Lead GNC, Flight Controls & Handling Qualities Engineer

Aska Fly; Firebaugh (CA); In loco; USD 120.000 - 210.000; Tempo pieno

Descrizione del lavoro

ASKA in California seeks an experienced Flight Controls Engineer to lead hands-on tuning of control laws, PID loops, and GNC integration for autonomous flight. You will coordinate flight-test preparation and lead cross-functional teams to ensure safe, reliable handling qualities.

Proven expertise in MATLAB/Simulink, flight dynamics, and data analysis, plus on-site availability at Eagle Field Airport in Firebaugh, CA. Heavy-drone/EVTOL experience is valued; relocation or travel may be involved.

Competenze

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace, controls, electrical or mechanical engineering, or equivalent demonstrated flight-controls expertise.
• 8+ years in aircraft flight controls, GNC, flight dynamics or handling-qualities development with leadership and flight testing.
• Hands-on flight-controls and GNC on aircraft or UAS with ownership of analysis and test results.
• Experience integrating flight-control systems with autopilot or autonomous-flight functions.
• Proficiency in MATLAB/Simulink and flight-test data analysis.
• Availability for on-site flight-test preparation at Eagle Field Airport, Firebaugh.

Mansioni

• Lead assigned flight-control development and tuning, including PID loops and gains.
• Integrate control laws with autopilot and autonomous-flight functions across interfaces.
• Collaborate with AI Sensor Fusion, flight dynamics and test teams to compare predictions with actual behavior.
• Evaluate performance in simulation and hardware-in-the-loop environments before flight tests.
• Develop flight-test objectives, plans and measurement requirements linking controls to handling-qualities.
• Coordinate configuration, instrumentation, readiness and test procedures with pilots and leadership.
• Analyze flight-test data, investigate anomalies and document evidence for parameter changes.
• Maintain versioned configurations, test records and traceability; lead reviews and mentor engineers.
• Establish and improve GNC evaluations with safety specialists and refine test coverage.

Conoscenze

Flight controls engineering

GNC integration

PID tuning

Technical leadership

Formazione

Bachelors in aerospace engineering

Strumenti

MATLAB/Simulink

Descrizione del lavoro

Shape how ASKA flies. Bring hands-on aircraft or UAS controls experience to our drive-and-fly vehicle, tuning aircraft response and connecting autonomous-flight functions with stable, predictable handling demonstrated through simulation and flight testing.

Lead hands-on guidance, navigation and control (GNC) integration, flight-control tuning and handling-qualities development for ASKA. This role combines control-law and PID (proportional–integral–derivative) tuning with engineering leadership of flight-test preparation and evaluation. We are especially interested in eVTOL/VTOL and heavy-drone controls experience. Relevant experience on larger aircraft is preferred, and candidates from other aircraft or UAS backgrounds are encouraged to explain how their skills transfer. Aircraft type and weight are not eligibility cutoffs. Work with autonomous-flight, AI Sensor Fusion & digital twin, flight-dynamics and test teams to connect autonomous-flight commands with measured aircraft behavior.

Employment Full-time proposed

Location & work arrangement Eagle Field Airport · on-site availability for flight-test preparation and campaigns; schedule and travel arrangements to be discussed

Hands-on control-law and PID tuning, handling-qualities development, GNC integration and engineering leadership of flight-test preparation, readiness and evaluation for the assigned workstream.

Key working interfaces

Works with the Lead Autonomous Flight & Flight Controls Engineer, who owns overall airborne autonomy architecture and integrated delivery. ASKA-071 leads hands-on controls tuning, handling-quality improvements and their flight-test campaign. The Flying Qualities & Flight Dynamics Engineer supplies dynamics models, evaluation criteria and response analysis. AI Sensor Fusion & digital twin supplies fused information and model predictions. Test Engineering supports instrumentation and data reduction; pilots/operators and Maintenance retain their designated operational and maintenance authority.

What you’ll do

• Lead assigned flight-control development and tuning work, including PID control loops, gain scheduling and evaluation of aircraft stability, response and handling qualities.
• Integrate and verify control laws with autopilot and autonomous-flight functions, coordinating guidance, navigation, sensor and aircraft interfaces with the responsible engineers.
• Work with AI Sensor Fusion & digital twin and flight-dynamics engineers to compare predicted and measured behavior and investigate model, sensor or controller discrepancies.
• Evaluate control performance and robustness in simulation and software-in-the-loop/hardware-in-the-loop environments before approved aircraft testing.
• Develop flight-test objectives, plans, test cards and measurement requirements that connect control changes to measurable handling-quality and aircraft-response results.
• Coordinate aircraft configuration, instrumentation, crew readiness, approved operating limits and test procedures with pilots, maintenance, safety and program leadership.
• Analyze flight-test data, investigate anomalies and document the evidence supporting control-parameter changes and subsequent evaluation steps.
• Maintain versioned control configurations, tuning rationale, test records and requirements-to-verification traceability; lead technical reviews and mentor supporting engineers.
• Establish and continually improve GNC and handling-qualities evaluations with flight-test and safety specialists; define measurable criteria, repeatable analysis and configuration traceability, and use findings to refine test coverage within the approved test scope.

Required qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace, controls, electrical or mechanical engineering, or equivalent demonstrated flight-controls engineering expertise.
• 8+ years in aircraft flight controls, GNC, flight dynamics or handling-qualities development, including hands-on technical leadership and participation in aircraft flight testing.
• Hands-on flight-controls, GNC or handling-qualities engineering experience on aircraft or UAS, with clear personal ownership of analysis, development, integration or test results.
• Direct responsibility for developing and tuning flight-control laws, including PID (proportional–integral–derivative) loops, and evaluating aircraft stability and response using test evidence.
• Experience integrating flight-control systems with autopilot or autonomous-flight functions and verifying the behavior of the integrated system.
• Proficiency in MATLAB/Simulink and flight-test data analysis, with experience validating controls in simulation, hardware-in-the-loop testing and aircraft flight tests.
• Experience developing flight-test plans and test cards, coordinating multidisciplinary readiness and using measured data to demonstrate handling-quality or control-performance improvements.
• Availability for on-site flight-test preparation and campaigns at Eagle Field Airport, with clear technical communication, configuration discipline and documented operating boundaries.

Preferred qualifications

Most relevant: hands-on eVTOL/VTOL and heavy-drone (UAS) flight-controls, autonomy and handling-qualities experience. Platforms with maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of 3,000 lb or greater are preferred; 5,000 lb or greater is especially valuable, with experience closer in scale to ASKA’s approximately 7,000 lb vehicle particularly relevant. These weights refer to aircraft maximum takeoff weight, not payload capacity, and are preferences rather than minimum eligibility requirements. Helicopter experience is an additional advantage, not a requirement. Candidates from smaller UAS, fixed-wing aircraft and other relevant platforms are welcome; explain the transferable engineering work you personally delivered. Experience with fly-by-wire or hybrid-electric aircraft, ADS-33 handling-qualities evaluation, system identification, CIFER or CONDUIT, and C/C++ flight-control software is valuable. Formal flight-test engineer or test-pilot-school training is a plus; pilot credentials are not required for this engineering role.

AI tools and automation: Strongly preferred where programming is a substantial part of the role: hands-on use of Claude Code, OpenAI Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot or equivalent tools for development, debugging, test automation, code review or analysis scripts. Include relevant Python, MATLAB or other scripting experience. Provide a specific example, your contribution, any measured time saved or quality improvement, and how you verified the result. Equivalent tools are welcome.

We welcome transferable experience from related industries. You do not need to meet every preferred qualification. Tell us what you have delivered and how your skills apply to this role.

Location & working arrangements

Eagle Field Airport · 11100 W Eagle Ave, Firebaugh, CA 93622

Eagle Field Airport is our primary development and manufacturing location. Palo Alto area or remote arrangements may be considered for engineering work that does not require hands-on access. All current openings require availability to participate in development and flight-testing activities at Eagle Field Airport from time to time, with advance coordination. Flight-test roles require on-site availability for preparation and campaigns. Scheduling and travel arrangements will be discussed for each role.

About ASKA

At ASKA, we are on a mission to build the world’s first AI sensor fusion and digital twin system that manages autonomous driving and autonomous flying in one vehicle. We are bringing ground and air autonomy together to support the warfighter—moving critical supplies, reaching people in need, and reducing exposure in dangerous environments. Our team works across aircraft engineering, intelligent software, electric propulsion, and advanced manufacturing, with development and testing at Eagle Field Airport in California. Bring your expertise. Take ownership. Help build technology that matters.

ASKA welcomes applicants with diverse backgrounds and relevant experience.