Senior Manufacturing Engineer - Supplier

Overview

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 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 The Manufacturing Engineer – Supply Chain will lead the delivery of Manufacturing Engineering activities across the supply chain to enable the industrialisation and production of the Valo aircraft. This role is crucial to Vertical Aerospace’s successful transition into production and will be instrumental in technical engagement with suppliers to ensure manufacturing capability, quality, and delivery readiness. The role will support supplier manufacturing readiness, including contribution to supply-chain PPAP activities where appropriate, and the assessment and development of supplier manufacturing capability.

This includes supporting suppliers in achieving appropriate quality accreditations, embedding best practice, and developing rate-readiness through the identification of capacity constraints and production risks. The Manufacturing Engineer will work closely with suppliers to understand and resolve key yield, process, or technical issues impacting product conformity, quality, or delivery performance. The role will also contribute to identifying technical drivers and market-based opportunities to improve cost and value across the supply chain.

• Lead and embed Design for Manufacture (DfM) within our products with a strong emphasis on Composite manufacturing
• Lead development of Manufacturing capabilities for Vertical aerospace including identification of best techniques required for Vertical products
• Support to Supplier PPAP work and technical approvals required
• Responsible for the delivery of Manufacturing Engineering elements of APQP (AS9145)
• Technical engagement with Vertical’s key suppliers ensuring supplier capability is robust and rate-ready
• Identify key market opportunities to improve cost, quality and value
• Support the definition of Manufacturing Engineering best practice
• Develop and industrialise Vertical Aerospace supply chain manufacturing capabilities
• Embed lean manufacturing principles into Vertical Aerospace Production facilities

We are looking for people that will have the following qualifications and experiences:

• 8-10+ years in Aerospace Manufacturing Engineering
• Experience in Technical supplier engagement and capability assessment
• Experience in the industrialisation of composite and complex aerostructures
• Demonstrated delivery of APQP (AS9145) and PPAP with aerospace suppliers
• Implementation of lean manufacturing principles across internal or supplier production systems
• Experience in aircraft component manufacture is highly desirable
• Strong ability to deal with ambiguity
• Strong problem solving, analytical and communication skills

We're on a mission. Where others see limits, we see opportunity, and we work king 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 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…