Junior UxV Hardware Systems Engineer

This hands-on role involves contributing to the CAD design, physical assembly, workshop prototyping, and field testing of autonomous unmanned aerial systems and payloads under the direction of senior engineers.

Be at the leading-edge of our exciting technology 

ISS Aerospace is an established UK company that designs, builds, and operates cutting-edge Unmanned Aerial Systems for a wide range of international clients and industry applications.

Our fully integrated UAS are BVLOS capable.  They are designed to collect, rapidly process, and deliver meaningful information during autonomous operations in challenging environmental conditions.

Our approach harnesses deep expertise, collaboration, innovation focused on customer needs, quality, rapid in-house iteration, and production.  We are proud to have achieved several UAS world firsts on our journey so far. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

We’re looking for a hands-on hardware engineer to join the UxV team and help build the unmanned systems we ship. You’ll get time on real platforms, work alongside experienced engineers, and grow fast in a team that actually puts products into the field.

We’d love someone with unmanned systems experience already, but a solid foundation in aerospace, mechanical or electrical engineering plus a real appetite to learn the domain is just as welcome. Strong graduates and engineers with a couple of years in industry are both a good fit — we’ll pitch the level and the day-to-day scope to where you are.

You will be part of a small but growing team of software/hardware developers and engineers creating a world-changing solution.  

You like making things, and you especially like making things that actually work. You ask questions when you don’t know, and you don’t mind being wrong — that’s how you get better. You enjoy being in a small team where what you do visibly ends up in a real product.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Contribute to the hardware design of UxV platforms and payloads — CAD models, electrical harnesses, component selection, drawings and BOMs.

• Build, assemble and integrate prototypes and early production units in the workshop. Expect to spend real time at the bench.

• Support bench, environmental and flight/field testing — set up rigs, run tests, capture data, help track down issues.

• Pick up sub-system ownership as you grow — motors and ESCs, sensors, radios, cameras, tethers, power or comms — under a senior engineer‘s direction.

• Investigate and fix problems methodically when hardware doesn’t behave: measure, reason, document, not guesswork.

• Keep the paperwork honest — specs, drawings, build sheets, test notes. Future-you and future-colleagues will thank present-you.

• Work alongside software, firmware and operations colleagues at ISS, and with our partners at OSL on joint ISSOS work.

• Learn the craft: design reviews, feedback, trade-off discussions — all of it. The aim is that you grow into a senior role here over time.

WHAT YOU’LL BRING

• Degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical/electronic, mechatronic or a closely related engineering discipline — or an equivalent hands-on track record.

• Anywhere from a strong graduate profile up to around four years of relevant industry experience.

• Comfortable with 3D CAD (Fusion360/Solidworks or similar) and/or schematic capture — ideally some of both.

• Properly hands-on: you can read a circuit diagram, solder neatly, use common workshop and lab tools, and you’re not afraid to pick up a screwdriver.

• Methodical problem-solving and reasonable comfort with data.

• Clear written and verbal communication — when something breaks or looks wrong, you surface it early.

• Genuine interest in unmanned systems and the physical side of engineering.

NICE TO HAVE

• University or personal projects involving drones, robots or autonomous vehicles — RC aircraft, FPV builds, Rover/Pixhawk, FSAE, robotics competitions, all count.

• Familiarity with autopilots (ArduPilot, Pixhawk) or ground control stations.

• Some exposure to RF, comms links, tethers, wireless power transfer, or IoT/LoRa.

• Basic scripting (Python, MATLAB) or C/C++ embedded experience.

• A full UK driving licence and willingness to travel to test sites.

BENEFITS

We’re still growing and there’s plenty of opportunity to grow alongside us, as well as influencing the our direction.  We think that we offer a competitive benefits package:- 

• 28 days holiday (pro-rata), plus bank holidays 

• Free coffee, tea and snacks 

and after completing your probation period 

• Private Pension contributions 

• Share Options 

ISS Aerospace is an equal opportunity employer and values a diverse and inclusive workplace.  All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, colour, religion, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status or any other characteristic protected by law. 

Due to the nature of our business, all employment is subject to necessary references being obtained, attainment of a security check and relevant clearances and as applicable, a medical assessment.