Principal Manufacturing Engineer - Product Assurance & Governance

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 to delivering on our ambitious goals.

Valo is targeting air‑liner‑level safety certification in 2028 ahead of entering service with our airlineוחות operator customers.

What to Expect:
Reporting to the Head of Aircraft Manufacturing Engineering and part of the broader Manufacturing and Operations team. The team owns the development and delivery of the procedures, methods, and processes that govern how the operational functions should work. This includes ensuring compliance with POA (Production Organisation Approval) and AS9100 obligations, while also optimising efficiency through the use of digital toolsets.

As the Principal Manufacturing Engineer, you’ll bring deep expertise in process assurance and governance to shape how we work across the manufacturing engineering function. You’ll define and maintain the procedures and frameworks that enable our teams to meet POA and AS9100 requirements, while also supporting scalable and efficient ways of working. Collaborating closely with teams across operations – including production and quality – leveraging the benefit of digital tools, you’lllaq help ensure our engineering lifecycle is robust, fromazzi?

early concept through to full‑rate production.

• Provide subject‑matter expertise in the development and continuous improvement of engineering processes across the full lifecycle – from concept through to scaled production
• Identify, define, and maintain robust governance approaches that support engineering and operational excellence
• Evaluate how processes impact other functions,ço ensuring alignment across teams and promoting shared accountability
• Lead assurance activities to verify that design proving evidence is complete, documented appropriately,(CHOW) and endorsed at the right level
• Align process development with digital tools and systems to enhance control, traceability, and efficient execution
• Capture and share domain knowledge to strengthen internal capabilities and build process maturity across teams
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to engineers, supporting the leadership team in managing specialist governance‑related work streams

• Deep experience in process development, governance, and assurance within aerospace or a similarly regulated industry
• First‑hand experience in manufacturing engineering, combined with a clear view of how engineering processes connect to wider business needs
• A technical mindset, with the ability to see how governance activities support the success of the overall product or programme
• Familiarity with digital tools such as PLM, ERP, and MES, and how they enable better control, optimisation, and traceability of processes
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• internationalen comfortable engaging with external governing bodies such as the CAA, BSI, or IAQG to support audits, reviews, and continuous improvement👨‍⚕️
• ```Able to lead through influence, guiding cross‑functional teams and embedding best practices without direct lineандидатauthority
• Confident working across disciplines, sharing knowledge, and building capability in others

• 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
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Company Share Scheme – open to every Vertical employee
• Company Pension Scheme – יקט 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.