Professor​/Reader in Autonomous Air Transport Systems in Conjunction Saab

Overview

Organisation:
Cranfield University

Faculty or Department:
Faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences

Based at:
Cranfield Campus, Cranfield, Bedfordshire

Hours of work: 37 hours per week, normally worked Monday to Friday. Flexible working will be considered.

Contract type:
Permanent

Salary:
Professorial:
Competitive open band commencing from £76,345 per annum. Reader:
Full time starting salary is normally in the range of £60,099 to £69,505 per annum, with potential progression up to £85,000 per annum.

Posted Date: 19/01/2026

Apply by: 02/03/2026

Documents:

• 5220 - JD & Person Spec .pdf (PDF, 93.5kb)

The Faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences is seeking to appoint within the Centre of Assured and Connected Autonomy, a Saab sponsored Professor / Reader in Autonomous Air Transport Systems of international standing. The position will take up a leadership role in the faculty by bringing together research in autonomous air transport systems.

Saab UK is a British company that is part of Saab Group’s global high-technology operations. Saab offers world-leading solutions and services in defence, aviation, space and civil security. Saab UK brings together the best of Swedish and British innovation and engineering to provide customers with products and solutions that push boundaries for what is considered technically possible. Saab’s mission is to help our customers to keep people and society safe.

Saab’s partnerships with UK customers and industry enable the delivery of innovative solutions to complex challenges, anticipating the threats of tomorrow. Saab invest 23% of annual revenue into research and development, collaborating with a range of partners including industry and academia.

Specialisations within the UK include software engineering, autonomy, radar and sensing, underwater robotics, AI, and training. This role will work closely with Saab UK to help advance technology in areas such as autonomy, air systems, air traffic management, uncrewed systems, and sensors.

To be considered for this opportunity you will hold a PhD in a relevant discipline and have an internationally recognised track record in the field of Autonomous Air Transport Systems. This will be evidenced by high quality publications, and competitive research funding or senior level industry experience. You will have demonstrated experience in being able to negotiate, plan, develop and successfully implement strategic large-scale projects and win national and international research funding.

Due to the nature of this role, you will be required to obtain Security clearance (or eligibility) in line with UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) requirements.

As a specialist postgraduate university, Cranfield’s world-class expertise, large-scale facilities and unrivalled industry partnerships are creating leaders in technology and management globally. Learn more about Cranfield and our unique impact here.

The Centre has a long history of internationally leading research in uncrewed platform research (swarm drones, human-machine teaming) with major collaborations with aerospace and defence primes. It has key laboratories in drone platform experimentation, human-machine cockpit and mission command teaming, 6th Generation Open Radio Access Network national testbed, as well as an uncrewed air traffic management lab. It has 10+ academic staff members and approximately 15 research fellows, running several EPSRC and EU projects.

It also hosts 3 MSc courses:
1. Applied AI, 2. Autonomous Vehicle Dynamics & Control, and 3. Advanced Air Mobility Systems. These are supported by strong industrial partnerships and civil government stakeholders.

Our shared, stated values help to define who we are and underpin everything we do:
Ambition;
Impact;
Respect; and Community. We aim to create and maintain a culture in which everyone can work and study together and realise their full potential. We are a Disability Confident Employer and proud members of the Stonewall Diversity Champions Programme. We are committed to actively exploring flexible working options for each role and have been ranked in the Top 30 family…