Senior Modelling & Simulation Engineer - Flight Control Systems

As the Senior Modelling & Simulation Engineer for Flight Control Systems at Vertical Aerospace, you will provide technical leadership for the development and integration of the Flight Control System model into the aircraft model. You will define how flight control models are developed, integrated, validated, and deployed across simulation environments, supporting engineering development, verification, and certification. Collaborating with Flight Controls engineers, software teams, systems engineers, and external suppliers, you will deliver robust, high-fidelity models and lead the evolution of the modelling approach.

Responsibilities

• 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.

Requirements

• 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.

Benefits

• 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