Senior Powertrain Systems 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 navigate the sky. We won’t realise our mission by following legacy processes or traditions. Instead, we aim to redefine aerospace best practices.

We are growing rapidly from a prototype business to a scaling SME, and the next few years will be critical to achieving our ambitious goal of bringing the VX4 into service by 2030.

What to Expect

As a Senior Powertrain Systems Engineer, you will develop in-house expertise and build deep technical knowledge of Powertrain systems development. You will be responsible for delivering the development strategy across the full Powertrain systems lifecycle - from architecture and requirements to qualification - including trade-off studies, integration, verification, and validation activities.

You will lead stakeholder requirement capture, analysis, and management, and help establish and embed a consistent systems engineering approach within the Powertrain Department.

In addition, you will contribute to certification activities, support safety assessment development, and assist in risk reduction efforts. You will define the verification and validation approach that supports VX4 certification, while collaborating across the wider Engineering organisation to conduct system and sub-system integration testing and identify key Powertrain performance factors.

What You’ll Do

• Develop and deliver Powertrain systems strategies across architecture, integration, and verification stages.

• Manage requirements capture, analysis, and traceability across multiple stakeholders.

• Lead and support trade studies and design optimisation for Powertrain components and subsystems.

• Collaborate with certification and safety teams to define verification and validation methods.

• Support risk assessments and mitigation activities within the Powertrain domain.

• Work closely with engineering teams to deliver integration, verification, and validation of system functions.

• Contribute to establishing consistent systems engineering processes and documentation.

What You’ll Bring

• A degree in engineering or equivalent relevant professional experience.

• Demonstrated experience in Systems Engineering, ideally across several lifecycle stages.

• Experience within aerospace is beneficial but not essential.

• Background in certification programmes and familiarity with aerospace standards such as ARP4754B, ARP4761, SC VTOL, and SC E-19.

• Experience collaborating with internal Airworthiness teams and external Authorities.

• Strong communication and coordination skills, with the ability to build effective working relationships across disciplines.

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.