Senior Flight Physics Engineer in Hampshire

b Overview /b p In this role you shape the performance, stability, controllability and safe operation of Zephyr, a high-altitude autonomous aircraft. You’ll contribute across aerodynamics, flight dynamics, control laws, and flight testing to deliver robust, certifiable flight physics solutions. You will partner with software, avionics and systems teams to define requirements and validate through flight tests and simulations. This position offers technical ownership in a fast-moving, collaborative environment with a meaningful impact on Stratospace-enabled applications. /p b Pay / Benefits /b ul li Short-term incentive plan /li li 25 days of holiday /li li Private medical insurance; dental and optical cash back /li li Personal pension plan /li li Income protection and life assurance /li li Discounted salary sacrifice for vehicles /li /ul b Responsibilities /b ul li Lead the derivation and management of flight physics and system-level requirements with traceability to verification /li li Define and refine flight control laws and GNC architectures for autonomous high-altitude flight /li li Identify failure modes and develop contingency strategies to ensure safety and mission continuity /li li Translate engineering intent into precise software/system requirements for implementation /li li Coordinate interfaces across onboard systems to maintain shared understanding of assumptions and constraints /li li Plan, support and analyze flight tests for envelope expansion and validation /li li Develop and run flight dynamics models using MATLAB/Simulink to guide design decisions and readiness /li li Analyze telemetry and simulation outputs to extract insights and inform actions /li li Provide technical leadership within work packages, driving delivery and managing risk /li li Collaborate with internal SMEs and support overseas flight trials when needed /li /ul b Key requirements /b ul li Degree or Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, Control Engineering, Physics, Mathematics or closely related discipline /li li Significant experience in flight dynamics, stability and control, or GNC in safety-critical aerospace environments /li li Strong understanding of aircraft stability, aerodynamics and control theory /li li Proficiency with MATLAB and Simulink for modelling, simulation and analysis /li li Experience defining requirements, verification activities and engineering documentation /li li Ability to interpret flight test data and telemetry to inform decisions /li li Proven ability to work across multidisciplinary teams and communicate clearly /li li Ownership mindset with ability to deliver in a fast-paced environment /li li Willingness to support flight campaigns and overseas testing /li /ul ul li Cross-functional collaboration /li li Clear communication /li li Sound engineering judgement /li li MATLAB /li li Simulink /li li Flight dynamics modelling /li /ul