Payload Integration Engineer

Senior Electrical Payload Integration Engineer – UAS & Avionics – West Wales (Hybrid)

💼 Permanent | Full-Time 🚀 Defence | UAVs | Avionics | Autonomous Systems This role will be joining a rapidly growing defence technology business developing advanced uncrewed and autonomous platforms, and we're looking for a Senior Electrical Payload Integration Engineer to join its expanding UK engineering team. This is a hands-on electrical integration role where you'll contribute to, and potentially lead, the electrical design and functional integration of complex mission payloads onto high-performance UAS platforms. You'll work closely with avionics specialists, systems engineers and payload manufacturers, integrating sophisticated sensor and communications payloads for demanding defence and security applications. What you'll be working on

• Designing and implementing custom electrical interfaces, wiring harnesses and power-routing networks for sensor and communications payloads
• Integrating complex electrical/electronic payloads with UAS aircraft and avionics systems
• Performing Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testing, bench evaluations and signal-integrity checks
• Analysing electrical power budgets, distribution architectures and high-speed data networks
• Diagnosing and resolving complex electrical, EMI/EMC and communications issues during bench integration and flight-line trials
• Working with UAS flight-control ecosystems including ArduPilot and PX4
• Producing engineering documentation including ICDs, wiring diagrams and test procedures
• Working closely with avionics, systems and payload specialists through integration, testing and validation What we're looking for
• A strong background in electrical/electronic design and hands-on systems integration, ideally within UAS, aerospace or defence
• Practical experience with wiring harness design/routing and ArduPilot/PX4 integration
• Degree in Electrical/Electronics Engineering or a related discipline, or a relevant Modern Apprenticeship supported by HNC/HND qualifications
• Good understanding of EMI/EMC, grounding, power distribution and electrical testing Experience we're particularly interested in includes: UAS / UAV | Avionics Integration | Payload Integration | ArduPilot | PX4 | Wiring Harnesses | Electrical Design | DroneCAN | MAVLink | Ethernet | RS-232 | RS-422 | RS-485 | EMI/EMC | Power Distribution | HIL Testing | Altium | Eagle Why consider it?
• This is an opportunity to join a fast-growing engineering organisation developing advanced UAS technology for real-world defence and security operations.
• You'll have the opportunity to work hands-on with the aircraft, integrating sophisticated sensors, communications and mission payloads rather than working solely at schematic or component level.
• The environment moves faster than a traditional defence prime – short development timescales, changing priorities and plenty of complex engineering problems to solve.
• The package includes a highly competitive salary, discretionary annual bonus, up to 10% matched pension, private medical insurance, 25 days' holiday + Bank Holidays and hybrid working.
• Due to the nature of the work, applicants must be eligible and willing to undergo UK SC Security Clearance. Occasional UK and international travel may also be required.