Role Overview

SkyDrive are looking for a passionate and talented person to fill the role of Flight Characteristics Team Member. The role is multi-disciplinary and applicants must have a passion for new technology whilst working in a lean manor to achieve program objectives and help to SkyDrive deliver a range of certified eVTOLs into the Advanced Air Mobility Eco-System.

The role requires leadership across all aspects of Flight Characteristics analysis for manned Air Mobility products, including :

Define, develop and implement the environment, models and tools for Flight Characteristics analysis
Flight Characteristics analysis and modelling requirements capture
Preparation of Certification Plan, including MoC definition
Interface with Certification Authorities (JCAB/FAA/EASA etc) as required
Integration is a critical aspect of the role and will require interfacing with many disciplines, including Aerodynamics, Simulation, Flight Controls, Test (rigs, ground and flight), requirements management and all activities associated with achieving certification.

The successful candidate will be a critical part of the technical team and requires good interpersonal skills (in a multilingual environment), strong work ethic, efficient self-management, passion to learn new skills and help develop others.

(Scope of change) Reassignment may occur to any other work.

Responsibilities

1. Lead on all Flight Characteristics analysis and be responsible for integrating with aircraft development and certification.

2. Technical authority for Flight Characteristics related decisions.

3. Support aircraft level integration (from Flight Characteristics perspective) by providing

. Flight Characteristics expertise and tools to support the activities of other technical teams.

5. Lead and support planning and execution of Flight Test programme for handling qualities.

6. Key role in development and management of Flight Characteristics analysis and design requirements, from capture, through V&V and compliance for certification.

7. Work closely with the Safety Team to ensure Flight Characteristics aspects are considered in aircraft level safety assessments.

8. Develop best practice by combining knowledge from conventional aerospace and new approaches for eVTOL. Emphasis on the needs of a lean start-up culture with novel designs and unique operational characteristics.

9. Develop and nurture talent with a wide range of backgrounds, experience and skill level.

10. Assist in recruitment activities within the Flight Characteristics team and related areas across the company.

Essential

1. Bachelor’s degree or higher in Aerospace/Aeronautical Engineering or related discipline.

2. Minimum of 10 years experience in Flight Characteristics analysis for certified aerospace vehicles.

3. Demonstrated ability to lead a Flight Characteristics team.

4. Experience of planning and executing flight test programmes for certified aerospace vehicles.

5. Experience working across all aspects of aircraft Flight Characteristics analysis, across all phases of the aircraft life-cycle, from concept generation to certification and entry into service

6. Generated technical requirements for Flight Characteristics discipline and taken responsibility for managing them throughout the life-cycle (capture, mature, validation and verification). Good understanding of aircraft development processes (e.g. ARP4754).

7. Worked across multiple disciplines and skilled at harmonising technical challenges across multiple teams. Excellent project management and inter-personal skills to manage internal and external stakeholders (including suppliers and regulators). Proactive attitude to ensure the optimum outcome for the program.

8. Deep knowledge in one-of Part/CS 23/25/27/29 and experience in developing means of compliance for requirements relating to Flight Characteristics.

9. Ability to question traditional assumptions in the application of regulations, guidance material, and engineering specifications.

10. Developed techniques from blank sheet to aid aircraft design, integration and testing.

11. If no existing experience with multi-copter design, then ability to quickly learn from team members about differences with conventional fixed/rotary wing aircraft.

12. Understanding of rotor blade aerodynamics and rotor dynamics, to a level that impacts Flight Characteristics analysis.

13. Business level English and able to build positive relationships in a multilingual environment.

Desirable

1. Flight Characteristics knowledge and experience for multicopters. If no practical experience, then at least an understanding of theory and the challenges associated with certification (and major differences to conventional f/wing or r/wing).

2. Experience of Flight Characteristics analysis for aircraft with fly-by-wire control system.

3. Understanding of aerodynamics of multi-copters and impact on Flight Characteristics requirements and analysis.

4. Experienced with direct discussions with regulators and participation in standards groups for development of new technology.

5. Adopted new technology in aerospace and developed novel aircraft configurations and/or negotiated alternative means of compliance with regulators.

6. Comfortable with analysis tools such as MATLAB/Simulink, FlightLab, Python etc

7. Knowledge of proposed eVTOL regulations and means of compliance.