Sr. Manager, Flight Simulation and Handling Qualities

Supernal is at the forefront of creating emerging mobility solutions that will foster the development of human-centered cities. We are designing a completely new electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft tailored to the mobility needs of future cities. This allows passengers a seamless intermodal journey that safely transports them to their final destination. We fuse research in autonomy, robotics, aviation and services to define a new category of mobility for the world’s communities. We believe in creative thinking and collaboration to help build a better mobility experience for everyone, improving people’s ability to move – whether for work or play.

The Sr. Engineering Manager is responsible for staffing and leading two teams – the Flight Simulation Team and the Handling Qualities Team. Approximately 40% of the time will be spent staffing, leading, and managing the teams in completing multiple programs and in developing the teams’ capabilities. The remaining 60% will be spent contributing technically. As a member of the larger Engineering, Research, and Development (ER&D) organization, you’ll also interact and coordinate with other collaborators to achieve broader programmatic and functional objectives. This role is physically located in Irvine, CA.

• Work with the teams, the Product Management Office, the Finance department, and other organizations to plan and manage the teams’ annual budgets
• Hire staff as planned
• Implement methods to ensure the quality of the team’s work
• Manage the performance development for individual engineers and conduct annual performance evaluations for other employees as requested
• Plan, manage, and communicate clearly and concisely on scope, schedule, cost, and risk
• Incorporate models for aerodynamics, rotor dynamics, vehicle dynamics, and acoustics into the flight simulation
• Develop and maintain a real-time flight simulation environment for pilot-in-the-loop and hardware-in-the-loop simulation
• Analyze aircraft aerodynamic stability and control
• Prepare CFD, wind tunnel, and flight test data for FlightLab and Simulink dynamic simulations
• Simulate 6 degree-of-freedom flight dynamic maneuvers
• Devise, prepare, conduct, and report handling qualities task maneuver piloted simulations
• Analyze linear and non-linear flight control system and control law functions
• Maintain and improve sound software development standards and processes
• Rationalize and standardize core methods and capabilities for flight simulation and handling qualities
• Travel domestically and internationally up to 25% of the time
• Other duties as assigned

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering; advanced degree preferred
• A minimum of fifteen (15) years of experience in flight simulation, stability and control, and/or handling qualities (an equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered)
• Excellent leadership, management, and project planning skills
• Able to communicate complex information clearly and concisely, both verbally and in written form, across multiple levels of the organization - from SME’s to peers, the chief engineer’s office, and corporate executives
• Self-motivated; pro-active; attentive to detail and schedule
• Expertise in physics-based Flight Simulation, Aircraft Stability & Control, and Handling Qualities for eVTOL or rotorcraft using FlightLab, Matlab, Simulink, and Conduit

• Experience in the eVTOL industry preferred

Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a background check. We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. Individuals with disabilities may request to be provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation at: [email protected]

This position will include access to certain technology and/or software source code, that will be subject to U.S. export control laws. If an export license or other export control authorization is required in connection with your employment, your employment is contingent upon Supernal’s receipt of such license or authorization and approvals and your continued compliance with all conditions and limitations contained in such license or authorization.