Head of Flight Physics

AALTO; Farnborough; Hybrid; GBP 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday

Private medical insurance

Dental and optical cash back

Personal pension plan

Income protection and life assurance

Vehicle salary-sacrifice scheme

Employee assistance programme

Perkbox employee discounts

Job summary

AALTO, the Airbus Zephyr program subsidiary in Farnborough, seeks a Head of Flight Physics to lead aero‑dynamic and flight dynamics disciplines, design verification, and certification activities for the Zephyr platform.

You will mentor a team of three flight physics specialists, collaborate with Meteorology SMEs, and define simulations and robust onboard control laws to ensure safe, compliant flight.

Qualifications

• Engineering or Physics degree with proven experience.
• Experience with unmanned autonomous air systems.
• Familiarity with Flight Physics role within a wider Aerospace Company.
• Familiarity with Flight Control Clearance processes with a Certifying Authority.
• Demonstrable experience turning a system requirement into a complete design solution.
• Algorithm architecture and detailed design documentation writing skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of aeroelastic, flight dynamics and aero loads models, collaborating with SMEs and wider Airbus teams.
• Manage and develop the Flight Physics Team.
• Collaborate with Meteorology SMEs to capture environmental conditions and limits.
• Define and run computer simulations for Zephyr platforms (MATLAB/Simulink, CFD).
• Define robust contingency control laws to maintain safe flight.
• Define control laws & architecture for on-board automation systems (Flight Controls, Navigation, Sensor Management).
• Avoid over/under-specification; ensure software requirements are implemented to quality criteria.
• Establish qualification/verification processes through development, flight test.
• Create engineering design data packs, flight clearance reports and flight manual content.

Skills

Engineering or Physics degree

Unmanned autonomous air systems

Flight Physics in aerospace

Flight control clearance processes

System requirements to design solution

Algorithm architecture & design docs

Education

Engineering or Physics degree

Tools

MATLAB/Simulink

CFD/FEA tools

Job description

AALTO, a global leader in Stratospace, is an Airbus subsidiary that manufactures, operates, and delivers services with its solar-powered, stratospheric platform: Zephyr. Based in Farnborough, the role is full-time, permanent, 37 hours per week, hybrid, with no expected travel.

About the Role

As Head of Flight Physics, you will have overarching responsibility for the Zephyr Flight Physics activities needed to design, analyse, verify, and certify the aircraft, in the disciplines of Aerodynamics, Flight Control Laws, Flight Dynamics and Flight Loads. You will be responsible for motivating and empowering a team of three flight physics specialists.

Responsibilities

• Support the development of bespoke Aeroelastic, Flight Dynamics and Aero Loads models collaborating with other Subject Matter Experts within Zephyr and wider Airbus teams (including centres of competence).
• Manage and develop the Flight Physics Team.
• Collaborate with Meteorology SMEs to capture the environmental conditions and limits of the platform.
• Define and run computer simulations for the platforms (e.g. MATLAB & Simulink, CFD).
• Define robust contingency Control Laws to maintain safe flight.
• Define the Control Laws and Algorithm Architecture for the on‑board automation systems including Flight Controls System, Navigation System & Flight Sensor Management Systems.
• Avoid over‑ and under‑specification, ensuring software requirements are correctly and completely implemented in compliance with quality criteria.
• Establish qualification / verification processes and methods through the entire development cycle including flight test.
• Orchestrate the creation of engineering design data packs, flight clearance reports, and flight manual content in a concise and timely manner.

Skills and Knowledge Required

• Engineering or Physics based degree with proven experience.
• Experience with unmanned autonomous air systems.
• Familiarity with Flight Physics role within a wider Aerospace Company and its fit.
• Familiarity with Flight Control Clearance processes in association with a Certifying Authority.
• Demonstrable experience of taking a system technical requirement and evolving into a complete design solution.
• Algorithm architecture and detailed design documentation writing skills.

Desirable Skills and Experience

• Experience with CFD and/or FEA tools and methods.
• Wind Tunnel Test Campaigns.
• Flight Test & Trials.
• Knowledge of Airborne Software (Functional embedded C).
• Knowledge of Aircraft Stability and Control Augmentation.
• Automatic Flight Guidance and Control Systems (AFGCS) in certified aircraft.

Benefits

• Market‑aligned salary with short‑term incentive plan.
• 25 days holiday.
• Private medical insurance, dental and optical cash back.
• Personal pension plan.
• Income protection and life assurance schemes.
• Discounted salary‑sacrifice scheme for vehicle.
• Employee assistance programme.
• Perkbox employee discounts for household goods, travel, etc.

We Care About You

We value your well‑being and reward your dedication.

Equal Opportunities Statement

AALTO is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status or pregnancy and maternity.