Advanced Mechanical Design Engineer

Join our EPU (Electric Propulsion Unit) team based in Bristol as an Advanced Mechanical Design Engineer and help us to achieve our mission of pioneering electric aviation.

Sitting within the Power & BMS Squad, the Electric Propulsion Unit team is responsible for delivering the electric motors, power electronics, and associated thermal management system that propel our aircraft.

You'll be ensuring the mechanical interfacing and design implementation of the EPU follows aerospace standards, as well as being the focal point for all mechanical design knowledge and good practices related to the EPU. You will also support the structural and stress sign-off actions, helping to define adequate verification and validation efforts to ensure complete autonomy of the EPU team release processes.

Your Key Responsibilities as an EPU Advanced Mechanical Design Engineer

• Lead the development and management of mechanical design requirements for the EPU, ensuring alignment with overall system specifications and performance goals.

• Understand aircraft loads and vibrations and their interaction with the EPU

• Oversee the design, analysis, and testing of mechanical interfaces between the EPU and aircraft structure + propellers, including mounts, brackets, and coupling mechanisms.

• Participate with the rest of the team in the documentation of mechanical design specifications, interface agreements in Interface Control Documents (ICDs), and detailed design drawings.

• Coordinate with cross-functional teams, including loads and vibration, mechanical systems and structures to ensure comprehensive validation and verification of mechanical designs.

• Conduct mechanical stress analysis to ensure robustness and reliability under all operating conditions.

• Support system safety analyses such as Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) and Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) from a structural / stress perspective.

• Participate in supplier engagement for mechanical components, ensuring high-quality deliverables that meet the stringent aerospace standards.

• Participate in engagement with certification authorities and support the generation of certification documentation related to structural aspects of the EPU.

• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, identifying and implementing enhancements to mechanical design processes and methodologies.

What we'd like you to bring

Essential

• A degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field.

• Minimum of 4 years of experience in mechanical design and development, within the aerospace industry.

• Proficiency in mechanical design principles, including experience with CAD software such as CATIA, SolidWorks, or equivalent.

• Experience in integrating mechanical components with electrical systems and thermal management systems, such as electric motors and power electronics.

• Excellent documentation skills, including the ability to create and manage detailed design specifications, interface control documents (ICDs), and technical drawings.

• Strong verbal and written communication skills, comfortable engaging at all levels within the business, and externally with suppliers, partners, and regulatory bodies.

• Excellent team working skills with the ability to work collaboratively and cooperatively with colleagues.

• Strong organizational skills and an ability to focus on and complete detailed tasks in a busy, fast-paced environment.

Desirable

• Experience in mechanical design and analysis of rotating systems

• Familiarity with aerospace certification standards and processes, such as those related to ARP4761, ARP4754, and DO160.

• Skilled in mechanical stress and thermal analysis, with the ability to use relevant tools and software such as ANSYS or similar FEA / FEM tools.

• Understanding of thermal management systems, including heat transfer principles and cooling system design.

• Familiarity with software version control and configuration management.

• Experience supporting system safety analyses such as FHAs, FMEAs, FTAs, and the creation and management of associated data and technical documentation.

• Familiarity with Requirements Management tools such as DOORS, JAMA, etc.

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 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.

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 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.