Junior Battery Manufacturing Engineer

Graduate Manufacturing Engineer

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 realize 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 delivering on our ambitious goals. Valo is targeting airliner-level safety certification in 2028 ahead of entering service with our airline and operator customers.

We are now seeking a Graduate Manufacturing Engineer to join our Battery Manufacturing Engineering team, contributing to the development and industrialization of our advanced aerospace battery systems.

This is a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of electrification, aerospace, and next-generation manufacturing. Supporting in-house battery development and production in a highly regulated, safety-critical environment.

You'll play a hands-on role in maturing manufacturing processes as we transition from prototype builds toward low-rate initial production.

As a Graduate Manufacturing Engineer within the Battery Manufacturing team, you will:

• Contribute to the development and optimization of manufacturing processes for battery assembly
• Support the design and validation of production tooling, fixtures, and equipment — with increasing ownership as your capability develops
• Develop and maintain process documentation, including work instructions, PFMEAs, control plans, and standard operating procedures
• Support process trials, capability studies, and data-driven process improvements
• Work closely with Design, Test, Quality, and Supply Chain teams to ensure manufacturability and scalability of battery designs
• Participate in structured root cause investigations (e.g. 8D, DMAIC) and drive corrective actions as part of continuous improvement initiatives
• Support the transition of battery builds from prototype to low-rate initial production
• Ensure all processes are developed in line with aerospace quality and safety standards

This is real industrialization experience, in a certification-driven aerospace environment.

By the end of your first year, you'll have developed:

• Practical experience in aerospace battery manufacturing and industrialization
• Exposure to full product lifecycle development — from concept through to production
• A strong foundation in process validation, quality documentation, and regulated manufacturing
• Hands-on experience applying Lean, Six Sigma and structured problem-solving tools
• Confidence working cross-functionally in a multidisciplinary engineering environment

You'll gain structured development and mentorship within a high-performing engineering team, with exposure to certification-driven manufacturing and support toward professional accreditation where applicable.

We're looking for motivated and curious graduates who are excited by the challenge of building something truly new.

You'll ideally have:

• A degree (or expected degree) in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline
• A strong interest in manufacturing process development and industrialization
• An understanding of manufacturing principles such as Lean, Six Sigma, or Design for Manufacture (DFM)
• Knowledge of manufacturing techniques such as precision assembly, bonding, welding, automation, or testing (desirable but not essential)
• An understanding of process simulation or discrete event modelling tools, together with model validation
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• The ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary environment
• Comfort working within a regulated, safety-critical aerospace environment with strong attention to detail and documentation discipline

Previous internship, placement, or project experience in manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, or battery-related environments would be advantageous.

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 individual performance
• Company Share Scheme - open to every Vertical employee
• Company Pension Scheme - 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.

We encourage you to apply even if you may not have all the experience listed in the advert. We recognize that talent comes in various forms and we are committed to providing opportunities that create an environment of growth, diversity, and inclusion for everyone. As part of our desire to review and make our processes fair, we may ask you questions related to these aspects during the application process. For more information on how we will use your data, see our Legal section.