Senior Avionic Systems Engineer - CNS

About this role

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.

As a Senior Avionics Systems Engineer, you'll play a key role in developing the Communication, Navigation, Surveillance and Maintenance (CNS/M) systems that enable safe, certifiable and scalable flight.

Working within our Vehicle Systems team, you'll provide technical leadership across the development lifecycle, leading the definition, integration, verification and certification of critical avionics systems. You'll collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams, suppliers and flight test teams to deliver robust, safety-critical solutions that meet the highest aviation standards.

This is an opportunity to lead major technical work packages, influence system architecture and play a significant role in delivering one of the world's most advanced eVTOL aircraft programmes.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

- Provide technical leadership for the design, development, integration and certification of the aircraft Communication, Navigation, Surveillance and Maintenance (CNS/M) systems.

- Lead technical work packages from concept through system definition, integration, verification and certification, ensuring delivery to quality, schedule and programme objectives.

- Develop and maintain system requirements, architecture descriptions, interface control documents (ICDs), verification plans, test procedures, reports and certification evidence.

- Capture, decompose and manage system requirements within Vertical's systems engineering environment, ensuring end-to-end traceability and compliance with certification requirements.

- Collaborate with software, hardware, electrical, flight test, safety and certification teams to deliver fully integrated avionics solutions.

- Manage technical interfaces with suppliers, reviewing designs, resolving technical issues and ensuring supplier deliverables meet programme requirements.

- Lead system integration activities, supporting laboratory, ground and flight testing, commissioning, troubleshooting and verification.

- Drive verification and validation activities, ensuring robust evidence is generated to demonstrate compliance with system and certification requirements.

- Support design reviews, technical governance and certification activities, providing clear technical recommendations and engineering judgement.

- Mentor and support engineers within the team, promoting engineering excellence, knowledge sharing and continuous improvement.

- Identify opportunities to improve engineering processes, tools and technologies, helping shape the future of avionics development at Vertical.

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Avionics Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical & Electronic Engineering, Systems Engineering or a related discipline.

- Significant experience developing and integrating avionics systems within a regulated aerospace or other safety-critical engineering environment.

- Strong knowledge of aircraft Communication, Navigation, Surveillance and Maintenance (CNS/M) systems and their integration.

- Demonstrable experience leading the technical delivery of complex engineering work packages across multidisciplinary teams.

- Experience supporting civil aircraft development and certification programmes.

- Working knowledge of aviation regulations and certification standards, including EASA and/or FAA frameworks.

- Experience applying systems engineering principles throughout the product lifecycle, including requirements management, interface definition, verification and validation.

- Familiarity with ARP4754A, ARP4761 and DO-160.

- Knowledge of avionics communication protocols, including ARINC 429, ARINC 664, CAN and RS-422.

- Experience using systems engineering, modelling and requirements management tools.

- Excellent analytical, problem-solving, stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence technical decisions across multidisciplinary teams.

DESIRABLE

- Chartered Engineer (CEng) status or membership of a recognised professional institution such as the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) or the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).

- Experience with Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) tools, ideally Dassault 3DEXPERIENCE.

- Experience using MATLAB System Composer or similar model-based systems engineering tools.

- Experience using Jama for requirements management and traceability.

- Knowledge of DO-178C and/or DO-254 development assurance processes.

- Experience with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and SysML.

- Previous experience providing technical leadership or leading multidisciplinary engineering workstreams.

- Experience developing safety-critical aerospace systems through certification, ideally within eVTOL, advanced air mobility or commercial aircraft programmes.

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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…