Senior Systems Engineer, Aviation Safety in Bristol

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. Valo is targeting airliner-level safety certification in 2028 ahead of entering service with our airline and operator customers. As a Senior Actuation Systems Stress Engineer, you will play a critical role in ensuring the structural integrity, safety, and certification readiness of flight critical actuation systems. You’ll work closely with internal engineering teams and external suppliers, influencing the design, analysis, and verification of electromechanical actuators and structural components that support the aircraft’s flight control architecture. Expect a fast-paced environment where your engineering judgement, ability to manage technical risks, and capability to challenge supplier work will directly impact overall programme success. Structural Analysis & Verification Perform static strength, fatigue, endurance, and vibration stress analyses for actuation system components and mechanisms. Supplier Engineering Governance & Critical Assessment Critically assess supplier designs, analysis reports, test plans, test results, and supporting technical documentation. Apply supplier engineering governance processes to ensure alignment with Vertical Aerospace requirements, engineering standards, and configuration rules. Support design and development of actuation mechanisms, structural interfaces, and assemblies. Work collaboratively with mechanical design, systems engineering, test, and integration teams. Testing & Verification Safety, Risk & Decision Making Assess structural risks, safety considerations, and margins, recommending appropriate mitigations. Use CATIA for 3D model interrogation and supporting design development. Use FEA software for meshing, analysis, and optimisation activities. Use JIRA for tracking tasks, risks, and issues. Produce high quality technical documentation including analysis reports and structural substantiation. Self-starter, who can independently lead technical projects. Strong experience in stress analysis of aerospace or other safety critical actuation systems. Familiarity with flight control actuators including their structural behaviour, loading environments, and verification considerations. Experience with structural testing such as strength, fatigue, endurance, and vibration. Experience using CATIA or equivalent CAD tools. Familiarity with safety critical engineering and technical risk assessment processes. Experience critically reviewing supplier designs and applying supplier engineering governance. Experience with JIRA or similar project/problem management tools. Working at Vertical isn't your average role but for those seeking a challenge, a flexible, supportive organisation and an incredible team; Our approach promotes ingenuity and courage, while our environment builds success through diligence in safety and being open in the way we work. 26 days holiday, plus bank holiday ~5 extra days holiday when you get married or enter a civil partnership ~ 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 ~ Join the team today and help us shape the future of Advanced Air Mobility. 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. For more information on how we will use your data, see our Legal section.