Overview
In this role you shape the structural and mechanical architecture of the Zephyr system, guiding design, validation, and certification. You work with cross‑functional teams to balance weight, strength, aeroelasticity, and manufacturability while ensuring safety and regulatory compliance. You will lead architectural trade studies and provide technical authority on structural integrity and verification. Your work supports a mission to deliver high‑altitude, long‑endurance platforms for global connectivity and sensing. This is an opportunity to influence certification strategies and drive robust, scalable aircraft architecture in a pioneering HAPS program.
Pay / Benefits
- flexible working
- bonus scheme
- pension plan
Responsibilities
- Define and maintain aircraft structural and mechanical system architecture, including primary/secondary structures and interfaces.
- Lead design trades balancing weight, strength, stiffness, durability, aeroelasticity, thermal effects, and manufacturability.
- Ensure integration with propulsion, avionics, and other systems.
- Develop and apply top-level models to support architectural decisions and trade studies.
- Lead multidisciplinary trade studies evaluating performance, mass, and operational constraints.
- Provide structural authority, review designs, and guide application of analysis methods (e.g., FEA).
- Define and lead structural certification strategies and interface with authorities.
- Lead requirements decomposition, traceability, and participation in design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR).
- Oversee structural verification/validation, ground testing, and flight test support.
- Act as key technical interface with engineers, customers, and stakeholders.
- Provide technical oversight of structural suppliers and support issue resolution.
- Identify and mitigate structural risks and ensure safe, compliant design margins.
- Provide leadership and mentorship within the engineering team and promote best practices.
Key requirements
- +10 years of experience in composite airframe structural analysis with leadership roles
- Proven experience in primary structure certification against civil CS23/CS25 or equivalent
- Proficiency with ANSYS and PATRAN/NASTRAN
- Desirable: experience as EASA CVE/FAA DER or similar delegation
- Desirable: flight test involvement
- Desirable: RPAS design, integration, and testing
- Bachelor’s or master’s degree in aerospace engineering or related field
- Strong knowledge of static, fatigue, stability, aeroelasticity; lightweight aerospace structures
- Experience with architectural trade-offs and engineering models at aircraft level
- Familiarity with DOORS and JAMA; awareness of airworthiness regulations and certification frameworks
- MBSE experience preferred
- excellent communication
- leadership
- teamwork
- structural analysis (static, fatigue, aeroelasticity)
- FEA tools (ANSYS, PATRAN/NASTRAN)
- MBSE
Aircraft Architect in Farnborough employer: AALTO HAPS
AALTO is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Farnborough where innovation meets aerospace excellence. As part of Team AALTO, you'll enjoy a culture that values collaboration and creativity, alongside comprehensive benefits such as private medical insurance, generous holiday allowances, and a personal pension plan. With opportunities for professional growth and a commitment to employee well-being, AALTO is dedicated to unlocking your potential while you contribute to pioneering advancements in Stratospace.
