Flight Control Systems Engineer

Matchtech; Leeds; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Matchtech is seeking a hands-on Flight Control Engineer to develop and deploy novel flight-control algorithms for a flagship UAS programme in the UK. You will ensure stability, controllability and testability, enabling safe, repeatable operations on real hardware.

Role covers flight dynamics modelling, control-law development, tuning, simulation and integration of autopilot systems, with close collaboration across avionics, software and test teams.

Qualifications

• Strong background in flight control, control systems, autonomy, robotics or aerospace controls.
• Experience developing and testing control algorithms on real-world hardware.
• Experience with modelling, simulation, testing and V&V.
• Ability to analyse flight-test data and diagnose control issues.
• Familiar with IMUs, GNSS/INS, actuators and onboard systems.

Responsibilities

• Develop and evolve flight-control algorithms for UAS platforms.
• Take algorithms from simulation ground test flight test, owning verification/validation evidence.
• Support flight dynamics modelling, control-law development, tuning and simulation work.
• Configure, tune and integrate autopilot systems where appropriate.
• Support Guidance, Navigation & Control (GNC) integration and sensor/actuator troubleshooting.
• Contribute to SIL/HIL test strategies and tooling.
• Support system identification, flight-test planning and flight-data analysis.
• Work closely with avionics, aerospace design, software, operations and test teams.
• Document configuration, test results, readiness status and validation outputs to a high standard.

Skills

Flight control systems

Autonomy

Robotics

Aerospace controls

Control theory

Job description

We're hiring a hands-on Flight Control Engineer to develop and deploy novel flight-control algorithms for a flagship UAS programme, helping ensure the aircraft is stable, controllable, testable and ready for safe, repeatable operations.

Location: Yorkshire

Type: Permanent

What you'll do

• Develop and evolve flight-control algorithms/control approaches for UAS platforms
• Take algorithms from simulation ground test flight test, owning verification/validation evidence
• Support flight dynamics modelling, control-law development, tuning and simulation work
• Configure, tune and integrate autopilot systems where appropriate
• Support Guidance, Navigation & Control (GNC) integration and sensor/actuator troubleshooting
• Contribute to SIL/HIL test strategies and tooling
• Support system identification, flight-test planning and flight-data analysis
• Work closely with avionics, aerospace design, software, operations and test teams
• Document configuration, test results, readiness status and validation outputs to a high standard

What we're looking for (essential)

• Strong background in flight control / control systems / autonomy / robotics / aerospace controls
• Experience developing and testing control algorithms on real-world hardware
• Practical UAS/UAV/aircraft/robotics/autonomous platform exposure
• Solid understanding of flight dynamics, control theory, stability and tuning
• Experience with modelling, simulation, testing and V&V
• Ability to analyse flight-test data and diagnose control/stability issues
• Comfortable with IMUs, GNSS/INS, actuators, sensor-fusion and onboard systems

Nice to have

• Novel control laws for unconventional aircraft/UAS