UAV Flight Performance Engineer - Hybrid Bristol

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

Job summary

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

The role is based in Bristol with a hybrid working pattern. The ideal candidate has a degree in Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering and 3+ years of experience in aircraft performance, plus hands-on experience with 6-DOF simulations

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain aircraft performance models
• Assess and define aircraft flight envelopes based on stability, control authority, and structural constraints
• Conduct trade studies on key aircraft performance characteristics
• Design flight test plans and analyse telemetry data to validate aircraft performance
• Collaborate with aerodynamics, structures, avionics, and systems engineering teams throughout the design lifecycle
• Build and refine 6-DOF or point-mass simulations to predict mission performance under varying environmental conditions
• Evaluate control system performance and autopilot tuning from a flight dynamics perspective, in collaboration with GNC/avionics teams
• Identify performance bottlenecks and recommend design or operational improvements
• Generate performance documentation for certification, customer proposals, and technical manuals

Skills

Fixed-wing aerodynamics

Python

MATLAB

6-DOF simulations

Flight testing data

CG analysis

Autopilot familiarity

Scripting

Telemetry analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering

Master's preferred

Tools

JSBSim

MATLAB/Simulink

In-house tools

Job description

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

The role is based in Bristol with a hybrid working pattern. The ideal candidate has a degree in Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering and 3+ years of experience in aircraft performance, plus hands-on experience with 6-DOF simulations