Lead- Aircraft Performance

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 Lead- Aircraft Performance professional to join our expanding team and contribute to the success of our eVTOL program.

Job Overview

We are looking for an experienced Lead - Aircraft Performance to join our team at Sarla Aviation. This person is responsible for analysing and optimising the aircraft performance characteristics of our eVTOL, across all phases of flight and operating environments. As the Lead - Aircraft Performance, you will leverage your knowledge of eVTOL systems to define, model, and improve performance, while also collaborating closely with our diverse team to ensure the aircraft delivers best-in-class efficiency, capability, and safety across a variety of missions.

Key Responsibilities

• Define, analyse, and optimise aircraft performance for eVTOL aircraft, ensuring optimal safety, capability, and efficiency.
• Develop performance models, methods, and tools to assess take-off, climb, cruise, hover, transition, and landing performance under a variety of operating conditions.
• Build and run simulations to evaluate aircraft performance margins, mission capability, and sensitivity to environment, configuration, and weight.
• Collaborate with the aerodynamics, propulsion, flight controls, avionics, and systems teams to embed performance requirements into the overall vehicle design.
• Define aircraft performance requirements and ensure alignment with certification and operational regulations (e.g., FAA, EASA performance requirements).
• Work with flight controls and avionics engineers to ensure performance models and assumptions are correctly represented in control laws, guidance, and automation.
• Support test plans and validate aircraft performance using ground tests, flight tests, and data analysis, refining models and assumptions based on results.
• Continuously improve performance tools, methods, and datasets, and address emerging performance issues or gaps.
• Prepare and maintain detailed performance documentation and reports for internal stakeholders and regulatory authorities to support certification and operations.
• Stay current with industry developments in aircraft and eVTOL performance, and incorporate relevant best practices and innovations.
  
  

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in aerospace engineering or a related field.
• 12-15 years of experience in aircraft performance, ideally within the eVTOL, advanced air mobility (AAM), or rotorcraft/vertical flight domain.
• Proven expertise developing and using aircraft performance models and methods for fixed-wing and/or vertical flight vehicles.
• Strong understanding of flight dynamics, aerodynamics, propulsion, and aircraft performance across different phases of flight.
• Familiarity with performance-related handling qualities criteria (e.g., ADS-33) and their implications for vehicle performance and control.
• Expertise with modelling and simulation tools for aircraft performance analysis (e.g., MATLAB/Simulink or equivalent).
• Familiarity with eVTOL or aircraft certification processes and performance-related regulatory frameworks (such as FAA and EASA).
• Experience working with safety-critical aerospace systems and understanding of relevant industry standards.
  
  

• Additional certifications or training in aircraft performance, flight mechanics, or eVTOL technologies.
• Experience defining performance requirements and supporting design and validation for autonomous or semi-autonomous aircraft.
• Demonstrated experience with performance aspects of flight simulation systems, including the use of simulated data for performance validation.
• Proficient in system integration and cross-functional coordination with various technical teams (aerodynamics, propulsion, avionics, structures, flight controls, etc.).
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and troubleshooting skills.
• Strong interpersonal abilities and the ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic team setting.