Senior Cell 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 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 Cell Qualification Engineer, you’ll join a collaborative and purpose-driven team focused on developing and qualifying advanced battery systems for the fully electric VX4 aircraft. Your work will play a key role in defining robust qualification methods for commercial lithium-ion cells, helping ensure safety, performance, and reliability at the highest level.

A typical day may involve developing thorough cell test plans, working closely with test engineers to carry out electrochemical analyses, and collaborating with industrial partners to strengthen our cell supply strategy and verification efforts.

Success in this role will come from your ability to apply creative thinking, interpret complex data, and build trusted relationships across multidisciplinary teams.

What You'll Do

• Develop methods for commercial lithium-ion cell qualification, incorporating electrochemistry, test design, and analysis

• Create test plans and collaborate with engineers and technicians to define and deliver test requirements, analyse results, and report findings

• Build and optimise data analysis tools for a variety of tests (electrical, safety, material), including statistical modelling

• Partner with industrial and academic stakeholders on testing and analysis

• Generate and manage cell-level requirements and associated V+V activities (testing, modelling, analysis)

• Contribute to system-level requirement verification

• Support supplier engagement and help shape our cell supply strategy

• Get involved across the electrochemistry team on activities spanning performance, safety, lifetime, mechanical and quality testing, and emerging technologies

  What You'll Bring

• Degree or equivalent experience (BSc, MSc, PhD)

• Strong electrochemistry foundation and understanding of lithium-ion cell function and trade-offs

• 2 years + hands-on experience with commercial lithium-ion cells

• Comfortable working with cell data, including electrical and safety test design

• Knowledge of how cells integrate into broader systems

• Proven experience collaborating cross-functionally and delivering projects with care and efficiency

• Comfort working in a dynamic and evolving environment where communication and flexibility are key

• Ability to quickly learn new techniques and apply them independently

• A solution-focused mindset and a proactive, inclusive attitude

Desired

• Experience with systems engineering or requirements management (e.g., FMEA, FTA)

• Familiarity with lithium-ion performance and lifetime modelling (ECM/TECM, empirical models)

• Previous experience qualifying cells for industrial applications (e.g., EVs)

• Hands-on work with electrical testing, material analysis, or cell forensics

• Experience engaging with large-scale cell suppliers

• Aerospace sector experience

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.