Chief Design Engineer

• Lead or heavily contribute to airframe and platform design for the flagship stratospheric UAS programme
• Support aircraft configuration, layout, structures, mass properties, performance, and integration decisions
• Contribute to other customer programmes and internal productisation routes where aerospace design input is needed
• Work closely with technical teams across avionics, flight control, operations, software, productisation, and test
• Provide senior design judgement during trade studies, design reviews, and technical decisions
• Own or contribute to CAD, drawings, design rationale, configuration records, and engineering release packs
• Support design-for-manufacture, maintainability, operations, and field support
• Help resolve design issues during build, integration, ground test, and flight test

• Strong aerospace engineering background
• Experience designing aircraft, UAS, UAVs, air vehicles, or similar aerospace systems
• Strong mechanical, structural, aerodynamic, and integration judgement
• Experience with CAD, drawings, design documentation, and configuration control
• Understanding of mass properties, airframe integration, manufacturing constraints, and system integration
• Hands-on engineering mindset
• Flexibility to help shape team processes and engineering culture during a growth/facilities transition

Desirable Experience:

• Experience with fixed-wing, VTOL, hybrid UAS, HAPS, or stratospheric platforms
• Knowledge of lightweight structures, composites, advanced manufacturing, and rapid prototyping
• Understanding of aerodynamic analysis, performance modelling, flight-test support, or flight data interpretation
• Use of advanced simulation and optimisation tools
• Familiarity with aviation safety, airworthiness, certification, or regulated design environments
• Experience in building design processes, review discipline, and engineering standards in a growing team

• Permanent role within a leading aerospace company
• Opportunity to work on cutting-edge aerospace projects
• Professional development and training opportunities
• Supportive and collaborative work environment
• Comprehensive employee benefits package