Principal Loads & Aeroelastics Engineer

Vertical Aerospace; Bristol (VA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

26 days holiday plus bank holiday

5 extra days to buy or sell

5 extra days holiday for marriage

4% salary for additional benefits

Award-winning health service

Performance-based bonus

Company Share Scheme

Pension Scheme matching

Complimentary breakfast every day

Job summary

A pioneering aerospace company based in Virginia is seeking a Principal Loads & Aeroelastics Engineer. This role involves leading the development of aircraft loads and aeroelastic models while ensuring compliance with certification requirements. You will provide technical mentorship, oversee multiple analysis types, and work in a dynamic and innovative environment. The ideal candidate will have over 10 years of relevant experience and a strong background in certified aircraft programs. Join us in shaping the future of electric aviation.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in loads and aeroelasticity.
• Experience on certified aircraft programs.
• Deep understanding of certification requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and certification of aircraft loads and aeroelastic models.
• Deliver certification strategy and produce technical evidence.
• Oversee various loads analysis across the flight envelope.

Skills

Experience in loads and aeroelasticity

Communication of technical evidence

Use of industry-standard tools

Education

Relevant engineering degree

Tools

Aeroelastic tools

Job description

Our Mission

At Vertical Aerospace, we are pioneering the way for electric aviation. The Valo, our eVTOL (electric, vertical, take-off and landing), 'zero emissions' aircraft will set a new safety standard for how we will navigate the sky.

We won't realise our mission following the same legacy processes and traditions our predecessors followed, instead, we want to 'redefine' aerospace best practices. We are growing quickly from a prototype business to a scaling SME, and the next few years will be critical to our success and delivering on our ambitious goals. Valo is targeting airliner-level safety certification in 2028 ahead of entering service with our airline and operator customers.

What to Expect

As Principal Loads & Aeroelastics Engineer, you will report to the Loads & Dynamics Team Lead, and act as a senior technical authority within the team. You will lead the definition, development and validation of integrated loads and aeroelastic models, with a strong focus on automation and scalable analysis capability.

You will ensure that loads and aeroservoelastic requirements are robustly defined, demonstrated through credible analysis, and supported by clear certification evidence. You will lead model development and integration at aircraft level, provide technical authority within the discipline, and ensure that analysis methods are robust, repeatable, and traceable to certification requirements. While this is not a formal line management role, you will mentor engineers within the Loads & Dynamics discipline and set the technical standard for the team.

What You’ll Do

• Lead the development and certification of aircraft loads and aeroelastic models at component and full aircraft level

• Deliver the loads and aeroelastic certification strategy, producing robust technical evidence to support compliance

• Drive the integration of structural, aerodynamic, and control system models to assess stability and response

• Develop automated, repeatable, and traceable analysis workflows to support rapid design iteration and configuration control

• Oversee flutter, gust, manoeuvre, and ground loads analysis across the flight envelope

• Provide technical mentorship and set engineering best practice within the Loads & Dynamics discipline

• Support flight test definition, correlation, and model updating activities

• Represent Loads & Aeroelasticity at senior internal technical reviews

What You’ll Bring

• 10+ years of experience in loads and aeroelasticity

• Proven experience working on certified aircraft programmes, including direct involvement in compliance demonstration

• Deep understanding of CS-23/27, CS-25/29, or equivalent certification requirements relating to loads, flutter and aeroelastic stability

• Strong expertise in industry-standard loads and aeroelastic tools and methods, and the ability to adapt them to novel aircraft configurations

• Solid understanding of flight mechanics and flight control systems, particularly in relation to aeroservoelastic behaviour

• Ability to produce structured, traceable, and certification-ready analysis

• Clear and confident communication when presenting complex technical evidence to multidisciplinary stakeholders

What can you expect from us?

We're on a mission. Where others see limits, we see opportunity, and we work at pace. Working at Vertical isn't your average role but for those seeking a challenge, a flexible, supportive organisation and an incredible team; working here is an opportunity to do the best work of your career.

Our approach promotes ingenuity and courage, while our environment builds success through diligence in safety and being open in the way we work. The only way we're going to assure the next chapter of aviation history is by working as a team, relentlessly, towards our goal.

Our benefits

Our people matter - we're not going anywhere without them. Which is why our company benefits go beyond the essentials.

• 26 days holiday, plus bank holiday

• 5 extra days per year to buy (or sell)

• 5 extra days holiday when you get married or enter a civil partnership

• Additional 4% of your salary to spend on extra benefits

• Award-winning digital health and wellbeing service (Help@Hand)

• Company performance based bonus - rewarding company and individual performance

• Company Share Scheme - open to every Vertical employee

• Company Pension Scheme - 5% and we match it

• Breakfast on us, every day

We may just be the hardest job you've ever had, but we're confident it will be the most rewarding. Join the team today and help us shape the future of Advanced Air Mobility.

Disclaimer Statement

We encourage you to apply even if you may not have all the experience listed in the advert. We recognise that talent comes in various forms and we are committed to providing opportunities that create an environment of growth, diversity, and inclusion for everyone. As part of our desire to review and make our processes fair, we may ask you questions related to these aspects during the application process. For more information on how we will use your data, see our Legal section.