Defence Curriculum Technical Expert - Robotics UAS Full time (37 hours each week, all year-round) Temporary until 31/03/2029 Salary; Upto £43,672 per year plus benefits Location: Dearne Valley College, RotherhamPioneer the Next Generation of Autonomous Flight TrainingAre you an expert in autonomous systems, drone ecosystems, or aerospace robotics? RNN Group is seeking a forward-thinking Defence Curriculum Technical Expert (DCTE) in Robotics UAS (Unmanned Aircraft Systems) to head sector-leading training at our Defence Technical Education Centre (DTEC).
This high-profile role places you at the absolute cutting edge of aerospace and defence training, helping to bridge advanced industrial innovation with classroom delivery to future-proof the nation's technical workforce. Drive the Digital Edge of Defence Innovation
As the curriculum lead for Robotics UAS, you will serve as the primary technical authority for drone technology and autonomous hardware frameworks. Operating under a dynamic hub-and-spoke model, you will design and implement agile, employer-led training across EPYP (16-18), Adult Learning, Apprenticeships, and Higher-Level Skills.
Key Responsibilities:
- Industrial Co-Design: Partner alongside the Ministry of Defence (MoD), prime contractors, and tier ½ aerospace suppliers to engineer bespoke training packages.
- Staff Capability Building: Lead train-the-trainer initiatives and coach laboratory and delivery teams to confidently teach DTEC-developed robotics frameworks.
- Standard Enforcer: Establish, embed, and enforce the unified DTEC Technical Standard across regional spoke networks and training hubs.
- Horizon Scanning: Monitor fast-evolving autonomous flight roadmaps and industrial tech advancements to rapidly re-engineer modern schemes of work.
Who You Are We are looking for a highly adaptive, resilient subject specialist with high technical credibility and a passion for capability building. You may draw your experience from Further/Higher Education or an internal aerospace/defence training and L&D department. Essential Criteria: - Teaching Credentials: Recognised teaching qualification (PGCE, Cert Ed, or equivalent).
- Sector Expertise: Appropriate professional qualification in a relevant Robotics, Avionics, or UAS specialism.
- Curriculum Leadership: Strong background coordinating a course pathway, planning schemes of work, and managing IQA/moderation frameworks.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Exceptional ability to bridge technical capability gaps between MoD stakeholders, SMEs, and academic networks.
- Values-Driven: Highly committed to safeguarding, data protection, and building inclusive, accessible learning pathways into high-tech careers.
Note: Level 4 technical training, an assessment qualification (TAQA/A1), and leadership experience are highly desirable. We understand that no candidate will perfectly match every qualification or criterion listed. If your experience differs from what we've outlined but you believe you can contribute to this role, we encourage you to apply!
Department Info
Your line manager will be an assigned Curriculum Manager with separate reporting to the Group's DTEC Defence Lead. You will regularly report on your objectives on a range of KPI's including (but not limited to) student recruitment, retention, anticipated achievement, quality of curriculum, teaching and training, incremental progress, skills development, attendance and punctuality.
You will liaise with all staff that teach/support in your area of technical expertise, monitoring performance indicators and provide day to day guidance and support to Lecturers, assessors & associated teaching and support staff in your teams through, regular team meetings and PDR process.
You will be part of a Curriculum and Department team and will work with other teaching staff to develop and share good practice in the curriculum areas, which will include cross-campus and you may be required to participate in cross college teams or working groups on key projects.
Our excellent benefits and rewards package:
- Access to the Teachers pensions scheme (with employer contributions from 15.6% to 23.68%)
- Up to 50 days annual leave per year (35) including closure during Christmas period
- Access to our gyms, restaurants and salons
- Staff health & wellbeing and benefits schemes including in-house Occupational Health service
- Extensive wellbeing support through a digital Wellbeing Hub that offers a broad range of support for physical, mental, and financial wellbeing.
- Full, part time and flexible working hours available in many roles
- Free Parking available at all of our sites
- Fantastic career development opportunities including funding for teacher training, apprenticeships and various other industry recognised qualifications
- New FE teachers can also apply for grants of up to £6,000 in STEM subjects (conditions apply) through the teacher retention initiative
- Recruitment Referral Scheme for all employees, worth £200 per referral made
What is the RNN Group? RNN Group's main goal is to be an 'outstanding' education and training provider and this is at the heart of everything that we do. To help us achieve this we are looking to recruit highly motivated, innovative and dynamic individuals to join our existing teams. To be a part of the team at RNN Group we will expect you to be committed to our values too;
- We are Inclusive,
- We have Integrity,
- We Deliver,
- We are One Team.
We celebrate diversity and are proud to be recognised as Investors in Diversity for our commitment to the FREDIE (Fairness, Respect, Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Engagement) model, fostering a supportive environment for all. We welcome applications from everyone regardless of background, proudly participating in the Disability Confident Scheme, and provide reasonable adjustments.
The RNN Group is proud to be part of the South Yorkshire Institute of Technology (SYIoT).
As a newly designated Defence Technical Excellence College, RNN Group is proud to support the UK's defence sector by developing the next generation of highly skilled technical talent.
RNN Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. In line with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE), all appointments are subject to rigorous safer recruitment checks. Successful candidates will undergo pre-employment screening, including an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check (with Barred List check where applicable), online background checks, satisfactory references, and verification of identity, qualifications, and right to work in the UK.
The Group's core operating hours are 8.30am-5.00pm (9pm on a Tuesday and Thursday during term time). You may be expected to work at any time during these hours to ensure business needs are met.
All candidates must have the legal right to work in the UK.
Closing date: Monday 23 rd November 2026 - if you are shortlisted for this post, you will be contacted within a week of the closing date.If you require further information about this vacancy, please contact the HR department on 01709 722750 or recruitment@rnngroup.ac.uk
