Aerospace & UAV Systems

James Bray

R&D Contractor

I design, prototype, and deploy end-to-end systems from firmware to flight.

Available for contracts
Get in touch View projects
James Bray

01 — About

About Me

See more of my background on my CV page

01

Background

I am an Aerospace MEng graduate specialising in UAV system software. I have a range of past projects and upcoming contracts, giving me a wide field of applicable knowledge, making me highly adaptable to new challenges. I drop into cross-disciplinary teams, move fast between system design and hands-on build, and ship working results.

02

What I Do

I design, prototype, and deploy end-to-end engineering systems. Operating across the full workflow, I integrate complex firmware with physical hardware, build real-time embedded controls, and optimise system architectures. By leveraging simulation tools and AI automation, I eliminate technical bottlenecks and ship high-performance, intelligent products.

03

What's Next?

I'm taking on short-term, high-impact R&D contracts to build a wide skill set and network across the industry before I advance into long term goals.

Eventually, when the time is right, I'd like my own company focused on future-facing, meaningful projects. Until then, I am helping engineering teams solve their hardest problems, one system at a time.

02 — Featured

Highlighted Projects

See more of my projects on my project page

XPRIZE thumbnail

Autonomous UAV Swarm for Wildfire Response

Sep 2025 – May 2026

  • Wrote my Masters Dissertation on novel approaches to wildfire searching with swarms
  • Deployed in Alaska to implement and test my code on a fleet of autonomous UAVs
  • Engineered a novel thermal detection refinement method to localise fires with 1m accuracy
  • Profiled system architecture to identify critical network bottlenecks and mitigate them
  • Conducted rapid hardware-in-the-loop testing cycles in a 38h non-stop development sprint
  • Contributed to an academic paper on sensor methodology and optimisation techniques
VTOL Quadplane thumbnail

VTOL Quadplane Design Build and Test

Sep 2024 – May 2025

  • Led the design and integration of the full avionics system for a modular VTOL UAV platform
  • Designed open-plan, modular electronics layout with accessible connections for maintainability
  • Implemented ironbird avionics testbed to verify systems before final integration
  • Supported system-level integration ensuring plug-and-play compatibility across subsystems
  • Optimised cooling layout by externally mounting ESCs and positioning components for airflow
  • Collaborated cross-functionally with flight dynamics, structures, and integration teams
Quadcopter thumbnail

Quadcopter Design Build and Test

Sep 2023 – May 2024

  • Won the contract for the lightest flying drone out of a cohort of 31 teams
  • Led control team, optimising flight behaviour through PID controller BetaFlight
  • Developed parametric propulsion performance models to optimise motor-propeller pairing
  • Modelled a digital twin in Fusion 360 to ensure consistency during manufacture
  • Used topology optimisation to optimise the strength-to-weight ratio of the frame
  • Manufactured drone using laser cut or 3D printed parts, and soldered electronics
UKSEDS thumbnail

UKSEDS Student Rocketry Competition

Sep 2022 – May 2023

  • Designed and 3D printed a whistling rocket nosecone using Fusion 360 and Prusa
  • Developed an avionics bay using Teensy 4.1, GPS, IMU, and environmental sensors
  • Managed a £300 budget across design, avionics, and recovery systems
  • Produced a full technical report and performance evaluation for the UKSEDS competition
  • Simulated flight dynamics using OpenRocket to ensure maximum apogee
  • Handled subteam conflicts regarding rocket dimensions and features