Professor of Engineering - Drones and Autonomous Vehicles

Do you have the vision to lead the design of one of the UK’s first degree level courses preparing engineers for the age of drones and autonomous vehicles? NMITE is building on its distinctive, hands-on model to develop new courses that meet a growing national and industrial demand for expertise in autonomy and unmanned systems.

You might be a senior academic with a passion for learning and teaching rather than a traditional research academic career. You might have a track record of programme leadership in UAVs, robotics, aerospace, or autonomous systems. You’ll have significant experience of curriculum design and development in higher education, and a desire to be part of building something new within NMITE’s innovative pedagogical model. You may also have significant industry experience and strong professional networks, with a desire to build something new in higher education. The post holder will connect widely with our industrial partners who collaborate with us on building our curriculum and delivering our teaching.

Above all, you have the passion, leadership and creativity to establish NMITE as the UK’s hub for drone and autonomous vehicle education.

Who are we?

NMITE is a pioneering teaching-focused UK Higher Education provider, founded to rethink engineering and technology education. Our mission is to positively impact the region and the nation by producing graduates with the technical knowledge, professional skills, creativity, and social awareness to tackle the challenges of tomorrow.

We have no lecture theatres, and we don’t assess learning through traditional examinations. Instead, we teach through active, project-based, hands-on learning, in partnership with employers and communities. Our ethos is inclusive, collaborative, and focused on developing engineers who can think and act across disciplines.

The UK Government’s Defence Industrial Strategy calls for urgent action to build skills and capabilities in drones and autonomous technologies. NMITE is responding to this moment by seeking to develop an innovative new degree level courses in drone and autonomous vehicle technologies. – and we are looking for a senior academic who will take the role of Programme Development Leader to make it happen.

What are we looking for?

We are seeking a senior academic leader to:

• Design, establish and lead NMITE’s new course development in drones and related technologies to address the national priority for skills in this area. The design of any new programme will result from extensive consultation with industry and other stakeholders.
• Shape a curriculum that blends technical excellence with practical, ethical, and societal impact.
• Inspire prospective students and recruits through challenge-led, industry-linked, project-based learning.
• Build and grow partnerships with employers, government, professional bodies, and other universities.
• Position NMITE nationally as a leader in drone and autonomous vehicle education, consultancy, and applied innovation.
• Mentor colleagues and students, developing an ambitious, inclusive and learner-centred academic culture.

Responsibilities of the Role

• Lead the specification, design, development, and delivery of the programme.
• Ensure the programme is industry-relevant, nationally distinctive, and academically rigorous.
• Develop external relationships that strengthen NMITE’s position and create opportunities for students and staff.
• Promote knowledge transfer, consultancy, and applied innovation, generating impact beyond the classroom.
• Champion interdisciplinary, hands-on learning across engineering and technology.
• Contribute to NMITE’s institutional leadership and growth, supporting our mission as a game-changer in UK higher education.

Qualifications & Experience

Essential

• Professorial level or senior teaching experience in UAVs, aerospace, robotics, autonomous systems, mechatronics or a closely related discipline.
• Either a Ph.D.in an engineering discipline, ideally mechanical engineering, or demonstrable similar experience in independent thought and leadership.
• Professorial title, or be close in your career to achieving that standing
• Evidence of successful curriculum design and development, and programme leadership.
• Strong record of external engagement with employers, government, or professional networks.
• Demonstrated ability to teach, inspire and mentor at undergraduate and taught postgraduate levels.
• Commitment to innovation in teaching, inclusivity, and applied impact.

Desirable

• Chartered Engineer (or equivalent professional registration).
• Track record in knowledge exchange, consultancy, or applied research.
• Experience with novel pedagogies, curriculum innovation, and interdisciplinary programme development.

Our Values & Behaviours

NMITE aims to be a game changer. Its staff must be able to balance the need to create a well-run, self-critical institution where good governance and rigorous quality controls are in place, with the need to test (and push) the boundaries of existing practice to create new approaches to engineering education. The way we work together is crucial to this mission and our values and behaviours must reflect this.

Our values:

• Grit and determination. We will be determined in everything we do, demonstrating the staying power needed to see things through.
• Inclusivity. We will respect every individual and every voice will be equally important. We will have a community of students learning with people from a variety of backgrounds and our staff team will be equally diverse.
• Creativity and learning. We will test the boundaries of existing practice and find new ways of doing things. We will always seek to justify the “new” in our title. We will try new things with humility, accepting mistakes and learning from them. We will always seek to learn from experiences by sharing openly what went well and what went wrong.
• Honesty. We will always be courteous and respectful but also honest and straightforward when dealing with each other. We will not hide from uncomfortable truths and staff will be provided with the information they seek to do their jobs and to be well informed about our progress.
• Curiosity. We will encourage scrutiny from each other and welcome questions from any colleagues – whoever they are and whatever their role. Communication will always be assumed to be a two-way process. Colleagues should always ask for information they feel they need that is not being provided and we will always listen to each other.
• Aligned. We will always work to advance the institution’s mission, and its core aims, whatever our role. We will challenge work that does not align with our mission.

Our Benefits

NMITE offers a rewarding and dynamic environment with small-group teaching and a workload model that supports all of the activities above. Academic staff can access a personal development budget, developmental support from senior staff across NMITE, a promotion pathway and a sabbatical scheme. NMITE is a young organisation where your impact will be visible and your voice will be heard, and you will be an instrumental part of NMITE’s growth. Be part of it.

We offer a competitive benefits package, including salary of £67,928 - £81,022, plus:

• Pension scheme
• Life assurance
• 30 days holiday (plus Bank Holidays & closure days & additional day off for your birthday)
• Flexible working arrangements
• Westfield Health & Rewards with optional private medical insurance

This is a full-time, permanent role, based in Hereford.

How to apply

Please email explain why you are a good fit for the role in the form of a covering letter or a video of up to 4 minutes and a full CV via the 'Apply' button (e: vacancies@nmite.ac.uk).

Informal questions about the roles can be addressed to Samantha Lewis, Director of People & Operations, by email to samantha.lewis@nmite.ac.uk. For any informal conversations, our CEO, James Newby, or Academic Director, Prof Gary Wood will also be available for informal discussions about the role. To arrange this, please email samantha.lewis@nmite.ac.uk

Our Commitment to Inclusive Recruitment

As part of our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, NMITE guarantees an interview to the following applicants, provided they meet the essential criteria for the role:

• Candidates who indicate they have a disability, in line with our membership of the Disability Confident scheme.
• Candidates who indicate in their application that they are an Armed Forces Veteran or Reservist, as part of our pledge to support the Armed Forces Covenant.

The closing date for completed applications is 3^rd November 2025.

Please note: we may close the vacancy early if we receive a high number of strong applications, so early applications are encouraged.

We particularly welcome and encourage applications from candidates from groups traditionally underrepresented in education.