Senior Aircraft Systems Engineer in Bristol

Our Mission At Vertical Aerospace, we are pioneering the way for electric aviation. The Valo, our eVTOL (electric, vertical, take-off and landing), 'zero emissions' aircraft will set a new safety standard for how we will navigate the sky. We won't realise our mission following the same legacy processes and traditions our predecessors followed, instead, we want to 'redefine' aerospace best practices. We are growing quickly from a prototype business to a scaling SME, and the next few years will be critical to our success and delivering on our ambitious goals. Valo is targeting airliner-level safety certification in 2028 ahead of entering service with our airline and operator customers.

What to Expect As a Senior Aircraft Systems Engineer, you’ll sit at the heart of our engineering function, shaping how the Valo comes together as a coherent, certifiable aircraft. You’ll lead cross-functional efforts that define and integrate systems, working closely with safety, avionics, propulsion, and structures teams. This is a hands-on role for a systems thinker who thrives in complexity and is passionate about bringing innovative aircraft to life.

What You’ll Do:

• Own and drive aircraft-level requirements, architecture, and verification activities across the full engineering lifecycle.
• Lead the integration of cross-system technical solutions to ensure a certifiable and consistent aircraft design.
• Coordinate system-level trade studies, interface management, and key configuration decisions.
• Generate and review compliance evidence for certification, ensuring traceability and completeness.
• Apply and promote Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) practices.
• Collaborate with teams across safety, structures, propulsion, avionics, and software to ensure cohesive integration.
• Support programme planning and identify blockers to keep engineering deliverables on track.
• Mentor other engineers and promote systems engineering best practices across the organisation.
• Participate actively in design reviews, programme reviews, and compliance reviews.

What You’ll Bring:

• A degree in a relevant engineering discipline.
• Proven experience leading systems engineering for complex products, ideally at aircraft level.
• A strong understanding of aircraft systems and system integration.
• Skilled in requirements management, architecture definition, and verification planning.
• Familiarity with ARP4754B and SC-VTOL or other certification frameworks.
• Excellent communication, planning, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience with tools like DOORS, Jama, or Polarion.
• Knowledge of MBSE tools such as System Composer or Enterprise Architect.
• A proactive, solutions-focused mindset and a collaborative approach to delivery.

Bonus if you have:

• Experience in high-level aircraft design or the development of aircraft systems.
• Hands-on experience in aircraft or UAS development and testing.
• Experience certifying aerospace products.
• Advanced MBSE tool expertise.

What can you expect from us? We're on a mission. Where others see limits, we see opportunity, and we work at pace. Working at Vertical isn't your average role but for those seeking a challenge, a flexible, supportive organisation and an incredible team; working here is an opportunity to do the best work of your career. Our approach promotes ingenuity and courage, while our environment builds success through diligence in safety and being open in the way we work. The only way we're going to assure the next chapter of aviation history is by working as a team, relentlessly, towards our goal.

Our benefits: Our people matter - we're not going anywhere without them. Which is why our company benefits go beyond the essentials.

• 26 days holiday, plus bank holiday.
• 5 extra days per year to buy (or sell).
• 5 extra days holiday when you get married or enter a civil partnership.
• Additional 4% of your salary to spend on extra benefits.
• Award-winning digital health and wellbeing service (Help@Hand).
• Company performance based bonus - rewarding company and individual performance.
• Company Share Scheme - open to every Vertical employee.
• Company Pension Scheme - 5% and we match it.
• Breakfast on us, every day.

We may just be the hardest job you’ve ever had, but we’re confident it will be the most rewarding. Join the team today and help us shape the future of Advanced Air Mobility.

Disclaimer Statement: We encourage you to apply even if you may not have all the experience listed in the advert. We recognise that talent comes in various forms and we are committed to providing opportunities that create an environment of growth, diversity, and inclusion for everyone. As part of our desire to review and make our processes fair, we may ask you questions related to these aspects during the application process. For more information on how we will use your data, see our Legal section.