Lead Flight Controls Engineer - VTOL & Hybrid Aircraft

Skyways; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 130,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Skyways designs, builds, and operates autonomous cargo aircraft from Austin, Texas. This hands-on controls role spans VTOL, transition, and fixed-wing flight, with tuning in simulation and validation on the aircraft.

You will work side-by-side with AI agents while delivering production-ready control solutions. You will contribute to a fast-moving GNC team in a high‑growth environment, applying control theory, real-time C++/Python, and flight tests to increase reliability and mission success.

Qualifications

• Strong fundamentals in control theory and aircraft or rotorcraft dynamics.
• Experience implementing flight or vehicle control laws in production code.
• Fluency in C++ and Python in real time or embedded systems.
• Hands on experience with controller tuning, simulation, and field or flight test.
• Ability to read flight logs, isolate root cause, and present findings clearly.
• Comfort in an early stage environment with fast iteration, incomplete requirements, and calculated risk.
• Ability to work onsite in Austin, TX.

Responsibilities

• Implement and tune control laws across VTOL, fixed wing, and the transition between them.
• Tune in SITL and the V3 digital twin, then validate in ground and flight test.
• Analyze flight logs, find root cause, and turn findings into control fixes.
• Write and own flight test plans with the team.
• Manage a portion of the team's AI agents.

Skills

Control theory

Flight/vehicle control

C++

Python

Controller tuning

Simulation

Flight test

Tools

ArduPilot

PX4

Flight stack

Job description

Skyways designs, builds, and operates autonomous cargo aircraft from Austin, Texas. This hands-on controls role spans VTOL, transition, and fixed-wing flight, with tuning in simulation and validation on the aircraft.

You will work side-by-side with AI agents while delivering production-ready control solutions. You will contribute to a fast-moving GNC team in a high‑growth environment, applying control theory, real-time C++/Python, and flight tests to increase reliability and mission success.