Principal Engineer - Performance

About the role

The Principal Engineer – Performance leads the Sizing and Performance function, translating mission needs into vehicle performance constraints and delivering rigorous analysis across the aerospace development lifecycle.

Key responsibilities

• Define and execute performance analyses for take‑off, climb, cruise, range, endurance, ceiling, speed and degraded‑mode conditions.
• Develop and maintain point‑performance, mission‑analysis, trajectory, sizing and optimization models.
• Integrate aerodynamic, propulsion, mass‑properties, structural, energy and systems data to produce credible vehicle‑level performance.
• Lead trade studies, sensitivity and uncertainty analyses, and manage performance budgets, margins and reserves.
• Support test planning, data reduction, model validation and major engineering reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, etc.).

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Aeronautical, Mechanical, Systems, Electrical, Energy, Applied Mathematics or related field.
• Typically 10+ years of aircraft or aerospace vehicle design, flight‑mechanics, sizing or performance engineering experience.
• Proven experience predicting or substantiating performance of complex aerospace systems (aircraft, UAV, missile, rotorcraft, eVTOL, etc.).
• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary, safety‑critical, configuration‑controlled environment.

Required skills

• MATLAB
• Python
• Modelica
• CAD/parametric geometry tools
• Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
• Flight dynamics and systems engineering tools
• Requirements management and PLM processes
• Configuration‑management procedures