Advanced Stress Engineer (Airframe)

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 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 of having the VX4 in service by 2030.

What to expect

We're looking to recruit several super, Advanced Stress Engineer's, who can bring their expertise and passion and play an important role in developing our fantastic fully-electric VX4 aircraft and help us shape the future of mobility.

You'll join a team of highly motivated engineers dedicated to crafting state-of-the-art solutions and cutting-edge technology to define optimal outcomes. Working in the Airframe Department means you'll have the opportunity to partner with experts across various disciplines, including Design, Manufacturing, Program, Material and Process, and Certification Engineers.

This will be an extremely challenging but rewarding role, it won't be for everyone. But if you are looking to join a dynamic, fast-paced purpose-led organisation. This could be a great opportunity for you.

What you'll do

• You'll work will directly contribute to the foundational airframe architecture.

• You'll define optimal load paths, material and manufacturing processes for the Fuselage, Wing, Empennage, and Pylon.

• You'll collaborate closely with Design and Manufacturing engineers to craft optimal engineering solutions and integrate critical sizing inputs into our engineering datasets.

• You'll help to generate comprehensive stress analysis data to support various program maturity gates and ensure design integrity.

• You'll build Finite Element Models for precise load calculations and comprehensive component sizing.

• You'll optimise airframe designs for weight, cost, and producibility by maximizing the performance of cutting-edge material technologies.

• You'll develop advanced structural analysis methods, tools, and processes for both metallic and composite airframe constructions. Driving the allowable and test pyramid programs for airframe development, ensuring robust and certified designs.

• You'll create innovative algorithms to efficiently analyze vast datasets and load cases, accelerating design optimization for metallic and composite structures.

• You'll actively participate in both informal and formal engineering reviews, providing critical insights and technical expertise.

• You'll provide essential front and second-line support to our production and flight test operations.

• You'll actively support certification activities through close collaboration with our Compliance Verification Engineers (CVEs) and airworthiness team.

What we'd like you to bring

• Demonstrated proficiency with industry-standard CAD and FEM applications.

• The ability to perform robust hand calculations to validate and inform designs.

• A strong foundation in programming, with experience in Python, C++, or equivalent, to drive automation and analysis.

• A track record of successful design for both composite and metallic structures.

• Preferably, a solid understanding of aircraft structural certification processes and the development of Means of Compliance.

• Excellent communication skills that enable effective interaction and collaboration with a wide range of engineering specialists.

• A proactive, challenging mindset coupled with exceptional collaboration skills.

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.