Head of Maritime Autonomy

Head of Maritime Autonomy

Location: Home based
Salary: Competitive plus benefits
Schedule: 37.5 hours per week

Ready to impact a better future?

As the Head of Maritime Autonomy in our Defence team, you’ll lead the development and delivery of cutting‑edge maritime autonomy capabilities that support vital UK Ministry of Defence objectives. You’ll guide multidisciplinary teams and shape programmes that influence how autonomy enhances Anti‑Submarine Warfare, Mine Countermeasures, and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance operations — contributing to solutions that have a meaningful, positive impact on national security and future maritime innovation.

Your work will help advance autonomous technologies from concept to real‑world delivery. You’ll play a central role in strengthening collaboration with customers, international partners, and industry stakeholders, setting standards for operational excellence, innovation, and high‑quality programme delivery across our Maritime Services portfolio.

What you’ll do as a Head of Maritime Autonomy

You’ll be entrusted to:

• Lead and inspire cross‑functional teams of autonomy specialists, engineers, and programme managers.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with partners and customers, including international stakeholders.
• Oversee the delivery of autonomy projects, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives, budgets, and milestones.
• Shape and guide bidding activity by providing expert insight into autonomy capability and delivery.
• Act as the principal point of contact for customer engagement and programme shaping.
• Translate strategy into operational delivery, including the development of the Autonomy Task Force roadmap.
• Ensure smooth transition of autonomy solutions from concept through to operational service.
• Champion innovation, operational excellence, and continuous improvement across all programmes.
• Provide senior leadership and escalation for autonomy‑related issues within the business and with customers.
• Maintain strong governance, compliance, and adherence to regulatory and ethical standards across autonomy activities.
• Lead internal and external communication initiatives that promote Serco’s autonomy capability.
• Foster a high‑performing culture grounded in collaboration, learning, and positive impact.

Does this sound like you?

You’ll be a great fit for this role if you have:

• Proven leadership experience within complex, multidisciplinary environments.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, with confidence engaging senior customers.
• Experience delivering autonomy or technology‑focused programmes in maritime, defence, or related sectors.
• Solid financial and commercial acumen, including overseeing budgets and business cases.
• Strong analytical, planning, and problem‑solving capability.
• Knowledge of regulatory frameworks for autonomy and emerging technologies, including ITAR.
• Desirable experience in systems engineering, autonomous platform control systems, military communication systems, AI, ASW systems, or regulation of autonomous operations.

Vetting and checks:

This role requires Security Check (SC) clearance, which involves detailed background checks on employment history, criminal record and financial circumstances to confirm your suitability for working in secure environments. Please note that UK residency requirements may apply for certain levels of clearance. You will also complete an Occupational Health Questionnaire so we can identify and provide any support you may need to undertake the role effectively.

Discover all you need to keep growing

We’re one of the top 1% of international employers, so you can have confidence you’ll be part of a highly supportive culture with leaders you can count on to help you achieve your goals. From mentoring and training to our focus on internal progression, we’re proud to offer clear development opportunities – and the support and tools to help you seize them.

What we offer

• Holidays: 25 days plus bank holidays (and the option to buy up to five additional leave days each year)
• Pension: Up to 6% contributory pension scheme
• Bonus: A performance‑based bonus scheme
• Company car: A company car or cash alternative
• Private medical insurance
• Training and development: Over 1,100 internal courses available, funding for qualifications and apprenticeships (including L3 Team Leader and L5 Operations Manager apprenticeships), mentoring opportunities, and a focus on internal progression
• Health and wellbeing: Employee Assistance Programme, Bupa Anytime HealthLine, wellbeing app, 30% off at Serco‑managed leisure centres, and 24/7 access to a virtual GP service
• Discounts: Discounts across around 1,000 retailers, from food and clothing to days out, entertainment and travel
• Charity: Paid volunteering day, tax‑free charitable giving through Payroll Giving Scheme, donate your pennies from your monthly pay to the Serco People Fund Charity
• Employee networks: Our networks support inclusion and connection by providing spaces for collaboration, learning, and belonging. They represent and empower all our colleagues including LGBTQIA+ employees, women, parents and carers, people with disabilities, veterans, and people from all cultural backgrounds.

Let’s impact a better future, together. Apply today.

To discover more about our careers in Defence, meet our team, and to find out more about what we offer, please follow this Link. We’re also a signatory of the UK Governments Women in Defence Charter, to find out more please click here.

Please click on the apply button to complete your application. Occasionally we receive a large volume of applications for our roles and when that happens, we sometimes bring the closing date forward, so please apply promptly to avoid disappointment. 

At Serco, we see people first and foremost for their performance and potential. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that supports the needs of all. As such we will make reasonable adjustments at interview through to employment for our candidates and strongly encourage applications from a diverse candidate pool. We are open to discussions around flexibility and flexible working. As a proud Disability Confident Leader and holder of the Gold Inclusive Employer Standard, disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at an interview. 

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