Chief Pilot

Chief Pilot, London

We seek to move the world forward through innovative thinking.
Woolpert is an award‑winning, global leader in architecture, engineering, and geospatial services. We blend design excellence with cutting‑edge technology to deliver exceptional client value, and as a certified Great Place to Work®, we embrace progress and innovation to create limitless opportunities for career growth.

As part of Woolpert, Murphy Geospatial – A Woolpert Company contributes deep geospatial expertise across Europe, supporting complex infrastructure, property, manufacturing, utilities, and natural‑environment projects through world‑class data capture, verification, and governance.

Position Overview

Murphy Geospatial, A Woolpert Company is seeking an experienced Chief Pilot to provide operational leadership and technical assurance for our UAS flight operations across the UK. This is a key aviation safety role, responsible for ensuring that all flights are planned, authorised and conducted safely, legally and in accordance with Woolpert’s Operations Manual and CAA permissions. You will maintain pilot standards, oversee aircraft airworthiness and support the safe delivery of high-quality survey projects from initial planning through to flight completion.

What You Will Do

Flight Operations & Regulatory Compliance

• Act as the legal Accountable Manager ensuring compliance with UK CAA regulations, the company Operations Manual and all applicable permissions and exemptions.

• Review and approve flight plans, operating sites, airspace requirements, risk assessments and emergency procedures before deployment.

• Maintain the Operations Manual and support applications, variations and renewals for Operational Authorisations, SORA and other regulatory approvals.

Operational Planning & Execution

• Provide technical direction to remote pilots and project teams during mission planning and flight operations.

• Confirm that proposed aircraft, sensors, pilots and operating methods are suitable for each task and operating environment.

Safety, Airworthiness & Standards

• Promote a strong aviation safety culture and ensure that incidents, occurrences and near misses are reported, investigated and communicated appropriately.

• Maintain oversight of aircraft registration, maintenance, firmware, defects, serviceability and flight records to ensure fleet airworthiness.

• Monitor changes to UAS legislation, CAA guidance and industry good practice, updating operational procedures where required.

Pilot Competence & Training

• Assess, authorise and periodically review remote pilot competence, currency and operating limitations.

• Maintain pilot training, qualification and flight-time records and coordinate recurrent training and competency checks.

• Provide coaching and technical guidance to remote pilots, sharing lessons learned and standardising safe operating practice.

• Ensure pilots receive appropriate project, site and equipment briefings before undertaking flight operations.

Technical & Project Support

• Advise project teams and clients on flight feasibility, operating constraints, permissions, platform selection and safe methodology.

• Support tender and project planning activities with accurate operational assumptions, risk controls and programme requirements.

• Liaise with clients, landowners, air traffic services, airports and other stakeholders where required to enable safe flight operations.

Continuous Improvement

• Evaluate new aircraft, sensors and operating techniques, ensuring that changes are risk assessed, tested and incorporated into controlled procedures before operational use.

• Review operational performance, audit findings and lessons learned to improve safety, consistency and efficiency across UAS operations.

What You Will Bring

• Relevant qualification or substantial professional experience in UAS, aviation, geospatial, surveying or a related discipline.

• Minimum three years’ commercial UAS experience, including significant recent operational flying experience.

• Current CAA GVC/RPC-01 and evidence of recent, relevant UAS flying hours.

• Detailed knowledge of UK UAS regulation, CAA guidance, Operational Authorisations, operational risk assessment and Operations Manual requirements.

• Proven experience planning, authorising and supervising complex commercial UAS operations, including client and stakeholder engagement.

• Strong knowledge of UAS platforms, sensors, command-and-control systems, flight-planning software and operational limitations.

• Demonstrable experience maintaining pilot competency, aircraft airworthiness and operational records.

• Experience operating in complex or safety-critical environments, including National Highways and Network Rail (desirable).

• Full clean UK manual driving licence.

• Willingness to travel to project sites.

• Right to work in the UK.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office.

• Membership of an appropriate professional or aviation institution (desirable).

Key Attributes

• Safety-led, disciplined and confident in stopping or restricting operations where standards are not met.

• Passionate about the UAS and geospatial industries.

• Self-motivated, technically credible and committed to continuous improvement.

• Strong planning, record-keeping and priority-management skills.

• Clear and authoritative communicator, able to influence pilots, project teams, clients and regulators.

• Sound judgement and decisive risk-based decision-making under operational pressure.

• Commercial awareness, with an understanding of programme, budget and client requirements without compromising safety or compliance.

Benefits You Will Love

At Murphy Geospatial – A Woolpert Company, you’ll join a collaborative and innovative team where your expertise makes a real impact. Our benefits include:

• Competitive salary with a comprehensive benefits package aligned to your experience
• Access to cutting‑edge geospatial technology and industry‑leading tools
• Flexible working options designed to support work–life balance
• Enhanced wellbeing support, including employee assistance initiatives
• Opportunities within a growing, globally connected organisation through our partnership with Woolpert
• Earn the opportunity to become an owner of the firm.
• Performance‑related bonus scheme that rewards your contribution

Equal Employment Opportunity

Woolpert is an equal‑opportunity employer committed to full inclusion of all individuals. We recruit, train, and promote without regard to protected characteristics. For more information, see our EEO resources.

Applicants requiring accommodation during recruitment may contact MGS.talentteam@woolpert.com

Agency Notice

Please do not contact any employee of Woolpert or its subsidiaries about this requisition. Agencies not engaged by the Woolpert Talent Acquisition Team will not be eligible for fee payment.