UAV Flight Systems Operator
22 days ago
Maidenhead
Job Title: Command Unit Operator Location: Maidenhead, Berkshire Salary Range: Negotiable The Malloy Aeronautics Team: Malloy Aeronautics Limited specialises in the development of heavy lift unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) for both civilian and military uses. Located in Berkshire, our operations are notable for their focus on in-house design and manufacturing. This vertical integration means we control the production of most aircraft components on-site, enhancing our ability to innovate and maintain high standards across all stages of development. About The Role: Acts as a Control Unit Operator (CUO), supporting the preparation, execution of UAV flight operations across both prototype and production platforms. Responsible for configuring aircraft systems, charging and managing batteries, preparing ground equipment, and ensuring readiness for safe deployment. Monitors aircraft performance in-flight, designs autonomous flight profiles, and handles post-flight data logging to support system validation and delivery readiness. Collaborates with flight test engineers, production teams to troubleshoot issues and verify system functionality. Ability to hold Security Clearance – 5 years residence in the UK What you’ll being doing (but not limited too): • Operates UAV command unit interfaces (GCS, telemetry, tracking) and provides live feedback to remote, • Pilots regarding flight operation validating expected performance and identify anomalies., • Attend trials and supports demo flights with potential customers on and off site (UK and Abroad), • Support root cause analysis of test failures or performance issues by correlating flight logs, sensor data, and pilot input, • Prepare and configure UAV platforms for flight testing, telemetry, and system calibration, • Support the execution of flight test plans in collaboration with Pilots, engineers, and operations teams, • Collect and download flight data using tools such as log viewers, MissionPlanner, QGroundControl or custom scripts, • Assist in planning test events, and setting up ground control equipment and test instrumentation, which may involve liaising with engineers and technicians, • Conduct post-flight reviews, document results, and support the generation of structured flight test reports, • Contribute to the continuous improvement of test procedures, flight readiness checks, and data validation methods, • 1+ years’ experience with UAVs and experience with Mission Planner or Q Ground Control preferred, • Basic understanding of UAV flight dynamics, subsystems (e.g. propulsion, flight control, telemetry), and test instrumentation, • Hands-on ability to perform field repairs, and basic system troubleshooting, • Strong technical communication and documentation skills for writing test reports and feedback summaries, • Detail-oriented and safety-conscious, with a methodical approach to test and flying execution, • Team-oriented, with the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, field-based environment, • Good organisation skills including adaptive planning, • Very safety conscious around aircraft and batteries Desired Skills and Experiences • Basic scripting experience (e.g. Python or MATLAB), • Ardupilot / mission planner / QGC, • Familiarity with flight test planning, test point development, and validation methodologies Benefits you may be eligible for: • Working Environment: 9-day fortnight:, • Company Pension Scheme, • Discretionary Employee Incentive Bonus Scheme, • Employee Share Incentive Plan (BAE Systems), • Company Sick Pay, • Maternity and Paternity Enhanced Leave, • Healthcare Cash Plan including Virtual GP, Dental Cover, Vision Cover, Discounted Gym Membership, and much more! Free coverage for children under 2 years old., • 20 days Annual Leave, increasing with long service, • Employee Assistance Programme (24hr Helpline), • Mental Health First Aiders, • Cycle to Work Scheme, • Casual Dress Our company benefits from a streamlined process where engineering teams are involved in the entire lifecycle of our UAVs - from initial design through to production. This setup not only speeds up the development process but also improves the efficiency and effectiveness of our product launches. We value professionals who have a background in both research and development (R&D) and design for manufacture, as their expertise is crucial to our rapid and precise product development cycle. Malloy Aeronautics employees will be subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors including your nationality, any previous nationalities you have held, and your place of birth may limit those roles you can perform for the organisation. Malloy Aeronautics is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We also want to make sure that our recruitment processes are as inclusive as possible. If you have a disability or health condition that may affect your performance in certain assessments or interviewing, please speak to your recruiter about potential reasonable adjustments. Note: If you have not heard from our recruitment department within 14 days, unfortunately you have not been successful. Malloy Aeronautics and BAE Systems may process information about you that may be subject to data protection laws. For more information about how we use and protect your personal information and your rights, please refer to our Privacy Notice.
