Application Guide
How to Apply for Advanced Design & Release Engineer
at Vertical Aerospace
🏢 About Vertical Aerospace
Vertical Aerospace is revolutionizing personal air travel by developing carbon-free, on-demand eVTOL aircraft, specifically the Valo, targeting airliner-level safety certification by 2028. Unlike traditional aerospace companies, they aim to redefine best practices and move quickly from prototype to scaling SME, offering a unique opportunity to shape the future of electric aviation in a dynamic, mission-driven environment.
About This Role
As an Advanced Design & Release Engineer at Vertical Aerospace, you will be responsible for taking engineering designs from concept to fully released, production-ready hardware, ensuring they are robust, traceable, and certifiable. This role is pivotal in supporting prototype builds, testing, and certification activities, directly contributing to the company's ambitious goal of launching the Valo aircraft by working closely with design, manufacturing, quality, and supply chain teams.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day involves progressing engineering designs through release gates by reviewing and approving drawings, collaborating with manufacturing teams to clarify design intent, and documenting decisions for certification. You might spend time improving design release processes, attending cross-functional meetings with quality or supply chain, and ensuring designs are mature enough to support upcoming prototype builds or testing activities.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Vertical Aerospace Is Looking For
- Has strong mechanical design experience in a regulated engineering environment, such as aerospace, automotive, or medical devices, with a proven track record of formal design release into manufacturing.
- Possesses a deep understanding of drawing standards (e.g., ASME Y14.5), tolerancing, and design best practices, likely gained through hands-on experience in CAD and release processes.
- Holds a degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or a related engineering discipline, with a focus on practical application in fast-paced, innovative settings.
- Thrives on ownership and attention to detail, enjoys improving processes, and can bridge design intent with manufacturing realities in a scaling SME environment.
📝 Tips for Applying to Vertical Aerospace
Highlight specific examples in your resume where you took designs through formal release gates in a regulated industry, quantifying outcomes like reduced lead times or improved certification readiness.
Tailor your application to emphasize experience with electric or aerospace projects, even if tangential, to show alignment with Vertical Aerospace's mission of carbon-free aviation.
Mention any familiarity with eVTOL technology, certification processes (e.g., EASA, FAA), or agile engineering practices, as the company is moving from prototype to scaling quickly.
Demonstrate process improvement skills by describing how you've enhanced design or release workflows in past roles, as this role involves improving processes across the team.
Research and reference Vertical Aerospace's Valo aircraft and 2028 certification target in your application to show genuine interest in their specific goals and timeline.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
["Explain your passion for electric aviation and how your experience in regulated design release aligns with Vertical Aerospace's mission to redefine aerospace best practices.", 'Provide a concrete example of a project where you successfully released designs into manufacturing, highlighting collaboration with cross-functional teams like quality or supply chain.', 'Emphasize your ability to work in a fast-paced, scaling environment, noting any experience with prototype-to-production transitions or SME settings.', "Discuss your understanding of drawing standards and tolerancing, linking it to ensuring certifiable designs for the Valo aircraft's safety targets."]
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Study Vertical Aerospace's Valo aircraft specifications, flight testing updates, and partnerships with airlines or operators to understand their current progress.
- → Research eVTOL industry trends, certification pathways (e.g., EASA SC-VTOL), and competitors to contextualize the company's position and challenges.
- → Look into the company's leadership team, recent funding rounds, and news about their transition from prototype to scaling SME to gauge stability and growth trajectory.
- → Review their public statements on 'redefining aerospace best practices' to align your application with their innovative, non-legacy approach.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting a generic application without mentioning Vertical Aerospace's specific mission, the Valo aircraft, or their 2028 certification goal.
- Overemphasizing theoretical knowledge without concrete examples of design release experience in regulated environments like aerospace or automotive.
- Failing to demonstrate collaboration skills or process improvement initiatives, as this role requires close work with multiple teams and enhancing workflows.
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!
Ready to Apply?
Good luck with your application to Vertical Aerospace!