Aircraft Architect

Title: Aircraft Architect

Reporting to: Systems Engineering Manager

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AALTO’s Zephyr is a High-Altitude Platform Station (HAPS) and is the only one of its kind to have demonstrated day/night longevity in the stratosphere. Providing a persistent and adaptable solution, unlike other unmanned aircraft. Its persistence enables a capability of flying continuously for months at a time, at around 70,000 feet, above weather and conventional air traffic.

The newly established entity shall become the leading Global HAPS Connectivity as a Service (CaaS) provider for the Mobile and Satellite Network Operator market – connecting the diverse needs of our customers – whether for rural, overlay capacity, disaster recovery or new services provision. In addition, it shall offer Platform as a Service (PaaS) to the Institutional and Military markets for Earth observation, tracking and communications requirements, as well as operating a global fleet of carbon neutral HAPS platforms – powered by sunlight.

Job Purpose:

As an Aircraft Architect, you will play a pivotal role in the design, development, and operations of the Zephyr system. Leveraging your extensive experience and expertise in aircraft architect engineering and air operations. You will lead and contribute to complex engineering projects, ensuring they meet performance, safety, and aviation standards. You will work closely with cross-functional teams to ensure successful implementation, meeting project objectives, and adhering to safety and regulatory requirements, while complementing other Aircraft Architects through strong mechanical and structural expertise.

Responsibilities:

• Aircraft Architecture and Integration:

  • Define and maintain the aircraft structural and mechanical system architecture, including primary and secondary structures, interfaces, and load paths.

  • Conduct aircraft-level design trades balancing weight, strength, stiffness, durability, aeroelastic behaviour, thermal effects, and manufacturability.

  • Ensure coherent integration with propulsion, avionics, and other aircraft Systems.

• System Modelling and Trade Studies:

  • Develop and apply top-level engineering models to support architectural decisions and system-level understanding.

  • Lead multidisciplinary trade studies, evaluating design options across performance, mass, structural efficiency, and operational constraints.

  • Provide quantitative support to key decisions using simplified and fit-for-purpose modelling approaches.

  • Ensure modelling activities remain aligned with programme maturity and engineering needs.

• Structural Engineering Leadership:

  • Provide technical authority in structural design and stress analysis.

  • Review and challenge design solutions to ensure robustness, efficiency, and certification readiness.

  • Guide the appropriate application of structural analysis methods and tools (e.g. FEA).

• Certification and Compliance:

  • Define and lead structural certification strategies, including means of compliance, substantiation methods, and verification approaches.

  • Act as Compliance Verification Engineer (CVE) where required and interface with certification authorities.

  • Ensure compliance with applicable airworthiness regulations and certification standards.

• Systems Engineering and Lifecycle Integration:

  • Lead structural contributions to requirements definition, decomposition, and traceability.

  • Support and contribute to aircraft and system-level design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR).

  • Ensure alignment between structural design & integrity industrial requirements and programme objectives (system performance, maintainability & sustainability and operational/industrial cost requirements).

  • Support and contribute to configuration control governance (ECO, CCB), ensuring that structural and mechanical changes are properly assessed, justified, and aligned with the overall aircraft architecture.

• Testing and Flight Validation:

  • Define and oversee structural verification and validation activities, including ground testing and correlation with analysis.

  • Support flight test campaigns, including definition of instrumentation and assessment of in-flight structural performance.

  • Contribute to the interpretation of test data and validation of design assumptions.

• Customer and Stakeholder Engagement:

  • Act as a key technical interface with Chief Engineers, customers, and senior stakeholders.

  • Support technical reviews, trade studies, and design discussions with internal and external stakeholders.

  • Translate customer needs into coherent and achievable aircraft architectural solutions.

• Supplier and Industrial Interface:

  • Provide technical oversight of structural suppliers and partners, ensuring compliance with requirements and specifications.

  • Support supplier selection, technical reviews, and resolution of engineering issues.

• Risk and Safety Management:

  • Identify and manage structural risks, including failure modes, design margins, and manufacturing considerations.

  • Support aircraft-level safety assessments leveraging structural expertise.

  • Ensure appropriate mitigation strategies are defined and implemented.

• Leadership and Technical Influence:

  • Provide technical leadership and mentoring within the engineering team.

  • Influence aircraft-level decisions through sound engineering judgement.

  • Promote best practices in structural engineering, certification processes, and system integration.

Experience and Qualifications:

• Experience:

  • +10 years of experience in composite airframe structural analysis with proven experience in technical leadership & coordination roles.

  • Proven experience in aircraft primary structure certification against civil specifications such as CS23, CS25 or any other applicable to this domain.

  • Proficiency in advanced structural analysis software and tools (e.g., ANSYS, PATRAN/NASTRAN).

  • Proven experience as an EASA CVE / FAA DER approver or any similar technical delegation is desirable for this position.

  • Flight test experience or involvement is desirable.

• RPAS Systems: Proven experience in the design, integration, and testing of RPAS systems is desirable.

• Education: Bachelor’s or master’s degree in aerospace engineering, or a related field.

• Technical Skills:

  • Strong expertise in structural analysis (static, fatigue, stability, aeroelasticity) and lightweight aerospace structures.

  • Experience supporting architectural trade-offs and use of engineering models at aircraft level.

  • Working knowledge of systems engineering principles and tools (e.g. DOORS, JAMA).

  • Familiarity with applicable airworthiness regulations and certification frameworks.

• Communication: Excellent communication, leadership, and teamwork abilities.

• Regulatory Knowledge: Familiarity with the certification process and the ability to act as a liaison with regulatory authorities.

• Problem-Solving: Exceptional problem-solving and analytical skills.

• Aviation Standards: Knowledge of relevant industry standards and best practices in systems engineering.

• MBSE Experience: Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) experience is preferred.

Positioning within the Team

Provides aircraft-level architectural leadership with a strong mechanical and structural background, complementing other Aircraft Architects (e.g. avionics-focused) to ensure balanced multidisciplinary coverage across the aircraft

At AALTO, we offer an exceptional work environment that values your well-being and rewards your dedication. As part of our team, you'll experience the freedom of flexible working that enables you to achieve a healthy work-life balance. We believe in recognizing your hard work and commitment, which is why we provide a fantastic bonus scheme that rewards your contributions. Additionally, we understand the importance of financial security and support your future with a competitive pension plan. When you join us, you become part of a workplace that not only encourages your professional growth but also cares about your personal fulfilment and financial stability.

AALTO HAPS Ltd. is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status or pregnancy and maternity.

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