Advanced Manufacturing Engineer - Hybrid Aircraft

Department: Operations & Manufacturing

Location: Kemble, Cotswold, UK

Employment Type: FullTime

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.

What to expect

At Vertical Aerospace, you’ll be part of a fast-moving, collaborative engineering environment where no two days are the same. This is a hands-on, influential role at the heart of aircraft build and commissioning, working across disciplines to turn cutting-edge design into reality. You’ll have the opportunity to shape manufacturing processes, support team development, and step into a deputy role, sharing leadership responsibility within the Manufacturing Engineering function.

What you’ll do

• Work closely with cross-functional engineering teams to ensure robust manufacturing processes and procedures that meet overall aircraft requirements

• Produce detailed process planning to support aircraft build and commissioning activities

• Define and implement manufacturing requirements for the assembly of complex aircraft structures and systems

• Raise planning and commissioning cards in line with design intent

• Develop, validate, and continuously improve manufacturing processes and requirements

• Act as deputy to your direct manager, sharing leadership and responsibility as required

• Support concession activity, root cause analysis, and practical problem solving on the shop floor

• Lead and deliver training for new Manufacturing Engineering team members, including systems, planning tools, and day-to-day operational processes

• Contribute to aircraft and manufacturing facility commissioning and development activities

What you’ll bring

• A degree in a relevant engineering discipline or equivalent industry experience

• Proven experience in the assembly and build of complex composite aircraft (structures and systems)

• Strong understanding of manufacturing assembly and build principles, with technical signatory capability

• Demonstrated ability to develop manufacturing processes, requirements, and planning documentation

• Experience raising planning and commissioning cards based on design intent

• Confidence working collaboratively, with excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills

• Experience supporting concession work and structured problem solving

• Strong IT skills; experience with CATIA and 3DEXPERIENCE is desirable

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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 way we're going to assure the next chapter of aviation history is by working as a team, relentlessly, towards our goal. 

Our benefits

Our people matter - we're not going anywhere without them. Which is why our company benefits go beyond the essentials.

• 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

We may just be the hardest job you've ever had, but we're confident it will be the most rewarding. Join the team today and help us shape the future of Advanced Air Mobility.

Disclaimer Statement

We encourage you to apply even if you may not have all the experience listed in the advert. We recognise that talent comes in various forms and we are committed to providing opportunities that create an environment of growth, diversity, and inclusion for everyone. As part of our desire to review and make our processes fair, we may ask you questions related to these aspects during the application process. For more information on how we will use your data, see our Legal section.