational lessons into product improvements. Work with Ukrainian engineering and field teams to understand what has worked, capture operator feedback and agree a prioritised design-change roadmap for Western variants.
- Build for repeatable production. Lead design‑for‑manufacture reviews and partner with manufacturing teams to release production‑ready engineering packages for US and allied sites.
- Strengthen the supply chain and cost position. Work with supply‑chain and compliance partners to assess component sourcing, qualification, capacity and critical supplier risks. Develop a unit‑cost roadmap and evaluate where components and systems should be built across UFORCE locations.
- Support go‑to‑market and customer delivery. Partner with Sales and Business Development on customer requirements, priority markets, product positioning and business cases. Provide technical input on configurations, capability claims, pricing, delivery and support assumptions.
- Prepare for trials and launch. Establish technical readiness gates covering demonstrations, compliance evidence, production readiness and handover to field support. Communicate product capabilities and limitations honestly to customers and test authorities.
- Set the direction and build the team. Work with founders, Ukrainian colleagues and global leadership to develop the air product roadmap. Hire and develop engineers, establish clear ownership and build the practices needed as the function grows.
Required Skill
- Experience leading the design and development of a complete UAS, with personal ownership of system-level technical decisions and demonstrated flight or field outcomes.
- Strong systems engineering judgement across airframe, propulsion, power, avionics, flight control, communications, navigation and software interfaces.
- Experience taking an aerial or comparable electromechanical product from prototype into repeatable production, including design for manufacture, configuration control and production testing.
- A track record of investigating field failures, identifying root causes and measurably improving reliability through verified corrective actions.
- Practical experience with applicable NDAA / Blue UAS sourcing requirements, restricted components and export‑control considerations, including qualification or re‑sourcing decisions.
- Understanding of how contested operating conditions, including GNSS denial, jamming and communications resilience, influence product requirements and testing.
- Experience supporting customer trials, competitions or tenders and communicating technical capabilities, limitations and risks to customers or test authorities.
- Experience hiring or developing engineers and leading multidisciplinary teams across organisational and geographic boundaries.
- Sound judgement on cost, performance, production readiness and supplier trade‑offs, with the ability to make decisions in an evolving startup environment.
- A hands‑on approach, clear communication and the ability to balance speed with appropriate engineering discipline.
- Willingness to travel regularly to engineering teams, manufacturing sites, test ranges and customers.
Nice to Have
- Direct experience working with Ukrainian UAS teams, products or operators.
- Experience with military or Ministry of Defence contracts.
- Experience with military or civil airworthiness, qualification or certification.
- Experience with payload integration or payload‑release systems.
- Experience coordinating engineering and manufacturing across multiple countries.
The nature of combat has changed. Tomorrow's battlefield success depends on autonomy, speed, and adaptability. And UFORCE is ready. Are You?
Chief Engineer, Air in London employer: UFORCE
UFORCE is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration in the defence technology sector. Employees benefit from comprehensive growth opportunities, hands-on experience with cutting-edge AI/ML tools, and the chance to contribute to impactful projects that enhance battlefield capabilities. Located in a vibrant area, UFORCE provides a supportive environment where your contributions are valued and recognised.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Chief Engineer, Air 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 UFORCE for a Chief Engineer, Air. 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 Chief Engineer, Air in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Technical Skills:When applying for the aerospace engineering role at UFORCE, 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 UFORCE, 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 UFORCE
✨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 UFORCE.
✨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 UFORCE. 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 UFORCE love seeing candidates who not only have technical skills but also fit well within their team culture.
