Flight Controls Engineer

As a Flight Controls Engineer at Vertical Aerospace, you will lead the development of Valo’s flight control laws and own a key control-law domain across disciplines. You’ll apply core control theory and certification experience to deliver an integrated, certifiable solution for a novel eVTOL programme. You will collaborate with flight dynamics, systems, software, and test teams to navigate design, verification, testing and certification milestones. Your work will directly influence safety-critical control performance on a rapidly scaling aerospace project.

• 26 days holiday
• 5 extra days to buy/sell
• 4% of salary to spend on benefits
• digital health service
• Company performance-based bonus
• Company Share Scheme

• Design, develop and deliver flight control laws for Valo
• Lead a significant area of control-law development from requirements to certification, coordinating technical delivery across teams
• Develop and evaluate control-law designs using MATLAB, Simulink and model-based approaches
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including flight dynamics, systems, software, simulation, testing and certification
• Support definition and validation of the FCL programme plan using certification experience
• Address complex cross-functional engineering challenges beyond immediate scope
• Make sound engineering decisions balancing performance, complexity, and programme needs

• Strong grounding in classical control theory with practical aerospace experience
• 10+ years in flight-control laws or GNC
• Extensive hands-on MATLAB and Simulink experience with model-based design
• Knowledge of aerospace standards including ARP-4754B, DO-178C, DO-331
• Experience on aircraft development and certification programmes (CS-23, CS-25, CS-27, CS-29 or equivalent)
• Ability to communicate technical decisions across disciplines and contribute beyond own area
• Experience with modern control techniques (beneficial)
• Experience in safety-critical GNC applications

• cross-functional collaboration
• clear technical communication
• problem-solving under certification pressure
• MATLAB
• Simulink
• model-based design