Sr. Engineer I - Flight Controls Engineer - GW (P00077)

Job Title: UAV Flight Dynamics & Control Engineer

Job Summary:

We are seeking an experienced UAV Flight Dynamics & Control Engineer to join our R&D team focused on developing advanced VTOL UAV platforms. The selected candidate will play a key role in designing, implementing, and validating flight control algorithms to ensure UAV stability, performance, and autonomy. This role demands strong expertise in UAV autopilot platforms such as Ardupilot, Embention Veronte, and other commercial flight control systems. You will work in a dynamic R&D setting and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to deliver innovative UAV solutions.

Responsibilities:

• Design and develop flight dynamics models and control architectures for VTOL UAVs.
• Implement, simulate, and optimize control laws for stability, guidance, and navigation.
• Create and maintain mathematical models and simulations for accurate performance predictions.
• Develop and test flight control algorithms in SIL and HIL simulations in various autopilot systems.
• Integrate autopilot systems with onboard avionics, navigation, and mission management software.
• Perform simulation modelling using MATLAB/Simulink and validate with real-world flight test data.
• Analyse performance data from flight tests and iterate control logic to improve response and robustness.
• Collaborate with avionics, mechanical, and software teams for integrated system development.
• Ensure redundancy, safety, and fail-safe mechanisms are incorporated into flight control systems.
• Document control algorithms, system architecture, and validation reports.
• Stay updated on regulatory requirements and industry best practices.
• Drive innovation in autonomous flight systems, including sensor fusion, adaptive control, and fault-tolerant control techniques.

Experience / Skills:

• Hands-on experience with UAV flight testing and post-flight data analysis.
• Proficient in Ardupilot, Embention Veronte, and other autopilot ecosystems.
• Strong theoretical knowledge in Flight Mechanics, Control Theory, and Stability Analysis.
• Experience in control system development, tuning, and optimization for autonomous flight.
• Proficiency with MATLAB, Simulink, and flight simulation tools.
• Familiarity with communication protocols (CAN,UART,SPI,I2C, MAVLink) and embedded systems.
• Experience in trajectory optimization and non-linear, multi-objective optimization techniques.
• Understanding of sensor integration, including GPS, IMUs, air data sensors, and magnetometers.
• Capability to conduct independent feasibility assessments and system architecture reviews.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to system-level integration.
• High level of self-motivation and ownership in an agile R&D environment.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Aeronautics, or related field.
• Minimum 3+ years of experience in UAV control systems development and flight dynamics.

Team Skills:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work in a multi-disciplinary, distributed team environment.
• Demonstrated adaptability, critical thinking, and leadership capabilities.
• Commitment to timelines and project goals.

This UAV Flight Dynamics & Control Engineer role develops and validates flight-control systems for VTOL aircraft. The work spans control models and algorithms, autopilot and avionics integration, simulation, and analysis of flight-test results in an R&D environment.

Role at a glance

Skills mentioned

What you will likely work on

• Develop flight-dynamics models and control architectures for VTOL UAVs.
• Implement, simulate, tune, and optimize control laws for stability, guidance, and navigation.
• Build and maintain mathematical models and use simulation to predict performance.
• Test algorithms in SIL and HIL environments across autopilot systems.
• Integrate autopilots with avionics, navigation, and mission-management software.
• Validate simulations against flight tests, analyze results, and refine control behavior.
• Build in redundancy, safety, and fail-safe behavior; assess sensor fusion and fault-tolerant approaches.
• Coordinate integrated system development with avionics, mechanical, and software colleagues, and document designs and validation.

Good fit signals

• At least three years developing UAV control systems and flight dynamics is required.
• Hands-on UAV flight testing and post-flight data analysis are relevant to the work.
• Strong knowledge of flight mechanics, control theory, and stability analysis supports the core modeling and control tasks.
• Experience with ArduPilot, Embention Veronte, MATLAB, Simulink, and flight simulation tools aligns with the stated toolset.
• Aerospace or aeronautics education, systems-level problem solving, and effective multidisciplinary communication are useful foundations.