Lead Flight Dynamics & Certification Engineer

Vertical Aerospace; West of England; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

26 days holiday

Holiday buy/sell option

Marriage leave

Company pension

Employee share scheme

Annual bonus

Help@Hand health service

Breakfast provided

Job summary

Vertical Aerospace is seeking a Principal Flight Dynamics Engineer to lead certification of the Valo’s aircraft-level flight dynamics and handling qualities. You will coordinate strategies across Airworthiness, Flight Controls, Flight Test, Simulation, and regulators to certify the fully electric eVTOL.

You will mentor engineers, drive whole-aircraft thinking, and ensure rigorous technical decision-making while collaborating with authorities like the CAA and OEM partners.

Qualifications

• Background in certification by simulation / use of high-fidelity simulation as primary certification evidence.
• Background in building, validating, and using aircraft-level simulation models to support analysis, design decisions, and certification evidence.
• Experience defining and/or assessing flight test plans and requirements to validate flight dynamics models.
• Exposure to working within or alongside major OEMs or leading academic/industrial flight dynamics groups.

Responsibilities

• Own the overall strategy and delivery of aircraft-level flight dynamics and handling qualities certification for the Valo.
• Define the strategies, compliance approaches, and means of compliance for flight dynamics.
• Act as a key technical interface with certification authorities.
• Review and approve analysis, test evidence, and documentation for certification deliverables.
• Interface with Flight Controls, Flight Test, Flight Physics, Simulation and external authorities (e.g. CAA).
• Act as a technical leader and mentor within the Flight Dynamics team, ensuring high standards of technical rigour.

Skills

Flight dynamics

Handling qualities

Certification processes

Regulatory engagement

Cross-functional leadership

Mentoring

Education

BS in Aerospace Engineering

MS/PhD in Aerospace Engineering

Tools

High-fidelity simulation

Aircraft-level simulation models

Job description

Vertical Aerospace is seeking a Principal Flight Dynamics Engineer to lead certification of the Valo’s aircraft-level flight dynamics and handling qualities. You will coordinate strategies across Airworthiness, Flight Controls, Flight Test, Simulation, and regulators to certify the fully electric eVTOL.

You will mentor engineers, drive whole-aircraft thinking, and ensure rigorous technical decision-making while collaborating with authorities like the CAA and OEM partners.