The picture is strong, and it keeps improving. MOD expenditure with industry supported a total of 272,000 direct jobs in 2023/24, an increase of 11% compared to the previous financial year MOD supported employment estimates 2023/24 - GOV.UK. That builds on earlier momentum, when the total number of MOD-supported UK jobs reached 239,000 in 2022/23, an increase of 6% on the previous financial year MOD supported employment estimates 2022/23 - GOV.UK.
Recruitment appetite is rising too. The defence sector continued to be an attractive employer, with surveyed recruitment growing by 17.8% in 2022 Defence sector continues contributing significantly to UK economy - GOV.UK. For anyone building a team in uncrewed systems, that tells you the talent market is active and the sector is expanding, not contracting.
Fresh investment is translating directly into jobs. More than 1,700 new jobs are being created across the UK defence sector following at least £1.4 billion in foreign direct investment committed since July 2024 Defence dividend delivers thousands of UK jobs following exceptional foreign investment - GOV.UK. Uncrewed systems sit at the centre of this growth, and they draw on a broad mix of skills.
Think beyond the aircraft or the vessel itself. These programmes need software and autonomy engineers, systems integrators, data analysts, test and evaluation specialists, remote operators, and the support and manufacturing roles that keep platforms flying and sailing. Many of these skills overlap with the wider technology sector, which widens the pool of people you can hire from.
Start with clarity. Define the role, the clearance level and the must-have skills before you advertise, so you don't lose strong people to a vague brief. Security vetting takes time, so plan your timeline around it and keep good people warm while checks run.
Then cast a wider net. Many uncrewed systems skills come from robotics, aerospace, software and data backgrounds outside defence, so screen for transferable ability rather than a defence-only CV. Move quickly once you find the right person, because in a growing market good people get snapped up fast. A clear, respectful process is your best advantage.
When you're hiring for uncrewed systems roles, speed and reach matter. We search a database of 15 million candidates to surface people who match your brief, and we manage the process end to end so you can focus on the technical side of each hire. Our recruitment agent manages recruitment end to end for 8% on a successful hire, with no monthly fee and no upfront cost. Ready to build your uncrewed systems team? Reed.ai can help you start today.
