Payload Trials Lead

Please include your salary expectations and notice period with your application.

The Maritime Operations Payload Trials Lead owns the safe planning, delivery and close-out of assigned maritime payload trials, from workshop integration and shoreside verification through to on-water testing, acceptance and operational handover. Working across Maritime Operations and Engineering, the postholder will coordinate trial documentation, readiness, vessel and payload interfaces, safety controls, personnel, evidence capture and defect resolution. The role also requires the authorised operation of uncrewed surface vessels and manned craft, supported by strong practical seamanship and relevant maritime trials experience.

• Own the maritime testing of every assigned payload from approval into the workstream through workshop integration, on-water proving, acceptance and operational handover. 
• Act as the primary Maritime Operations point of contact for payload test planning, readiness, execution, evidence and close-out. 
• Participate directly in workshop installation, integration, inspection and functional testing to build sufficient technical familiarity before any on-water activity. 
• In collaboration with the business payload team, help develop and maintain a controlled payload test strategy and associated test documentation, including objectives, prerequisites, configurations, methods, acceptance criteria, dependencies, limitations and evidence requirements. 
• Gather complete and accurate technical, operational and safety information to support task-specific risk assessments, method statements, trials plans, emergency arrangements and permissions. 
• Plan the personnel, vessels, test areas, support assets, equipment, weather limits, communications and logistical arrangements required for safe and effective trials. 
• Prepare and lead payload trials readiness reviews, confirming that documentation, configuration, competence, permits, resources, communications, emergency arrangements and acceptance criteria are in place. 
• Produce and deliver clear on-water briefs covering the trial sequence, safety controls, operating limits, roles and responsibilities, communications, contingencies, stop-work authority and evidence requirements. 
• Own payload trial activity afloat, maintaining operational control of the test programme and coordinating closely with the Vessel Master or nominated person in command. 
• Operate USV platforms, payload control systems and manned support vessels within personal competence, company authorisation and approved operating procedures. 
• Ensure all trial data and evidence are captured accurately, time-correlated, securely stored and traceable to the relevant requirement, test step, vessel and payload configuration. 
• Lead post-trial debriefs, assess results against acceptance criteria and produce clear test reports identifying outcomes, limitations, defects, actions, lessons and recommendations. 
• Coordinate defect investigation, corrective action, regression testing and retest with Engineering and programme stakeholders through to documented closure. 
• Support customer demonstrations, formal acceptance events and deployment preparation, providing clear payload readiness and performance information to stakeholders. 
• Develop repeatable payload test processes, templates, checklists and lessons-learned practices that improve safety, consistency, traceability and delivery efficiency. 

• Current commercially endorsed RYA Yachtmaster Offshore qualification 
• Substantial experience in a comparable maritime, systems integration, vessel trials, test-management or commissioning role. 
• Proven competence operating manned vessels in support of trials, including safe navigation, seamanship, crew coordination and emergency response. 
• Practical experience operating, supporting or trialling USVs, remotely controlled craft or other complex maritime systems. 
• Experience producing and controlling test plans, test procedures, risk inputs, readiness-review packs, briefs, checklists, evidence records and test reports. 
• Strong working knowledge of marine risk assessment, safe systems of work, emergency planning, dynamic risk management and stop-work principles. 
• High standard of technical writing, record keeping, data integrity, configuration control and evidence management. 
• Clear and authoritative communication skills, with the ability to brief personnel 
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel, work afloat and support trials outside normal working hours when operationally required. 

• Experience with defence, naval, autonomous, prototype, first-of-class, workboat or high-speed craft programmes. 
• Knowledge of UK maritime regulation, vessel coding, harbour authority requirements and the approval of trials involving innovative or autonomous systems. 
• Experience with requirements verification, acceptance management, configuration control, defect management and structured evidence repositories. 
• Experience integrating mission systems, sensors, communications equipment, launch-and-recovery systems or other specialist maritime payloads. 
• Relevant instructor, assessor, incident-investigation, human-factors, first-aid or marine safety qualifications. 
• Experience supporting customer demonstrations, formal acceptance trials and operational deployments. 

• This is a practical, hands-on role working across the workshop, shoreside facilities and on the water, with time also spent preparing plans, reports and trial evidence. 
• You will work closely with Maritime Operations, Engineering, Systems Integration, Production, QHSE and programme teams, taking clear ownership of assigned payload trials from initial planning through to acceptance and close-out. 
• The role is based in Segensworth, Hampshire, with regular travel to vessels, test locations, customer sites and operational areas as required. 

• Take ownership of complex maritime payload trials and see your work progress from workshop integration through to live on-water proving and operational handover. 
• Work at the point where practical seamanship, engineering and autonomous maritime technology come together. 
• Help shape repeatable trial processes, standards and ways of working as our maritime capability continues to develop. 
• Join a collaborative team where sound judgement, professional challenge and safe delivery are valued.

• 25 days holiday per year, plus paid bank holiday
• After two years’ consecutive service, one additional day’s annual leave up to a maximum of five additional days annual leave
• Holiday buy/sell, up to five days per calendar year
• Flexi working, core hours 10:00 to 15:00, subject to departmental requirements
• Private Medical Insurance with optional family cover
• Pension scheme with a 5% employer contribution, there is no cap on the employee contribution level
• Life assurance 3x salary
• Group Income Protection
• Health Care Cash Plan
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Electric Car Scheme
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) providing mental health and wellbeing support
• Professional membership reimbursement

Due to the nature of our work many of our roles require a UK nationality and the ability to obtain a security clearance.  Applicants who accept a conditional offer of employment must meet the requirement of right to work in the UK and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information and will be subject to Government security checks.

Kraken Works Limited is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.  We are committed to maintaining a workplace that is free from unlawful discrimination and offers equal opportunities to all.  Applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, and marriage and civil partnerships.