Test Rig Design & Analysis Engineer

More about the team you will be joining as a Structural Test Rig Design & 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 Rig Design & Analysis 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, performing detailed design and analysis on the solution before documenting, on-time and on-budget.  This role will be located across our Bristol office, Kemble Test Facility and occasionally from home when suitable.

My Impact as a Test Rig Design and Analysis Engineer

The Test Rig Design and Analysis Engineer reports to the Structural Test Team Lead, and will be supporting numerous structural and propulsion 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 Rig Design and Analysis 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. Likely rigs include structural, propulsion, system from component level to full scale, aircraft level.
• Co-ordinate the creation of suitable rigs/fixtures to enable the test, on both component and aircraft level tests
• Perform “make versus buy” analysis for new test rigs, determining which to perform in-house, which to partner and which to out-source
• Selecting and working with external companies/suppliers to deliver rig hardware, actuators, instrumentation and ultimately engineering data to the internal customers and certifying bodies
• Responsibility for the budget, reporting and programme delivery for structural testing work packages
• Assist with other tasks within the Test Team as required (planning, test definitions, aircraft operations, operating tests)
• Mentoring and sharing knowledge with others in the company

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 (BEng or higher)
  • At least 7 years’ experience in aerospace test engineering environment
• The ability to design metallic parts using Catia 3DX is essential
• Have an understanding of manufacturing methods and design considerations
• Writing technical test and analysis reports and presenting design concepts to the business.
• Have a good understanding of tolerance management.
• Experienced in hand calculations, using classic static/fatigue stress analysis techniques
• Experienced in Finite Element Analysis using Altair Hypermesh
• A great understanding of aerospace testing methods, instrumentation/calibration requirements, health and safety considerations, data acquisition and certification based activities
• Establishing and maintaining relationships with numerous internal and external stakeholders, with a passion for delivery
• Excellent interpersonal skills to effectively communicate with colleagues across a wide range of technical disciplines
• Be fluent in spoken and written English language
• Experienced on fatigue analysis (metallics)

Experience of the following is desired

 Previous experience on rapid development programmes, maturing new technologies

• Developing test assets to support aircraft/vehicle certification
• Ability of preparing manufacturing data
• Altair OptiStruct software experience
• Experienced on assembling test rigs
• Experienced with standard laboratory and workshop tools