Senior Structural Model Owner

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 Senior Structural Model Owner, you will be responsible for the development, maintenance, validation and governance of the aircraft Global Finite Element Model (GFEM) used to support loads, dynamics, aeroelasticity and certification activities. You will work at the heart of the aircraft development programme, interfacing closely with the airframe team and flight physics to ensure structural models are robust, representative, and delivered on time. This role offers a high degree of autonomy, visibility, and technical influence, with scope to shape processes and ways of working as the programme matures.

What You’ll Do

• Own, manage, and evolve the aircraft Global Finite Element Model for loads and dynamics analysis

• Act as the primary point of contact for all GFEM-related topics within the Loads and Dynamics team, with full process ownership

• Collaborate closely with stress, design, mass properties, and systems teams, negotiating scope, content, and delivery of model inputs to meet programme needs.

• Perform, and document model acceptance checks, including static, dynamic and quality checks.

• Support finite element model reduction, and the generation of superelements, if required.

• Implement structural changes due to design evolution, weight updates, configuration changes and concessions.

• Support multibody model preparation

• Manage model version control and release process.

• Provide accurate, timely reduced models to support loads and downstream analyses across airframe, EPU, actuation, and other teams

• Support discussions on dynamic characteristics

• Correlate models with ground vibration test (GVT) and flight test data.

• Contribute to the development of scalable modelling processes, with the potential to mentor or lead others as the team grows

What You’ll Bring

• Deep experience in structural model reduction for aircraft or complex structures

• Strong knowledge of finite element modelling theory and structural dynamics

• Experience with model correlation

• Proficiency in FE tools such as MSC Nastran and Altair Optistruct

• Proficiency in Python/Matlab for model development, automation, or analysis workflows

• Experience with Multibody Modelling

• Strong communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to manage interfaces and align multiple stakeholders

• Comfort working in a hybrid environment, with a willingness to spend time in the office to support collaboration and team development

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.