Senior Human Factors Engieer

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 Senior Human Factors Engineer, you will join a dynamic team whose primary focus is to lead the strategy, delivery and certification of human factors considerations for our fully electric VX4 aircraft. This aircraft-level role requires an independent, hands-on engineer to own human factors design across the entire aircraft.

A typical day could involve collaborating with design teams, conducting workload analyses, developing testing plans, or preparing certification documentation to ensure the human factors aspects of the VX4 design comply with the full SC-VTOL specification.

Your ability to balance strategic vision with practical execution, demonstrating accountability, curiosity and a proactive approach to problem-solving will be key to your success in this role.

What You'll Do

• You will develop and own the aircraft-level human factors strategy, defining design considerations, assessment methodologies, and certification deliverables across all SC-VTOL domains with minimal internal support.

• You will lead the integration of human factors into aircraft design, addressing areas from cockpit interfaces and maintenance procedures to structural usability and operational human factors.

• You will engage with design teams, operations teams, certification teams, and commercial stakeholders to align human factors requirements with programme goals.

• You will develop and execute human factors testing plans to verify and validate designs, supporting flight testing and certification milestones.

• You will create detailed human factors requirements in collaboration with systems engineers across Aircraft to Systems and Item levels.

• You will conduct human factors assessments such as workload analysis and error analysis to identify and mitigate risks and contribute to safety assessments and operational procedures.

• You will generate detailed reports, test results, and certification documentation, ensuring alignment with aerospace standards and programme timelines.

• You will balance strategic oversight with practical execution, leading testing, iterating designs and resolving issues directly to meet programme deadlines.

What You'll Bring

• Degree in Human Factors Engineering, Ergonomics, Aerospace Engineering or a related field.

• Proven experience in human factors engineering with a focus on aerospace or complex systems design.

• Proven experience leading aircraft-level human factors for certification, ideally under EASA or FAA frameworks.

• Knowledge of aviation regulations (e.g., FAA, EASA) and standards related to human factors (MIL-STD-1472H, FAA HF-STD-001).

• Curiosity and eagerness to learn, adapting to new challenges in a fast-paced environment.

• Strong analytical, problem-solving and communication skills to collaborate effectively across diverse teams.

• An action-oriented approach that balances strategic thinking with practical execution.

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.