Senior Modelling & Simulation Engineer - Flight Control Systems

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.

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.

• 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.

• A bachelor's degree or higher in Aerospace Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Significant professional experience (10+ years) 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…