Aircraft Design

Aircraft Design & Performance Engineer

Full Time

Derby

What you will be doing:

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Aircraft Design & Performance Engineer to join the Rolls-Royce Future Platforms team in Derby.

The role is about being one of 2-3 aircraft and vehicle performance engineers in the Rolls-Royce Future Platforms team, part of Group R&T, tasked with developing and maintaining aircraft, aerodynamics and noise capabilities and engaging with internal/external aircraft and performance stakeholders to investigate and appraise novel systems & aircraft. Specific activities likely to include prop/openfan integration, corresponding aircraft performance assessment, methodologies towards BWB/TWB or the design of all-electric assets, in support of RR Core Strategy and Futureproofing. This activity will involve close collaborations with peers in Civil, Defence and in other businesses.

Future Platforms is part of Central Group R&T, providing long-term technology outlook to the organisation, influencing R&T investment and external stakeholders (ranging from airframers to policy makers), supporting the business in engaging external airframers in the beyond-business-as-usual and maintaining an outlook on disruptive technology/platforms/market threats and opportunities. The activity is inherently collaborative and broad with finality the triaging of technical options and the early development of suitable novel assessment methods.

The team designed the Rolls-Royce eVTOL a decade ago but also gave birth to the company Hydrogen Accelerator programme, which it still supports. It collaborates with its peers at Boeing, Embraer, Dassault and others including airlines and airports.

To provide sound knowledge in Aircraft Design & Performance and Systems Design Integration, being responsible for and having knowledge in: problem resolution, defining requirements; designing and integrating products, physical & functional systems & product systems; performing technical analysis; assessing vehicle performance; verifying products, physical & functional systems and components throughout the product lifecycle.

Responsibilities

• Apply understanding of aircraft/vehicle/system, performance to design and/or appraise new concepts technically, operationally and, ideally, economically
• Develop & maintain tool capability is aircraft ad aerodynamics performance in the beyond business as usual (e.g. BWB, TBW, open fan aircraft, electric aircraft)
• Apply understanding of gas turbine product and other powerplant operation, product systems, sub-systems and interactions. Integrate and manage interfaces
• Design of systems using Systems Engineering principals including the use of Robust
• Design tools & techniques to achieve optimum solutions at product and sub-system level; this could include prop/fan work and impact on noise for example
• Applying knowledge of the importance of determining, managing & flowing system level requirements
• Planning and management of product change, design technical approval and technical investigations
• Verifying that the system meets the requirements and ownership of standardisation reports
   

Why Rolls-Royce?

Work with us and we'll welcome you into a culture of caring and belonging where you can be yourself. We will listen first, embrace feedback and act with integrity. We will invest in your continuous learning and development, and make sure you have access to a wide breadth and depth of opportunities to grow your career and make a difference.

We offer excellent development, a competitive salary, and exceptional benefits. These include bonus, employee support assistance and employee discounts.

Hybrid working is a way in which our people can balance their time between the office, home, or another remote location.  It's a locally managed and flexed informal discretionary arrangement.  As a minimum we're all expected to attend the workplace for collaboration and other specific reasons, frequency will depend on business needs, nature of role, what works for the team and for the individual. Discover more on our GBS Service Portal about hybrid working.

Who we're looking for

• Bachelor's degree or Master's in Engineering or regional equivalent qualification, or equivalent experience
• Strong technical knowledge in aircraft design/performance and mechanical design methodologies and understand cross-discipline engineering concepts which include but are not limited to manufacturing engineering, aerodynamics, thermodynamics, thermal and mechanical analysis, cost engineering and product definition.
• An ability to apply logical, analytical and innovative thinking on a range of technical problems and make balanced decisions across technical and business parameters
• Knowledge and experience of product integrity / liability and certification

Join us & help Rolls-Royce to become a high-performing, competitive, resilient business.

Please be aware that the priority will be given to employees identified as being at high risk.

The professional level and salary of the position will be dependent on the skills and experience of the successful candidate but is anticipated to SNBG 7-10.

This job is advertised at the grades shown, and this is the desired operating level for this role. We encourage applications from candidates with relevant experience from any grade.

It is advised that you inform your current manager of your application for this role. 

We are an equal opportunities employer. We're committed to developing a diverse workforce and an inclusive working environment. We believe that people from different backgrounds and cultures give us different perspectives. And the more perspectives we have, the more successful we'll be. By building a culture of respect and appreciation, we give everyone who works here the opportunity to realise their full potential.

Learn more about our global Inclusion Strategy

Grade: SNBG 7-10

Closing Date: 10th December 2025

For further information, please contact: Alison Haw - Alison.-