Sr. Manager, Flight Dynamics

At Wisk, we’re transforming the future of urban mobility through safe, all-electric, autonomous flight. We are a passionate team working together toward a sustainable future, solving high-impact problems that have never been solved before. By delivering everyday flight for everyone, we’re making it possible to spend less time getting there and more time being there. If you want to be part of shaping the future of mobility, then read on!

We are looking for a Senior Manager of Flight Dynamics to join our team.

• Lead a highly skilled engineering team consisting of engineers covering Stability and Control, Vehicle Performance, Vehicle 6
  
  DOF and Systems modelling.
• Define the end-to-end modeling and simulation strategy for Flight Dynamics, not limited to 6
  
  DOF, Vehicle stability & trim analysis, Aircraft Performance, and Systems Integration.
• Develop and maintain Wisk’s in-house tools to perform linear and non-linear stability and control analysis, estimate critical performance parameters such as range, stall speeds, optimized climb profiles, aerodynamics characteristics, and validate our tools with test data from wind tunnels, subscale aircraft and flight test.
• Capture the Flight Physics Modelling and Simulation Methodology for Flight Dynamics.
• Define the Flight Dynamics Model Validation Strategy including Closed Loop System Validation, incorporation of Flight test and wind tunnel corrections.
• Set specific goals and objectives for each model to build up to a fully certifiable model set (where appropriate).
• Drive alignment across Flight Physics, GNC, System Integration, and Flight test teams.
• Establish KPP/Metrics to show Models validation progress and quantify model maturity.
• Drive technical consensus among other Aircraft SMEs to align on Modelling requirements and expectations across all product teams.
• Set standards for documentation of Aircraft level modelling, documentation, and configuration control of the models vs the overall aircraft design baseline and vehicle and systems description documents.
• Produce and Review Certification Detailed Design Standards, White Papers and Certification Plans to support certification compliance showing against with FAR Part 21/23/27/91/135 requirements.
• Define MDO opportunities, and in-line with SMEs and Chief Engineer office, roll out MDO for Flight Physics and Aircraft Configuration Design as a way to conduct System-Level Trade Studies.
• Spearhead the adoption of AI-driven surrogate modeling and GPU accelerated solvers (CUDA) to achieve real-time aero-performance analysis.
• Integrate high-priority, cross functional roadblocks identified during Gen 6 flight testing, particularly those occurring at the intersection of non-linear aerodynamics and autonomous control laws.

• 15 years of industry experience in aircraft and/or rotorcraft development, with a Bachelor’s degree; or 12 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD with 8 years experience; or equivalent experience.
• Understanding of rotorcraft and multirotor aircraft aerodynamics and vehicle stability in all modes of flight.
• Experience with commercial aviation development and Certification as well as rapid development of novel, complex systems.
• Familiarity with aerodynamic data base creation and tools such as CFD, wind tunnel testing, data processing, and flight matching.
• Experience with aerodynamic design and analysis of aircraft to meet performance goals.
• Experience creating vehicle 6
  
  DOF simulation models that support certification compliance showing.
• Experience with complex modelling frameworks.
• Able to run multiple objective optimizations and trade-off studies for complex aircraft.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Aeromechanics and/or rotor dynamics experience.
• Familiarity with Matlab/Simulink, Python and C/C++.
• Familiarity with Jira, Git, or other software product lifecycle management tools.
• Been part of a program, or programs, working on a clean sheet novel aircraft from concept design to certification.
• Electric engine performance analysis and compliance showing.
• Previous FAA Part 23/25 and/or Part 27 certification program experience preferred.
• FAA Flight Analyst Designated…