Senior Aircraft Design Engineer

About Sarla Aviation:

Sarla Aviation is at the forefront of revolutionizing urban air mobility with its cutting-edge eVTOL (electric Vertical Take-off and Landing) aircraft featuring innovative tilt-rotor technology. Sarla Aviation, a pioneer in the development of sustainable, efficient, and safe air transportation systems, is dedicated to influencing the future of aviation. We are seeking a skilled and driven Aircraft Design Engineer to join our expanding team and contribute to the success of our eVTOL program.

About the role:

We are seeking a Senior Aircraft Design Engineer (eVTOL) with8+ years of experience to ownaircraft-level design, integration, and certification readiness for our eVTOL platform.This role is not acomponentdesigner role. You will act asan aircraftarchitect and technical authority, responsible for ensuring that configuration, performance, stability, propulsion integration, and certification constraints converge intoa viable, certifiableaircraft.You will define design philosophy, build internal tools, mentor engineers, and serve as a primary technical interface to regulators and leadership.

Key Responsibilities:

• Leadaircraft-level architecture and configuration design for eVTOL platforms, including lift-cruise propulsion layout, transition concepts, wingpropellerempennage integration, landing gear, and ground operations.
• Drive configuration trade studies considering performance, noise, safety, redundancy, mass properties, and certification feasibility across all flight phases (VTOL, transition, cruise, approach, and landing).
• Driveaerodynamic concept definition and performance modelling, addressing propellerairframe interaction, hover download, transition aerodynamics, edgewise flight, OEI conditions, and mission-level range and endurance.
• Driveair foiland planform strategies balancing hover efficiency, cruise performance, noise, and regulatory constraints, ensuring physics-based use of CFD to support design decisions.
• Lead stability, control, and handling qualities definition across hover, transition, and forward flight, including control allocation, degraded modes, and compliance with FAA/EASA/SC-VTOL/DGCA requirements.
• Act as theaircraft-level systems integrator, applying MBSE principles to manage requirement flow-down, interface control, and cross-disciplinary trade-offs across propulsion, structures, flight controls, energy storage, and avionics.
• Develop and interpret low- to mid-fidelity aero-structural models to guide configuration decisions, assess modalbehaviour, and support load paths, flutter awareness, and certification alignment.
• Develop,validate, and own in-houseaircraftdesign and analysis tools for sizing, performance, stability, and propulsion matching,establishingbest practices and fidelity roadmaps, integrated with Multi-Disciplinary Optimization (MDO) methodologies.
• Lead/Assist inaircraft-level certification strategy, compliance planning, and technical substantiation, serving asone of theinterfaceswith regulatory authorities and embedding certification constraints early in the design.
• Support flight test planning, data correlation, design validation, envelope expansion, and continued airworthiness activities.
• Act as a technical authority and mentor, leading design reviews, guiding junior engineers, and influencing long-termaircraftplatform and technology roadmaps.

Qualifications:

• Bachelors or mastersdegree in aerospace engineeringor a related field.
• 8+years of experience inaircraftdesign, preferably with a focus on eVTOL.
• Solid understanding of aerodynamics,aircraftstructures, and propulsion systems, with hands-on experience in design and analysis.
• Experience with simulation& modellingtools (e.g.,Starccm+, NX,MATLAB, Simulink) for performance analysis and optimization.
• Knowledge of relevant aviation regulations and certification processes (e.g., FAA, EASA) is highly desirable.
• Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to analyse complex engineering problems and propose effective solutions.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
• A passion for innovation, sustainable aviation, and the future of eVTOLaircraft.
• Prior involvement in a certified or certification-boundaircraftprogram.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
• Direct experience in the design and development of composite materials foraircraftstructures.
• Hands-on experience with electric propulsion systems foraircraft.
• Expertisein lightweight materials and composites used inaircraftdesign, including advanced manufacturing techniques.
• Previousexperience in a startup or fast-paced engineering environment.
• Strong background in theaero structuraldesign and optimization ofaircraftcomponents.

Why Join Us?

Be a part of a world-class team in an environment where your work directly contributes to shaping the future of urban air mobility.

Thrive in our culture of diversity, inclusion, and innovation, where your unique perspectives and ideas are valued.

Enjoy a competitive compensation package, with opportunities for growth and development in a rapidly evolving industry.

Sarla Aviation is dedicated to creating a diverse and inclusive workspace, championing equality and empowering every individual. We believe that our strength lies in our differences, not just our similarities. Therefore, we warmly welcome applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of their ethnicity, gender, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or age. Join us at Sarla Aviation, where your unique background and perspective are not just welcomedthey are celebrated.