Head of Flight Physics

AALTO; Greater London; Sur place; GBP 95 000 - 130 000; Plein temps

Avantages offerts par ce poste

Short-term incentive plan

25 days holiday

Private medical insurance

Dental and optical cash back

Pension plan

Income protection

Life assurance

Perkbox employee discounts

Résumé du poste

AALTO in Farnborough seeks an Engineering/Physics professional to join the Zephyr Flight Dynamics team. You will lead development of aeroelastic, flight dynamics and aero loads models, and manage the Flight Physics Team, collaborating with meteorology SMEs to capture environmental limits.

You’ll define and run simulations in MATLAB/Simulink, CFD, and develop robust control laws for on-board automation, contributing to qualification and flight clearance documentation.

Qualifications

• Engineering or physics-based degree required.
• Experience with unmanned autonomous air systems strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with Flight Physics in aerospace contexts.
• Knowledge of Flight Control Clearance processes with certifying authorities.
• Ability to translate system requirements into complete designs.
• Experience documenting algorithm architecture.

Responsabilités

• Support development of aeroelastic, flight dynamics and aero loads models with SMEs.
• Manage and develop the Flight Physics Team.
• Collaborate with Meteorology SMEs on environmental conditions and limits.
• Define and run simulations (MATLAB/Simulink, CFD).
• Define robust contingency control laws for safe flight.
• Define control laws and architecture for on-board automation (FCS, Navigation, Sensor Mgmt).
• Ensure software requirements are correctly implemented and compliant with quality criteria.
• Establish qualification/verification processes and flight test methods.
• Prepare engineering design data packs, flight clearance reports, and flight manuals.

Connaissances

Unmanned systems

Flight Physics awareness

Flight Control Clearance

Systems requirements

Algorithm architecture

CFD/FEA tools

Wind tunnel

Flight testing

Embedded C

Stability and control

AFGCS knowledge

Formation

Engineering/Physics degree

Outils

MATLAB

Simulink

CFD

FEA

Description du poste

AALTO, a global leader in Stratospace. Based in Farnborough, AALTO is an Airbus subsidiary that manufactures, operates, and delivers services with its solar-powered, stratospheric platform: Zephyr.

Zephyr's persistence enables continuous flight for months at a time. Its current flight-time record of over 67 days in the stratosphere. From above 60,000+ft, or 20km above ground, AALTO can deliver several applications including direct-to-device connectivity and high-resolution Earth observation.

AALTO operates in a new operational layer between most of air traffic and low-Earth orbit, Stratospace. This is where high-altitude platforms led by Zephyr deliver services to commercial and government partners. We can help monitor environments, observe borders, track natural disasters and connect unconnected communities.

Join Us

Join us as we create a new domain of aerospace: Stratospace. You'll be part of a highly-skilled, innovative and passionate group of people – Team AALTO. Together, we can Unlock Stratospace.

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.
• Defining and running computer simulations for the platforms (e.g. MATLAB & Simulink, CFD).
• Defining 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.
• Avoiding 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.

Qualifications

• An Engineering or Physics based degree with proven experience.
• Experience with unmanned autonomous air systems.
• Familiar with Flight Physics role within a wider Aerospace Company and how that fits in.
• Familiar 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**: Using a range of 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

• Rewarding Excellence: Benefit from our short-term incentive plan that rewards your hard work and dedication.
• Enjoy Your Time Off: Benefit from 25 days of holiday to relax and recharge.
• Stay Healthy: We've got your health covered with private medical insurance, along with dental and optical cash back.
• Secure Your Future: Take advantage of our personal pension plan to ensure a comfortable retirement.
• Peace of Mind: Our income protection and life assurance schemes are there to support you when you need it most.
• Getting around: Drive the latest vehicles with our discounted salary sacrifice scheme.
• We Care About You: Our employee assistance programme is always available to provide the support you need.
• Perks Galore: Enjoy a range of employee discounts via Perkbox, from household goods to travel!

Working Hours

Hours: 37

Travel

Travel: Not expected

Additional Information

Founded in 2022

Co-workers: 200+

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.