Hybrid Flight Performance Engineer for UAVs

Copello Global; West of England; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Competitive salary

Job summary

Copello Global in Bristol is seeking a Flight Performance Engineer to support performance modelling, validation, and certification of fixed-wing UAV platforms. You will translate flight test data and simulations into performance specifications that guide aircraft design decisions.

Based in a hybrid role, you will collaborate with aerodynamics, propulsion, and mission-planning teams throughout the design lifecycle, building 6-DOF or point-mass models and analysing telemetry to refine performance

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering.
• 3+ years of experience in aircraft performance engineering.
• Strong understanding of fixed-wing aerodynamics.
• Experience with 6-DOF simulation models (JSBSim, MATLAB/Simulink).
• Experience analysing flight test data (telemetry logs).

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain aircraft performance models.
• Assess and define aircraft flight envelopes based on stability and constraints.
• Conduct trade studies on key performance characteristics.
• Design flight test plans and analyse telemetry data to validate performance.
• Collaborate with aerodynamics, structures, and systems engineering teams.
• Build and refine 6-DOF or point‑mass simulations to predict mission performance.
• Evaluate control system performance and autopilot tuning with GNC teams.
• Identify performance bottlenecks and recommend improvements.
• Generate performance documentation for certification and proposals.

Skills

Fixed-wing aerodynamics

Flight mechanics

Python

MATLAB

6-DOF simulations

Autopilot systems

Data analysis

Sensor fusion

Education

Aerospace Engineering

Tools

JSBSim

MATLAB/Simulink

Job description

Copello Global in Bristol is seeking a Flight Performance Engineer to support performance modelling, validation, and certification of fixed-wing UAV platforms. You will translate flight test data and simulations into performance specifications that guide aircraft design decisions.

Based in a hybrid role, you will collaborate with aerodynamics, propulsion, and mission-planning teams throughout the design lifecycle, building 6-DOF or point-mass models and analysing telemetry to refine performance