Advance Battery Test Engineer

Our Mission

At Vertical Aerospace, we are pioneering the way for electric aviation. The VX4, our eVTOL (electric, vertical take-off and landing), zero-emissions aircraft will set a new safety standard for how we 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 of having the VX4 in service by 2030.

What to Expect

As an Advanced Battery Test Engineer, you will join our dynamic Energy Storage team, which is responsible for developing a best-in-class primary energy storage solution for the VX4 aircraft.

Within this team, the Battery Test function plays a vital role in supporting both product development and certification of our high-voltage battery assemblies. You will be at the heart of this effort, delivering testing services for performance validation, safety sign-off, and aircraft certification.

Your work will involve planning and executing complex mechanical, thermal, and electrical tests at the pack and module level; not at the cell level (cell testing is managed by the Electrochemistry team). You will also be instrumental in developing our facilities and mentoring junior engineers and technicians, setting the standard for how we test batteries at Vertical.

This role offers an exciting opportunity to build and lead battery test capability at a level equivalent to UCAS ISO17025 standards, while helping to certify one of the most innovative aircraft of the decade.

What You’ll Do

• Deliver mechanical, thermal, and electrical battery testing, including:

  • Electrical cycling (long-term and short-term)

  • Abuse testing (e.g. drop, thermal runaway, short circuit, crush, shock)

  • Vibration and IP rating tests

  • BMS and battery cooling system testing

  • EMC and HIRF testing

  • Testing in accordance with DO-160, DO-311A, and UN38.3

• Develop and implement test procedures, technical documentation, and formal test reports

• Own test methodology and support development of new internal standards

• Lead test operations in our labs and at third-party sites, including travel where needed

• Design and deliver electrical systems to support HV and LV test configurations

• Support facility development and new equipment integration, including calibration

• Contribute to risk assessments and ensure safe working practices

• Mentor technicians and junior engineers, helping raise internal standards

• Liaise with simulation teams and certification authorities to ensure test data is robust and traceable

• Support procurement and third-party engagement for equipment and services

• Participate in post-test inspections, live HV work, and instrumentation setup

What You’ll Bring

• Minimum 4 years in a high-tech test environment, ideally in aerospace or EV battery testing

• Hands-on experience with electrical, mechanical, and environmental test systems

• Demonstrated ability to lead and deliver hardware testing projects

• Familiarity with CAN systems and data loggers: Dewesoft, Vector (CANalyzer/CANoe), LabVIEW, PICO

• Experience with lab equipment: battery cyclers, shaker tables, climatic chambers, cooling carts, etc.

• Strong organisational, communication and documentation skills

• Experience mentoring or training junior staff

Desirable:

• Experience with HV live working and pre-/post-test instrumentation

• Familiarity with battery test standards for certification

• Background in defining equipment requirements and contributing to facility development

• Proficiency in CAD tools such as CATIA or equivalent

• Experience supporting third-party test campaigns

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.