AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE ENGINEER

Rolls-Royce; West of England; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous Annual Leave

Retirement Savings

Group Life Assurance

Group Income Protection

Employee Shares - matched

Job summary

Rolls-Royce Defence in Bristol is seeking an Aircraft Performance Engineer to assess propulsion systems and air vehicle performance across the product lifecycle. You will interface with customers and regulators, translate platform requirements into performance analyses, and contribute to safety and mission performance assessments using C++, Matlab, and Python where appropriate.

The role offers an opportunity to work on cutting-edge defence propulsion solutions within a high-velocity team,

Qualifications

• Degree in a STEM subject or equivalent engineering experience.
• Strong understanding of aircraft performance fundamentals.
• Knowledge of gas turbine performance or propulsion systems is beneficial.
• Experience with C++, Matlab and Python is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Assess P&PS in relation to aircraft operation and performance.
• Evaluate safety and operating limits of air vehicles.
• Analyze mission and in-flight performance across product life cycles.
• Interface with customers, government agencies and manufacturers.
• Develop and maintain toolsets and data for performance analysis.
• Communicate independent performance assessments to stakeholders.

Skills

C++

Matlab

Python

Education

Degree in STEM

Gas Turbines / Aero Industry degree advantageous

Job description

Job Description

AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE ENGINEER

Full Time

Bristol

Why join Rolls-Royce?

At Rolls-Royce we are proud to be a business that has truly helped to shape the modern world and are committed to always being a force for progress; powering, protecting and connecting people everywhere.

By joining Rolls-Royce, you'll have the opportunity to work on world-class solutions, supported by a culture that believes individuality is our greatest strength, and all perspectives, experiences and backgrounds help us innovate and enable our high-performance culture.

Position Summary:

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Aircraft Performance engineer in Bristol supporting our Defence business.

As an Aircraft Performance Engineer the candidate will be responsible for the assessment of the Power & Propulsion System (P&PS) in relation to the overall operation and performance of the associated Air Vehicle. This will include the evaluation and confirmation that the P&PS will be safe to operate under the constraints of the Air Vehicle and its environment, plus the assessment of mission and in-flight performance for the Air Vehicle. This role will cover the full life-span of the products, from initial conception and development, through in-service operation to out-of-service.

What you will be doing:

• • Aircraft Performance engineers will interface with Customers, Government Agencies and Aircraft Manufacturers in order to represent the interests of the propulsion system at the platform level.
  • Provide Rolls-Royce with a better understanding of the platform requirements and operation.
  • To convey platform operation in something meaningful to the propulsion system (e.g. mission generation / analysis)
  • Will provide Rolls-Royce with independent advice on all aspects of Air Vehicle performance and behaviour for a variety of airframe designs, applications and propulsion system architectures.
  • To perform assessments of future and current platforms to provide a view on the competitiveness of our products and those of competitors.
  • To maintain and develop toolsets, models and data in accordance with the needs of the Project and the Performance function.
  • To demonstrate an ability to continuously improve understanding and practices and share within the business.

Who we’re looking for:

• • You will be educated to degree level in a STEM subject and/ or have experience in a relevant engineering environment (Mechanical, Aeronautical, Electrical or Controls). Other qualifications, in combination with relevant experience, may also be considered. A Degree in Gas Turbines/ Aero Industry would be advantageous
  • Good understanding of aircraft performance fundamentals
  • Good appreciation of how a Gas Turbine works
  • A background in Gas turbine performance would be beneficial.
  • Ability to understand, generate and convey information from numerous sources into a consistent argument.
  • Knowledge of C++, Matlab and Python would be beneficial.
  • Ability to operate at different levels and to deal with different stakeholders and subjects.

Regional Benefits:

• Generous Annual Leave
• Retirement Savings
• Group Life Assurance provides for a lump sum benefit if you die whilst employed by Rolls-Royce
• Group Income Protection provides an income in the event that you are unable to work due to illness or injury
• Your Shares: Matched is a simple way to own Rolls-Royce shares and invest in our future, together. Buy one share, get one free!

Our vision is to ensure that the excellence and ingenuity that shaped our history continues into our future. Our multi-year transformation programme aims to turn Rolls-Royce into a high-performing, competitive, resilient and growing company. Join us, and it can be your future vision too.

Rolls-Royce are committed to being a respectful, inclusive, and non-discriminatory workplace where individuality is valued, diverse perspectives fuel innovation, and everyone can thrive.

To work for the Rolls-Royce Defence business, you will need to hold a Security Check (SC) clearance. Rolls-Royce will support the application for Security Clearance if you do not currently already have this in place.

Due to the nature of work the business conducts and the protection of certain assets we can only progress applications from individuals who are a UK national or, in MoD approved cases, a dual national.

As part of our selection process, candidates in certain locations may be asked to complete an online assessment, which can include cognitive and behavioural aptitude testing relevant to the role. If required, full instructions for the next steps will be provided.

Job Category

Mechanical Systems

Posting Date

30 Oct 2026; 00:10

Posting End Date

13 Nov 2026