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Aerospace and Defence
KDC Resource has been operating in the aerospace and defence sector since 2002. We work with the world’s leading defence and civil aerospace companies to source and place high quality permanent and contract talent. We understand organisations like these need the finest engineering talent in order to help them develop some of the most sophisticated technologies in the world. We are currently engaged in finding leading technical talent for projects – among others – that are linked to the national defence of the United Kingdom. Our specialist team have successfully supported our clients find leading talent for roles across: Part 21 J, Certification, Cabin Interiors, Design, Avionics Design, Structures, Electrical Design, Compliance Verification Engineer (CVE), Head of Design, Airworthiness and EASA. KDC Resource is actively working on similar roles requiring industry leading professionals to fulfil roles at all levels. Scroll down to learn more. Or if you’d like to partner with KDC to support your talent search then click here to learn more.
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Space
The private Space sector is relatively young. The decommissioning of the Space Shuttle Programme was an opportunity for private businesses to support NASA with its operations both in orbit and beyond. Elsewhere in the world organisations are pioneering new satellite technologies, unmanned probes and innovative new ways to combat space junk. KDC Resource are proud to be working with a number of these organisations providing highly skilled technical talent into Flight Dynamics, AOCS, Earth Observation, GNSS, Mission Operations, Ground Segment and Payload. Our specialist recruitment consultants are actively searching for industry leading professionals to fulfil roles at all levels including Systems Engineers, Payload Engineers, AOCS Engineers, Product Assurance Engineers, RF Engineers and Control Engineers. Or if you’d like to partner with KDC to support your talent search then click here to learn more.
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Emerging and Disruptive Technologies
The world is always changing and that brings new opportunities and new innovations. At KDC Resource, our emerging and disruptive technologies team works with organisations that upset the status quo. Whether that’s how we travel or how we use technology to revolutionise mundane tasks. We have recruited for roles across the eVTOL, Urban Mobility, Electric Vehicle, Drone, Energy, Battery Technology, Autonomous Systems and Composite Structure markets. Including roles such as Battery Systems Engineers, Flight Control Law Engineers, AI Software Developers, Prototype Engineers, Autonomous System Engineers, and Safety and Reliability Engineers. Our specialist recruitment consultants are actively searching for industry leading professionals to fulfil roles at all levels. Or if you’d like to partner with KDC to support your talent search then click here to learn more.
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Cyber Security
Cybersecurity is one of the fastest growing industries in the world. Cyberattacks are becoming increasingly common and businesses of all sizes are struggling to muster a meaningful defence. There are genuine concerns that critical infrastructure could be targeted by hackers or by enemy states in event of a conflict. Which is why finding the best cyber security and technology specialists takes experts. We are proud to work with some of the market leaders in this vital industry to find top tier candidates to fulfil cybersecurity roles at every level. Roles we recruit for include: Penetration Testers, Ethical Hackers, Security Analysts, Cyber Security Architects, Software Engineers, Technical Project Managers, AI Engineers, Sales Managers and Cyber Account Executives. Our specialist recruitment consultants are actively searching for industry leading professionals to fulfil roles at all levels. Or if you’d like to partner with KDC to support your talent search then click here to learn more.
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What we do
We work with industry leaders in aerospace, defence, space, emerging and disruptive technology and cyber security to source the best technical and engineering talent on the market.
We train our specialist recruitment consultants to find the right mix of skills, experience, and personality to ensure the perfect candidate and client placement.
Over 150,000 candidates trust us to manage and fulfil their career aspirations.
We’re committed to giving candidates and clients the best possible recruitment experience. That’s why KDC Resource is accredited by the REC & AUG and certified to BS EN ISO 9001 standard.
Latest News
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The Feasibility of eVTOLs for Emergency Medical Response
Image Courtesy Kittyhawk. Following on from our earlier post about the applications of eVTOLs, it is worth considering one area where they could revolutionise practices: emergency medical response. Considering responders already use air ambulances, it should be a minor adjustment to switch to eVTOLs. But, will it be that easy, and what companies are testing the technology to understand its feasibility? Companies Testing eVTOL Medical Response Units The most obvious place to start is with Volocopter, a company leading the way in many aspects of eVTOL application. In 2019, it tested the use of its eVTOL in a staged medical emergency. During the test, it transported a paramedic from a hospital to the scene of an accident. Alongside, Volocopter ran numerous computer simulations to understand the concept in more detail. The result was a lengthy feasibility study published in 2020. Its conclusion states that emergency medical response is a prime area for eVTOL use because they address several limitations of current response vehicles. But, Volocopter is not the only company investigating this application. Healthcare company Falck announced a partnership with Kitty Hawk to produce a new framework for its Heaviside eVTOL. In short, the project will turn the eVTOLs into emergency response vehicles equipped with the services you would expect from an ambulance. The purpose is to increase availability (particularly in remote areas) and decrease response time. Urban Aeronautics, an Israeli eVTOL company, has already signed a contract for medical response versions of its CityHawk. Partnering with Hatzolah Air, the eVTOLs will serve as urban medical response with enough room for a pilot, two emergency responders, a patient and equipment. Considering Hatzolah Air already operates fixed-wing emergency response aircraft, this will be a natural adjustment for it to make. Benefits and Limitations of Emergency Response eVTOLs The benefits of using eVTOLs as emergency response vehicles are clear. First, they run on clean energy, which might not be a primary concern, but is worth mentioning. Second, they are flexible, responsive vehicles particularly suited to urban environments (some, at least). They should offer faster response times than ground ambulances, especially in busy areas. But, the same limitations apply here as in other eVTOL applications. Currently, there are restrictions on the weather conditions in which eVTOLs can fly. Volocopter mentions this in its study, stating how strong wind and rain and thunderstorms prevent eVTOLs from functioning properly. It is a particular concern when carrying passengers with life-threatening injuries and could impair the eVTOL’s ability to take off, land, and fly safely. Also, eVTOLs may be limited in the medical services they can provide. While UA’s CityHawk has room for up to four people, Volocopter’s eVTOL has room for two. It will likely mean that these will provide initial medical response while waiting for an ambulance, much like motorcycle paramedics do. Then there is the required ground infrastructure for operating eVTOLs. This might not be a major concern, as many hospitals already have helicopter landing pads. But, eVTOLs require charging, meaning hospitals would need to adjust accordingly. The New Medical Response? It is unlikely that eVTOLs will overhaul medical response services in any significant way. Their application will fit into a similar role as air ambulances or motorcycle paramedics. We will still see ground ambulances and helicopters, and eVTOLs will probably fit somewhere in the middle. Considering the limitations of eVTOLs based on available technology, it will be far in the future before we see meaningful use in emergency medical response. Once we have eVTOLs capable of carrying larger payloads with more compact propulsion apparatus, perhaps we will see them completely replace ground ambulances.
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2022 Will be the Next Step Towards Investigating Life on Mars
Image Courtesy European Space Agency. The ExoMars project, run by the ESA and the Roscosmos Space Corporation, is their leading project looking for life on Mars. Although it began in 2001, it has so far only launched once, in 2016. But, this is all set to change in 2022 with the launch of Rosalind Franklin, ExoMars’s second rover. What changes were made since the first design, and how will it attempt to fulfil the ExoMars mission? What is ExoMars? Short for Exobiology on Mars, ExoMars is an astrobiology programme run by the ESA and the Roscosmos Space Corporation. It was initially conceived as part of the ESA’s Aurora Programme before Russia became a full partner in 2013. Its mission, while not simple, is straightforward. ExoMars plans to look for signs of life on Mars by: Investigating the planet’s water and geochemical environment Study atmospheric trace gases and their sources Test and demonstrate technology necessary for a sample-return mission. A sample-return mission is one where, unsurprisingly, the craft returns Martian samples to Earth. Currently, rovers test samples on-planet and are restricted by available technology, time, and budget. But, returning the samples to Earth is believed to be one of the most important missions, as it will demonstrate the technology necessary to launch manned flights to Mars. The first mission launched the Trace Gas Orbiter satellite and a soft-landing module, which unfortunately failed. The orbiter has already proved valuable: it has detected methane in Mars’s atmosphere and helped select an appropriate launch site for the Rosalind Franklin rover. The Rosalind Franklin ExoMars’s rover, the Rosalind Franklin, has been in the works since 2005. Due to numerous setbacks, it had a launch date of 2020. However, the ESA announced early that year that there were further tests needed on its lander mechanisms and flight software. As a result, the launch date was again postponed until 2022. When it does eventually land on Mars, its data will be invaluable. It is a six-wheel autonomous rover equipped with numerous scientific instruments, along with a two-metre sampling drill. Its lab suite is known as a Pasteur analytical laboratory that includes an infrared spectrometer, a neutron spectrometer, a close-up imager for studying rocks, x-ray, a laser spectrometer, and an infrared hyperspectral microscope. In short, it contains all the necessary equipment for investigating signs of water and organic molecules in its collected samples. The rover will land at Oxia Planum, a site believed to have contained some body of water. Construction of the Rosalind Franklin took place at Airbus Defence and Space in Stevenage. In theory, we are now in the final stages of testing and calibration, so hopefully the new launch date will go ahead. Understanding Mars The importance of Mars to human development is becoming clearer than ever. But, if we ever plan to settle the planet, we must first understand more about its history. The only way to do this is with incredible projects like the ExoMars rover. Hopefully, it will discover data that complements existing knowledge about the planet and bring us one step closer to expanding our relationship with Mars.
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Will Volocopter Win at the 2024 Paris Olympics?
Image Courtesy Volocopter. It is by now widely known that Volocopter plans to have its eVTOL certified and operational by the 2024 Paris Olympics. As things stand, it will be the first eVTOL in use in Europe, and likely worldwide. Considering its publicity, we have plenty of information available about how this will look. So, let us dive into Volocopter’s plans for air taxi dominance at the Paris Olympic Games. What are Volocopter's Plans? Volocopter will use its VoloCity autonomous eVTOL as a taxi between the Olympic Village and stadiums. To achieve this, it will need Vertiports at the relevant locations, and, of course, full certification from France’s Civil Aviation Authority. The company tested its Volocopter 2X prototype at the recent Paris Air Show, where it flew for roughly three minutes. It is the first step in France’s eVTOL market strategy and is an important step towards integration in the Paris Olympics. It is unclear whether the public will use these air taxis, as current discussions only involve the Olympic Village. Full rollout will depend on myriad factors, including how well the city of Paris adjusts to the concept of eVTOLs. But, this might be an easy change to make. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency identified Paris as one of the most promising cities for eVTOL integration. It is mainly due to its layout, airport proximity, and metropolitan attitudes. As a result, it has put together 30 companies to create the Re.Invent Air Mobility initiative. Volocopter’s plans for the Olympics are simple but hold massive potential. It will be the main taxi service for athletes travelling to their events. As each eVTOL can hold two passengers and luggage, it could mean hundreds of eVTOLs in use at once. If nothing else, this will be a publicity stunt that could propel Volocopter into first place in the eVTOL race. The Benefits for Paris and the Olympics Using eVTOLs as the main vehicle for athletes has great potential for both Paris and the Olympics as a whole. First, it is an eco-friendly method of transportation, which will work in the Olympics’ favour. Due to the current sustainability score of the Olympic Games, switching to electric vehicles is a smart choice. Then, there are the benefits for Paris. Being one of the first cities to have commercial eVTOL infrastructure will be a big draw for both the public and other eVTOL companies. Cities may struggle to certify eVTOLs, and Paris would already have this in place. In the early stages of the eVTOL race, this could make all the difference. But, there are some drawbacks to this plan. While Volocopter has completed a test flight in a commercial capacity, it only has three years to finalise its design, receive certification, and produce the required vehicles. This is not much time in the grand scheme of things. That said, certification will probably be the main delay. Volocopter likely has a good idea of how many eVTOLs it needs, and it has a deadline, so production should be less of an issue. We must return to the sustainability aspect again, however. A common concern for the Olympics is what happens to the facilities once the games are over. Often, buildings get left for years before being sold and reused. Will the same be true for Volocopter’s eVTOLs? Hopefully not, but it is a possibility. Aiming for Gold at the Olympics These minor drawbacks aside, Volocopter has a clear plan for success. Being the sole supplier of air taxis at the Olympics will draw public attention and will hopefully change the minds of anyone sceptical about this technology. It will be exciting to see it in commercial use, particularly at a world-renowned event like the Olympics.
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The Challenges Facing the Royal Navy’s Expansion
In a major reversal of recent trends, the UK government announced early in 2021 that it was investing in the Royal Navy again. The 2021 Integrated Review laid out the government’s plans for more ships, new weapons, and future-proof technology. But, as we might expect, such a plan presents significant logistic and budgetary challenges. Challenges of Expanding a Fleet The most glaring issue with these plans is balancing them against the government’s proposed budget cuts for the Armed Forces. While these mainly apply to day-to-day spending, an audit in 2020 highlighted a £13 billion gap between spending and budget. Even though the budget will see an increase in the coming years, this money must come from somewhere. A similar issue will be catching up with the budget cuts from previous years. Four of the Navy’s Type 45 destroyers are currently laid up due to maintenance and servicing. Whether this is a direct result of budget cuts is unclear, but it is a sign that the Navy’s current Surface Fleet is aging. Replacing in-service ships with a new fleet is expensive and time-consuming. Currently, there are three new classes of ship in production, but we won’t see all of these in service until the 2030s. This means the Navy must rely on current ships for a decade, resulting in further maintenance and delays. Similarly, it will mean a decline in active ships during the 2020s, possibly to as little as eight frigates. As we discussed in a previous post, the Navy plans to move towards autonomous technology for mine hunting and other dangerous operations. It is a sensible move, but will mean a shorter lifespan for technology, and therefore faster turnaround between vessels. For example, current mine hunter ships entered service in the 1980s. After nearly 40 years, they still do their job as intended. Of course, the technology is aging but is not outdated or replaced in the same way as autonomous technology. Perhaps one of the most minor challenges will be creating a workforce to build these new ships. The Navy plans to build its three new frigate types in British shipyards, and we can only hope there will be a talented workforce ready to jump into the roles when construction begins. The Royal Navy on the World Stage The 2020s are probably going to be a challenging decade for the Royal Navy. Its plans to revolutionise its fleet will put it in a much stronger position on the global stage, but there are still many years to go. Of course, the UK has never had a massive naval fleet compared to other countries. The proposed expansion will not change this; it would be unreasonable to assume otherwise. But, what the Royal Navy lacks in size it makes up for in technology. It has always been a leader in technological warfare, and that will remain the case in the future. Considering the Navy competes with the likes of China, Russia, and the USA with a fleet almost a tenth of the size, it is in a fairly strong position. Overhauling the naval fleet in this way is a bold choice and is fraught with challenges. Of course, it is necessary to keep the UK in such a strong position compared to other global players. The strategy’s success will depend on careful planning and budgetary control, so it will be interesting to see how it plays out.
