Flight Systems Architect

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 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

As a Flight Systems Architect, you will join a growing team of passionate individuals whose primary focus is to provide technical leadership and oversight across multiple aircraft systems to ensure integrated and optimized design solutions for our VX4 and derivative aircraft.

A typical day could range from leading multidisciplinary technical reviews and performing complex trade studies for system architectures, to collaborating with system specialists and project teams to ensure alignment with technical requirements and performance objectives.

The ability to quickly figure things out and make decisions at pace as well as act as a technical integrator across multiple engineering disciplines will all factor into this role's impact and your success.

What you'll do

• You will provide technical leadership and oversight across multiple aircraft systems (flight control systems, display systems, electric actuators, avionics, etc.) to ensure integrated and optimized design solutions for VX4 and derivative aircraft.

• You will act as a technical integrator, identifying cross-discipline dependencies, plan and perform trade studies for optimizing system architectures and system level requirements, resolving integration challenges, and promoting cohesive system functionality.

• You will validate system requirements for the VX4 in accordance with ARP-4754A methodologies.

• You will collaborate with system specialists and project teams to ensure alignment with technical requirements, program schedules, and performance objectives.

• You will represent the Chief Engineer on multidisciplinary technical reviews and design decision meetings, ensuring appropriate rigor, quality, and consistency.

• You will support risk management activities, proactively identifying technical risks, proposing mitigation strategies, and monitoring execution.

• You will deliver and manage Flight Systems Technology roadmap including path to fully autonomous operations.

• You will ensure compliance with industry standards, regulatory requirements, and internal quality assurance processes.

• You will communicate effectively with stakeholders, suppliers, and internal teams, facilitating clear, concise, and actionable information flow.

What you'll bring

• Bachelor's degree (master's preferred) in Engineering or a related field.

• Extensive experience (10+ years preferred) working in multidisciplinary aircraft system architecture or systems integration roles, including complex fly-by-wire flight control systems.

• Expertise in development of autonomous flight systems.

• Proven expertise with complex systems such as flight controls, cockpit displays, electric actuation systems, avionics, or related fields. Strong background in using systems engineering best practices for certification of complex, highly integrated, safety-critical systems.

• Demonstrated experience in systems engineering methodologies, including requirements definition, validation, verification, and integration.

• Strong understanding of aerospace industry standards, certification processes, and regulatory frameworks (e.g., EASA, FAA).

• Strong understanding of program management practices.

• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Strong leadership and influencing capabilities.

• Skilled at technical decision-making in an aircraft development environment with uncertainty.

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

• Ability to integrate complex technical solutions across multiple engineering disciplines.

• Proactive approach to risk management and problem resolution.

• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and capable of managing competing priorities effectively.

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.