Senior Manager- Landing Gear Design

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 the Senior Manager Landing Gear Design, you’ll lead the design and delivery of the Valo’s landing gear, working at the heart of the Structures team and reporting to the Head of Airframe. You’ll collaborate closely with internal teams and external suppliers to develop a safe, lightweight, and reliable solution that integrates seamlessly with the overall airframe and with critical airframe systems. This is a critical role shaping one of the aircraft’s key systems as we move through the next phase of design and development.

What You’ll Do

• Lead the design and development of the complete landing gear system for the Valo.

• Define system architecture, interfaces, and integration requirements with the airframe, the flight control system and the integrated avionic systems.

• Work closely with external suppliers to guide design, ensure technical compliance, and manage delivery.

• Collaborate with internal teams across structures, systems, loads, and manufacturing to ensure seamless integration.

• Review and approve detailed design work, drawings, and engineering reports.

• Support analysis and testing activities to validate performance and structural integrity.

• Contribute to the definition of certification plans and ensure compliance with airworthiness requirements.

• Identify design risks and drive resolution through to closure.

• Lead a Team of talented System and Design Engineers.

• Develop talent and contribute to the transformation of the Engineering Organization toward agility and efficiency.

• Management of the internal and external stakeholders

What You’ll Bring

• Deep experience designing and delivering landing gear systems, ideally for light or eVTOL aircraft

• Strong understanding of the structural and systems aspects of landing gear design

• Experience working on a certified aircraft programme

• Familiarity with single landing gear configurations and their unique design challenges

• Confidence working with external suppliers and reviewing technical deliverables

• Ability to define and manage system interfaces and integration requirements

• Understanding of relevant airworthiness standards and certification pathways

• A collaborative mindset and clear communication style

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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.