Amazon recruits for UK drone engineers

Amazon has thrown more weight behind its plans to develop unmanned drones –“Octocopters” - to deliver orders to customers within half an hour.

The online retailer has advertised for Flight Operations Engineers based in Cambridge in the UK, who would be responsible for developing drone technologies.

The candidate must have at least five years of lead flight test experience, a degree in aeronautical engineering or a related field, and preferably experience in aircraft certification and aviation safety.

The drone delivery initiative, which Amazon is calling Amazon Prime Air, was first announced in December last year, with plans for drones powered by electric motors to fly through the air and deliver packages within a 10-mile radius from distribution centres. The drones would use GPS co-ordinates to drop packages at customers’ doors. However, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos said it could take up to five years for the service to start.

In April this year, Bezos said testing had already begun.

However US authorities have warned there may be regulatory issues surrounding the plans.