Senior Flight Control Actuation Manager

Department: Engineering Delivery & Design Organisation

Location: Bristol Office

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

As Flight Control Actuation Senior Manager, you’ll lead a multidisciplinary team responsible for some of the most safety-critical systems on the aircraft. Reporting into the wider flight controls and actuation leadership, you’ll set technical direction, plan and prioritise work across two concurrent programmes, and work closely with programme managers to deliver against demanding schedules. This is a hands-on leadership role where you’ll balance technical depth, people development, and programme execution to bring a brand-new aircraft to market.

What you'll do

• Lead and grow a team of systems and mechanical engineers responsible for flight control surface, tilt, and blade pitch actuation systems

• Own the planning, prioritisation, and delivery of the team’s backlog across the VA-1X demonstrator and Valo programmes

• Set clear technical direction for actuation system architecture, design maturity, and verification strategy

• Work closely with programme managers to align engineering plans with overall programme milestones and schedules

• Ensure actuation systems are developed to meet safety, performance, and certification requirements

• Foster a culture of independence, learning, and accountability within the tea

• Mentor engineers and managers, supporting technical growth, career development, and succession planning

• Collaborate across flight controls, structures, propulsion, safety, and certification teams to deliver integrated solutions

What you'll bring

• Strong experience leading engineering teams developing safety-critical aerospace or comparable complex systems

• Deep understanding of actuation systems, flight control systems, or closely related mechanical and electro-mechanical systems

• Experience balancing multiple programmes or development phases in parallel, from prototype through certification

• Proven ability to plan, prioritise, and deliver engineering work against challenging schedules

• A leadership style that empowers teams, builds technical confidence, and encourages continuous learning

• Experience working in regulated environments with a strong focus on safety and certification

• Clear, confident communication skills and the ability to influence across disciplines and seniority levels

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.