Senior Modelling & Simulation Engineer - Flight Control Systems 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 2029 ahead of entering service with our airline and operator customers.

What to Expect As the Senior Modelling & Simulation Engineer for Flight Control Systems, you’ll provide the technical leadership for the development and integration of our Flight Control System model into our aircraft model. You’ll define how flight control models are developed, integrated, validated, and deployed across our aircraft simulation environments, ensuring they support engineering development, verification, and certification. Working within the Modelling and Simulation team, you’ll collaborate closely with Flight Controls engineers, software teams, systems engineers, and external suppliers to deliver robust, high‑fidelity models that accurately represent the aircraft’s flight control system. You’ll lead the evolution of our modelling approach, drive best practice, and ensure our simulation capability remains credible, traceable, and fit for purpose across desktop simulation, pilot‑in‑the‑loop, and hardware‑in‑the‑loop environments.

What You’ll Do

• Lead the development of Vertical’s Flight Control System modelling capability, defining the technical approach, architecture, and modelling strategy.
• Own the development, integration, and validation of Flight Control System models, including control laws, sensors, actuators, and system interfaces.
• Provide technical leadership for the integration of FCS models into the wider aircraft simulation environment, ensuring appropriate fidelity and alignment with the physical system.
• Work closely with Flight Controls engineers and external suppliers to define modelling requirements, resolve technical challenges, and deliver integrated simulation solutions.
• Lead the development of simulation models across multiple fidelity levels and deploy them into desktop, real‑time, and hardware‑in‑the‑loop environments.
• Drive the analysis and modelling of system latency, interface behaviour, and failure scenarios to improve simulation accuracy and robustness.
• Support aircraft handling qualities assessments, flight test preparation, and engineering investigations through simulation.
• Lead simulation activities supporting aircraft certification, including model verification, validation, and generation of simulation evidence.
• Champion modelling standards, governance, traceability, and model credibility across the Flight Control System simulation capability.

What You’ll Bring

• A bachelor's degree or higher in Aerospace Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Significant professional experience (10+yrs) leading the development of aircraft modelling and simulation solutions, with expert knowledge of MATLAB and Simulink for model development, analysis, and verification.
• Deep understanding of aircraft systems modelling, particularly Flight Control Systems, and their application within desktop, real‑time, and hardware‑in‑the‑loop simulation environments.
• Experience defining modelling approaches across multiple levels of fidelity and deploying models to real‑time systems using code generation techniques.
• Strong understanding of model‑based systems engineering and best practice for developing credible, traceable simulation models.
• The ability to provide technical leadership across multidisciplinary engineering teams and influence modelling strategy and implementation.
• Experience with Python, C/C++, or other simulation software and programming languages.
• Knowledge of model‑based development standards and credibility frameworks, such as NASA-STD-7009B.
• Experience using simulation to support aircraft verification, validation, and certification activities.

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.