Head of UAV Integration

Our client is seeking a Head of UAV Integration to lead the industrialisation and final integration of unmanned aerial vehicle platforms within the defence and security sector. Based in London, the permanent role will oversee distributed European production and integration activity, supporting the transition from engineering-led and prototype builds to controlled, repeatable and scalable production.

Key Responsibilities:

Own the end-to-end UAV integration process, from component receipt and final assembly through commissioning, factory acceptance testing, production release and handover.
Lead European integration activity from the London office, maintaining effective engagement with production locations in Poland, the Netherlands and other partner sites.
Coordinate mechanical, electrical, electronic, avionics, propulsion, payload and mission systems integration.
Act as the key interface between engineering, supply chain, logistics, quality, programme management, production teams and external integration partners.
Establish clear daily and weekly operating routines covering build status, shortages, engineering queries, configuration, testing and recovery actions.
Own integration and build-readiness planning, including tooling, facilities, documentation, resources, materials and test equipment.
Drive standardisation of build processes, work instructions, tooling, documentation, configuration control and production testing.
Identify integration risks early, assign clear ownership and drive critical actions through to resolution.

Job Requirements:

Significant hands-on experience in engineering, manufacturing, systems integration, production engineering, new product introduction or industrialisation.
Strong multidisciplinary engineering understanding across mechanical, electrical and electronic systems.
Experience taking complex physical products from prototype or development builds into controlled, repeatable production.
Practical knowledge of bills of materials, technical drawings, engineering change, configuration control, work instructions and traceability.
Understanding of non-conformance and deviation management, commissioning, factory acceptance testing and production release processes.
Excellent interaction and communication skills, with the ability to align distributed teams, suppliers and external partners.
Strong prioritisation, problem-solving and decision-making abilities, with a practical and proactive approach to resolving issues.
Experience leading multidisciplinary teams in an entrepreneurial, fast-moving engineering or manufacturing environment.

Desirable Background:

Relevant experience may have been gained in UAV, aerospace, defence, Formula 1, motorsport, advanced automotive, robotics, autonomous systems, space or other low-volume, high-complexity manufacturing environments. A degree or equivalent qualification in aerospace, mechanical, mechatronics, automotive or a related engineering discipline would be advantageous.

Additional Information:

London-based role with leadership responsibility across European production and integration locations.
Regular travel to EU production sites, including Poland and the Netherlands, will be required.
Occasional travel to the United States may also be necessary.
The role will support the development of repeatable, traceable and scalable UAV production capability.
If you are an experienced engineering or manufacturing leader with a strong background in UAV integration, industrialisation and cross-functional interaction, apply now to take on this opportunity within the defence and security sector