Senior Test Development Engineer in London

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?
With the primary responsibility for testing integration of aircraft control systems (avionics, flight controls, effector control systems), System Test are currently designing brand new test labs to enable VX4 certification in line with Vertical’s well-publicised Flightpath 2030. We also support a number of other labs and teams within the Laboratory Test department by delivering special purpose equipment, machinery and software.

As a Test Development Engineer you will be responsible for designing, developing and delivering our system integration rigs for certification of aircraft hardware and systems. Test capability will include propulsion systems with motors and high-voltage DC systems, whole-aircraft system test assets including real-time computers that enable Hardware in the Loop testing of flight control software, cockpit and avionics labs, and actuator testing facilities. You will become an expert in testing integrated aircraft systems and in the operation of our integration test rigs, leading the delivery of test data in partnership with the aircraft engineering teams.

This role will be based out of Vertical's headquarters in Bristol, with regular presence required on-site here and occasionally at our test facilities in Kemble and Avonmouth.

What you’ll do
You will be responsible for gathering test rig requirements, creating rig architectures, and driving the design and delivery of the equipment alongside our team of Test Development Engineers and through our technology partners. Within scope are rigs for a variety of purposes, centred on our Hardware in the Loop testing of real aircraft systems. Each test rig may include real aircraft hardware, industrial automation technologies, motors and dynamometers, low and high voltage power distribution, realtime computing, data acquisition, machinery safety technologies, custom software, and network infrastructure.

You will become the main user and owner of the Integration rigs once they are delivered, driving the improvement of the test equipment and software interfaces. You will be responsible for the configuration management of the test equipment and units under test.

You will be working with a variety of engineering teams and will work closely with Test Engineers during commissioning and operation of new test rigs. You will be a role model for the company’s safety-first culture, determining safety provisions required for rig operations and mentoring others within the company to ensure knowledge is shared.

What you’ll bring
You will need to have completed a degree in an Engineering discipline (or equivalent) and have at least 4 years’ experience designing automated test equipment for certification testing of aerospace systems. You will have a solid understanding of the aircraft development lifecycle and of aircraft system architectures and communication protocols such as CAN, ARINC 429, and serial comms.

You will be familiar with designing solutions for data stimulus, acquisition and recording. Familiarity with real-time test computing and data acquisition systems such as National Instruments would be advantageous. Familiarity with electrical control systems, wiring and harness design, or test systems for electric motors is desirable. You will have some knowledge of text-based programming, ideally Python, and have experience with Product Lifecycle Management. Experience with test tools and software such as LabVIEW and NI Veristand is expected, as is familiarity with git workflows, bitbucket, Matlab and Simulink.

The successful candidate will be able to work in dynamic innovative teams, building positive working environments and diplomatically resolving challenges to programme delivery. Some elements of “hands on” work will be expected, with the assistance of our skilled technicians.

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