Structural Test Engineer

More about the team you will be joining as a Structural Test Analysis Engineer.

Vertical Aerospace is growing its existing Test Team as its novel aircraft development programme ramps up. Part of this expansion is to bring in an experienced, passionate, and driven Structural Test Engineer. The role will be crucial in Vertical’s programme delivery, developing various rigs to provide crucial data to support the aircraft design, technology development and certification workstreams. The work will involve gathering rig requirements, down selecting solutions, driving the build and commissioning of the rig, to ultimately running the asset to meet the objectives to the required standard, on-time and on-budget.  This is an excellent opportunity for an early career engineer to develop their engineering skills in a dynamic and broad scope role.  This role will be located across our Bristol office, Kemble Test Facility and occasionally from home when suitable.

My Impact as a Structural Test Engineer

The Test Engineer reports to the Structural Test Team Lead and will be supporting numerous structural test rig projects.  These can cover research, prototype and certification type activities.

The successful candidate will be able to work in dynamic innovative teams, building positive working environments and diplomatically resolving challenges to programme delivery. Some elements of “hands on” work will be expected, with the assistance of our skilled technicians.

What success will look like for the Structural Test Engineer

• Working closing with the Structures function and numerous Product Teams to identify the structural test needed and develop pragmatic plans to provide the results on-time
• Being an integral part of a collaborative planning, delivery and reporting for company structural test rig test activities. Structural Tests from component level to full scale aircraft testing
• Co-ordinate the creation of suitable rigs/fixtures to enable the test, on both component and aircraft level tests
• Working closely with structural test rig design engineers and test technicians starting from the design phase of the rig till to the end of test execution
• Working closely with the test requesters to understand the test requirements
• Taking responsibility for the test rig assembly and test execution

Everything sounds very interesting but how do I know this is the role for me?

We are looking for people that will have the following qualifications and experiences: 

• Qualification and experiment requirements (must have):
  • Mechanical / Aerospace Engineering degree
  • 0-3 years of experience in aerospace test engineering environment
• The ability to communicate with different departments is essential
• Have an basic understanding of assembly methods and design considerations
• Ability to write technical test reports.
• Have a basic understanding of tolerance management.
• Basic understanding of aerospace testing methods, instrumentation/calibration requirements, health and safety considerations, data acquisition and certification based activities
• Strong interpersonal skills to effectively communicate with colleagues across a wide range of technical disciplines
• Be fluent in spoken and written English language

Experience of the following is desired

• Basic knowledge of rapid development programmes, maturing new technologies
• Basic knowledge on developing test assets to support aircraft/vehicle certification
• Basic knowledge on assembling test rigs
• Basic knowledge with standard laboratory and workshop tools
• An interest in measurement methods and instrumentation