Flight Sciences Manager

Empirical Systems Aerospace, Inc; San Luis Obispo (CA); On-site; USD 118,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & Wellness plans

120 PTO hours + holiday breaks

Life Insurance

Job summary

Empirical Systems Aerospace, Inc (ESAero) seeks a Manager, Flight Sciences to lead GNC, CFD, and aerodynamic teams, directing the engineering strategy, budget, and staff development. The role oversees hardware-in-the-loop deployment and the integration of embedded flight software, guiding early concepts to hardware-ready solutions.

You will manage a senior engineering group, collaborate with project leaders on staffing and skill gaps, and support reviews.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a highly relevant STEM field.
• Minimum 10+ years of professional engineering experience in an aerospace vehicle development environment with background in Flight Sciences, aerodynamic design, or flight control systems.
• 3+ years of formal leadership or functional management experience directing engineering teams within an integrated aerospace project lifecycle.
• Deep expertise in aerodynamics, flight dynamics, and aircraft stability/control for fixed-wing, rotary-wing, or hybrid missile/UAV systems.
• Proven capability with MATLAB/Simulink, CFD packages, and embedded C/C++ environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead a group of Aerospace and GNC/CFD/aerodynamic engineers with budget, staffing, and career development.
• Manage resources to meet project demands and ensure quality output of the team.
• Drive engineering excellence across GNC, CFD, high-fidelity flight simulation, and aerodynamic design.
• Oversee hardware-in-the-loop environments and deployment of embedded flight software.
• Mentor and evaluate engineering staff and plan technical career paths.

Skills

Leadership experience

Aerodynamics

Flight dynamics

Aircraft stability/control

MATLAB/Simulink

CFD

Embedded C/C++

U.S. Person eligibility

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace/Mechanical/ STEM

Master’s or Ph.D. in flight physics/fluids/control

Tools

MATLAB/Simulink

CFD packages

Embedded software development

C/C++

Job description

Summary:

The Manager, Flight Sciences, coordinates with other departments to meet the milestones during product development cycles. As a member of the Engineering management team, the Flight Sciences Manager oversees the Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC), Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), and Aerodynamic Performance disciplines and participates in defining and executing the overall engineering product development strategy, budget, team development and evaluation.

Position Responsibilities:

• Manages a group of Aerospace and Guidance, Navigation, and Controls engineering professionals, including budget planning, staffing, training, performance evaluation and career development
• Manages resources to meet project demands
• Is responsible for engagement and quality output of the team
• Drive engineering excellence across key specialized disciplines, including Guidance, Navigation & Controls (GNC), Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis, high-fidelity flight simulation, and aerodynamic structural design.
• Direct the development, verification, and validation of hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) environments, ensuring seamless deployment of embedded flight control software via modern software deployment methodologies (e.g., automated Simulink Embedded Coder pipelines, C/C++ builds).
• Guide the team to rapidly mature concepts from early initial sketches into operational hardware integrated with intelligent operating systems.
• Actively manage a high-performing engineering team, providing mentoring, performance evaluations, and structured technical career pathing.
• Coordinate closely with Project leaders to monitor future program demands, execute strategic resource staffing, screen high-caliber engineering talent, and close crucial technical skills gaps.
• Support Flight Sciences Reviews (FSR), and Test Readiness Reviews (TRR).
• Frequently interacts with subordinate supervisors, customers and/or functional peer group managers, normally involving matters between functional areas
• Other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications and Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a highly relevant Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) discipline.
• A minimum of 10+ years of professional engineering experience in an aerospace vehicle development environment, with a demonstrable background in Flight Sciences, aerodynamic design, or flight control systems.
• 3+ years of formal leadership or functional management experience directing engineering teams within an integrated aerospace project lifecycle.
• Deep expertise in aerodynamics, flight dynamics, and aircraft stability/control for fixed-wing, rotary-wing, or hybrid missile/UAV systems.
• Proven capability utilizing modern analytical platforms, such as MATLAB/Simulink, low/high-order CFD packages, and embedded C/C++ environments.
• Must be a U.S. Person as defined by ITAR/EAR.

Desired Qualifications and Skills:

• Master’s degree or a Ph.D. with a research focus in flight physics, fluid dynamics, or advanced control laws.
• Familiarity with open-source flight software frameworks and their application to complex edge-case navigation (e.g., GPS-denied environments).
• Active U.S. Government Secret Security Clearance, with immediate eligibility for Top Secret (TS) and Special Access Programs (SAP) highly preferred.
• Prior hands-on experience managing complex wind tunnel testing, scaling models, or live-fly uncrewed systems testing operations.

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 hours accrued plus an additional 40 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 the option to purchase additional coverage for employeSummary:
  The Manager, Flight Sciences, coordinates with other departments to meet the milestones during product development cycles. As a member of the Engineering management team, the Flight Sciences Manager oversees the Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC), Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), and Aerodynamic Performance disciplines and participates in defining and executing the overall engineering product development strategy, budget, team development and evaluation.

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 in cutting-edge system 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 while maintaining the highest standards of engineering services.

At ESAero, we don’t just 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.

Pay Range: $118,000-$175,000 Salary Exempt