HEAD OF AUTONOMOUS AERIAL SYSTEMS

JOB OPPORTUNITY

Head of Autonomous Aerial Systems

DESIGNATION GMN-AERO-02

LOCATION ZONE Guimarães, Portugal

CONTRACT TYPE Full-time

SECURITY VETTING DIRECTIVE // MANDATORY REQUIREMENT

Requirements

This job position requires a mandatory National Security Clearance. Candidates must meet the essential NATO security requirements to be eligible for certification:

• ■ Nationality: Active citizenship of a NATO member state.
• ■ Background Check: Clean criminal record and a clean financial/legal history.
• ■ Vetting Authorization: Formal consent to personal, professional and security background vetting.

SUPPORT PROTOCOL: Gaman will actively assist the selected candidate throughout the vetting process and fully cover all associated costs. Please note that obtaining and holding this security clearance is a strict requirement for contract signature and onboarding.

01 / Objective & Overview

Directs the development, integration, testing and certification of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and autonomous aerial platforms for defence, security and dual-use applications. Oversees the full engineering lifecycle from concept design and aerodynamics through avionics, flight control laws, propulsion, and airworthiness compliance. Responsible for UAS certification strategy under EASA and NATO STANAG frameworks, and for the management of Gaman's aerial test and evaluation activities at the Cerval testing range.

02 // BASE FORMATION

• > MSc or PhD in Aerospace Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, or Flight Dynamics
• > Specialisation in autonomous systems, flight mechanics, avionics or UAV systems
• > Complementary training in EASA regulatory frameworks (Part-UAS, CS-LUAS), STANAG 4671/4703
• > Software qualifications in DO-178C, hardware in DO-254, and systems in ARP-4754A are valued

03 / Required Experience

• Minimum 5 years in aerospace engineering with at least 3 years in UAV/UAS development leadership
• Experience designing and integrating fixed-wing, rotary-wing, or hybrid VTOL platforms
• Track record of UAS product development from TRL 3 to TRL 8+, including flight test campaigns
• Demonstrated knowledge of autonomous flight control systems, GNC and sense-and-avoid
• Experience with defence or dual-use UAS procurement and qualification
• Knowledge of loitering munitions, ISR platforms, or tactical UAS systems is an asset

04 // TECHNICAL COMPETENCY INDEX

UAV AERODYNAMICS

FLIGHT MECHANICS

AVIONICS ARCHITECTURE

FLIGHT CONTROL LAWS

GNC / AUTOPILOT

PROPULSION SYSTEMS

STRUCTURAL DESIGN

SENSE & AVOID

MISSION PLANNING

EASA PART-UAS

STANAG 4671/4703

DO-178C / DO-254

PAYLOADS & EO/IR

DATALINKS & RF

GROUND CONTROL STATIONS

FLIGHT TEST & T&E