Flight Controls Engineer

esaero; San Luis Obispo (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & Wellness

Paid Time Off

Life Insurance

Health Savings Account

Retirement Savings

Paid Holidays

Work Environment

Ideal Location

Job summary

ESAero is seeking a Flight Controls Engineer to lead and support the simulation and development of advanced control systems for conventional and unique configurations including multi-propulsor eVTOL and CTOL aircraft. The role spans from design to flight test and cross-functional integration in San Luis Obispo, CA.

You will work on flight dynamics, optimal and adaptive controls, and system identification, collaborating with aerodynamics, propulsion, avionics, software, and testing teams to

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering or equivalent.
• 2+ years of flight controls and simulation engineering experience.
• Experience in UAS and unmanned aircraft design.
• Good understanding of complex aircraft dynamics (aero, structures, control).
• Experience simulating non-linear complex aircraft sub-systems and systems.
• Experience with frequency and time domain system analysis.
• Control system simulation, implementation, test, and verification experience.
• Familiarity with implementation of embedded real-time control system.
• Familiarity with system identification of aircraft from flight test.
• Fundamental understanding of other disciplines (Aerodynamics, Structures, Electrical Eng., Embedded systems).

Responsibilities

• Development of flight dynamics simulations ranging from conventional aircraft to complex VTOL with rotor dynamics.
• Design, development, and implementation of optimal and adaptive flight controls and guidance laws for reconfigurable aircraft.
• Development of flight test maneuvers for system verification and identification.
• System identification in time and frequency domain.
• Support integration and test of aircraft for flight test.
• Collaborate closely with aerodynamics, propulsion, avionics, software, systems engineering, and flight test teams to ensure successful integration of flight control systems.
• Actively work on improving processes, methods, and tools for flight control.
• Conduct peer reviews and collaborate with cross-functional teams.
• Support flight operations during ground and flight test activities, including pre-flight readiness reviews and post-flight analysis.
• Participate in safety assessments, failure mode analyses, and system-level trade studies.

Skills

Flight dynamics

Control systems

Embedded RT control

System identification

Flight test support

Cross-disciplinary collaboration

Education

Bachelors in Aerospace Engineering

Masters in Aerospace Engineering

Job description

Flight Controls Engineer

Job Summary:

ESAero is seeking an experienced Flight ControlsEngineer withfixed wing,rotorcraft,and flight test experience to join our team in San Luis Obispo, CA. The engineer will lead and support the simulation and development of advanced control systems forconventional anduniqueconfigurationsofaircraftincluding multi-propulsor eVTOL and CTOLaircraftat all scales (VTOL sUAS to eVTOLmannedplatforms, research platforms, CTOL Distributed Electric Propulsionaircraft). This is a multi-functional role that will also require candidates to be involved in all phases of design and development of new platforms collaborating with other engineering disciplines and project personnel.

Responsibilities and Duties:

• Development of flight dynamics simulationsranging fromconventionalaircraftto complexVTOLwithrotor dynamics.

• Design, development, and implementation ofoptimaland adaptive flight controls and guidance laws for reconfigurableaircraft

• Development of flight test maneuvers for system verification and identification

• System identification in time a frequency domain

• Support integration and test ofaircraftfor flight test

• Collaborate closely with aerodynamics, propulsion, avionics, software, systems engineering, and flight test teams to ensure successful integration of flight control systems within the overallaircraftarchitecture.

• Actively work on improving processes, methods, and tools for flight control

• Conduct peer reviews and collaborate with cross-functional teams

• Support flight operations during ground and flight test activities, including pre-flight readiness reviews, real-time test monitoring, post-flight analysis, and troubleshooting of flight control system issues.

• Participate in safety assessments, failure mode analyses, and system-level trade studies to ensure flight control architectures meet reliability, redundancy, and airworthiness requirements.

Required Qualifications and Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineeringor equivalent.

• 2+ years of flight controls andsimulation engineering experience.

• Experience in UAS andmannedaircraftdesign

• Goodunderstanding of complexaircraftdynamics (aero, structures, control)

• Experience simulating non-linear complexaircraftsub-systems and systems

• Experience with frequency and time domain system analysis

• Control system simulation, implementation, test, and verification experience

• Familiarity with implementation of embedded real-time control system

• Familiarity with system identification ofaircraftfrom flight test

• Fundamental understanding of other disciplines (Aerodynamics, Structures, Electrical Eng., Embedded systems)

DesiredQualifications and Skills:

• Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineeringor equivalent and

• Experience with non-linear controls and analysis (adaptive control, neural networks, machine learning)

• Experience with implementation of embedded real-time control systems

• Experience designing to FAA and Military standards relating to the control system design foraircraft.

• Experience with system identification ofaircraftfrom flight test

• Experience with Risk Management

• Familiarity with FAA and Military standards relating to the control system design foraircraft.

Comprehensive Benefits & Perks:

• Health & Wellness:Choose from three health, dental, and vision plans - including a 100% employer-paid option covering both employees and their families.

• Paid Time Off:Enjoy 120 hours of PTO, 80 hoursaccruedplus anadditional40 hours of holiday break pay in addition to Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day off.

• Life Insurance:$25,000 employer-paid life insurance policy, with theoptiontopurchaseadditionalcoverage for employees and their families.

• Supplemental Coverage:Access optional benefits such as Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, Accident Insurance, and Critical Illness with Skin Cancer coverage.

• Health Savings Account (HSA):Take advantage of a tax-advantaged HSA to manage medical expenses.

• Retirement Savings:401(k) with a company match to support your financial future.

• Paid Holidays:Enjoy 9 paid holidays throughout the year.

• Work Environment:A casual dress code, complimentary snacks, and a welcoming company culture.

• Ideal Location:Work in an area that offers an outstanding quality of life - a perfect place to live, work, and play!

Company Overview

Empirical Systems Aerospace, Inc (ESAero) is a leader in aerospace engineering, product development, and manufacturing, dedicated to delivering high-quality, innovative, and cost-effective solutions to the industry. We specialize incutting-edgesystem design, rapid product development, precision manufacturing, comprehensive testing, and technology demonstrations to support the evolving needs of the aerospace community. Committed to excellence, on-time delivery, and continuous growth, we invest in infrastructure to expand our manufacturing and aftermarket capabilities whilemaintainingthehighest standards of engineering services.

At ESAero, wedon’tjust build products, we engineer solutions that propel

the aerospace industry forward.

This position is fully on-site at ESAero in San Luis Obispo, CA

ESAero is an equal opportunity employer.

E-Verify participation required for employment.

Must present proof of authorization to work in the United States.

Must be able to pass background check.

PayRange: $90,000 – 120,000 Salary Exempt