At SYOS, we’re building the next generation of autonomous vehicles across air, land and sea. Our UK maritime team is growing, and we’re looking for a USV Chief Pilot to operate USVs during commissioning, research and development trials, demonstrations, exercises and customer activities, providing experienced operational input and ensuring safe and effective use of the platform and its autonomy capabilities.

The USV Chief Pilot will lead the development of USV operator standards, competence and training, while providing expert operational support across commissioning, trials, demonstrations and customer activities.

Working closely with Maritime Operations, Engineering, Product and Software teams, you’ll help shape and validate new USV capabilities and ensure they are delivered safely and effectively into operational use.

The role will involve regular travel within the UK and internationally (up to 3 weeks at a time) to support demonstrations, trials, training activities, exhibitions, customer events, commissioning and operational deployments. 

What you’ll do:

• Develop, maintain and uphold company standards for safe, consistent and professional USV operations.
• Define operator competencies, proficiency requirements and assessment standards across platforms and operating environments.
• Oversee operator competence, identifying training needs and supporting individual development plans.
• Act as the technical authority for USV operating procedures, autonomy functions and operator best practice.
• Operate USVs during commissioning, trials, demonstrations, exercises and customer activities across manual, assisted and autonomous modes.
• Provide operational input into mission planning, risk assessments, test plans and operating procedures.
• Develop and deliver USV operator training programmes for employees and customers, including classroom and practical training.
• Create training materials, practical exercises and assessments, and assess and authorise operator competency.
• Develop instructors and qualified personnel to support the growth of the USV operator community.
• Support research and development programmes by providing operational expertise throughout the design, development and testing of new USV capabilities.
• Develop and execute operational test scenarios covering platform, autonomy, navigation, communications and mission capabilities.
• Capture operator feedback, trial observations, lessons learned and improvement opportunities, working closely with Engineering, Product and Software teams.
• Support the safe transition of new USV capabilities from development and trials into operational use.
• Lead the technical and operational delivery of USV demonstrations, exercises and customer trials.
• Brief operators, customers and exercise participants on USV capabilities, operating procedures, limitations and safety requirements.
• Work collaboratively with Commissioning, Maritime Operations, Engineering, Product, Software and Operations teams to ensure USVs are operationally ready and activities are delivered safely and effectively.

What you’ll bring:

• Strong understanding of maritime regulations, USV operations, vessel safety and applicable MCA/Workboat Code requirements. 
• Proven ability to act as USV Pilot in Command / Master, maintaining responsibility for vessel safety, operational decisions and compliance. 
• Extensive knowledge of manual, remote and autonomous USV operations, including navigation, COLREGs and collision avoidance. 
• Proven ability to lead and manage USV Pilots/Remote Operators and coordinate effectively across Engineering, Software, Commissioning and Operations teams. 
• Experience developing and managing operational plans, risk assessments, safety documentation, checklists, hazard logs and crew briefings. 
• Strong understanding of Safety Management Systems, hazard identification, risk mitigation and go/no-go decision making. 
• Strong cross-functional communication and operational coordination skills. 
• Ability to interpret USV telemetry, vessel logs and trial data and use findings to support safe operations and continuous improvement. 

Essential Qualifications & Training requirements:

• Minimum of Advanced Powerboat CoC.
• Experienced of operator different USV platforms.
• Has attended a MASS operator course. 
• Driving license with vessel towing experience.
• Experience is development written procedures and training plans.
• Experience leading small, highly skilled teams. 
• Experience in teaching / training.

As we continue to grow, we are recruiting across multiple functions and levels within SYOS. We encourage you to apply for the role that best matches your experience. However, during our review process we may identify other opportunities that could be a good fit for your skills and experience, and we may discuss these with you.

Why SYOS?

Join a growing team building real autonomous systems for air, land and sea.

You’ll have the opportunity to lead the electrical and avionics production of advanced autonomous maritime platforms while helping establish the processes, standards and culture that will support SYOS’s continued growth in the UK.

Lead the team. Integrate the technology. Build the future.

Apply now and help shape the future of autonomous marine systems.

Security Requirement

To be eligible for this role, you must be able to meet the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). This includes confirming your identity, legal right to work in the UK, recent employment history, and criminal record (unspent convictions only).

We are not accepting unsolicited CVs from recruitment agencies. Any CVs sent without prior agreement, including those shared directly with hiring managers, will be considered gifted and no fees will be payable.