Aerodynamics Control Engineer - Simulation

Team: Aerodynamics

Location: London

Commitment: Full-time

Workplace Type: onsite

What you'll do

• Own the simulation of aerodynamic control and flight dynamics for hypersonic vehicles, from early concept through to flight test.
• Develop and maintain six‑degree‑of‑freedom (6‑DOF) flight dynamics simulations, integrating aerodynamic, mass properties, actuator, and environment models.
• Characterise control surface effectiveness, hinge moments, and control interactions using CFD, engineering‑level methods, and test data.
• Build and maintain the aerodynamic control models and databases used in simulation and control system design.
• Assess vehicle stability, controllability, and handling across the flight envelope, and feed findings into configuration and control surface design.
• Work closely with the Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC), Aerodynamics, Aeroelastic, and Systems teams to define control requirements and margins.
• Support model‑in‑the‑loop (MIL), software‑in‑the‑loop (SIL), and hardware‑in‑the‑loop (HIL) simulation and test activities.
• Run Monte Carlo and dispersion analyses to assess robustness to uncertainties in aerodynamics and vehicle properties.
• Correlate simulation with wind tunnel and flight test data, and document models, assumptions, and results to ensure traceability and configuration control.

Who you are

• A hands‑on Flight Dynamics, Aerodynamics, or Controls Engineer with experience building and using vehicle simulations.
• Degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering, Control Engineering (or related discipline); a postgraduate qualification in flight dynamics or control is a plus.
• Strong grounding in flight mechanics, stability and control, and aerodynamic modelling of control surfaces.
• Experience developing 6‑DOF simulations in MATLAB/Simulink, Python, or C++.
• Understanding of control system fundamentals and how aerodynamic characteristics affect control design.
• Experience with CFD, wind tunnel data, or flight test data analysis is a strong advantage.
• Comfortable making sound engineering judgements with incomplete data in fast‑moving, prototype‑heavy environments.

What we offer

A mission driven environment with the opportunity to work on one of Europe’s most consequential defence challenges, with direct impact on sovereign capability and security.
Daily collaboration with top experts across engineering, operations, and defence, with real opportunity to learn from the best, contribute, and grow.
High ownership and autonomy; no time tracking, no micromanagement, just clear objectives and accountability for outcomes.
A fast paced environment where good ideas are implemented quickly, and feedback from test and flight drives real decisions.
A culture that values clarity, integrity, and excellence, and supports people who take initiative and push boundaries responsibly.
Competitive compensation and real share options aligned to responsibility and impact, not tenure or hierarchy.

Security and Eligibility Requirement

Due to the nature of the work with the UK MOD, applicants must be a British Citizen (or Dual UK national with British citizenship) and eligible for UK Security Clearance (SC) and, where required, Developed Vetting (DV)