Sr. Engineer, Control Laws (CLAWS) & Handling Qualities

Supernal; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 135,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Supernal in Irvine, CA is seeking a Sr. Engineer, Control Law (CLAWS) & Handling Qualities Engineer to advance air vehicle design, simulation, and flight test through CLAWS model development and handling qualities assessment.

You will collaborate with the Flight Sciences team to evaluate stability, control law behavior, and aircraft response, supporting design reviews, test planning, and cross-functional studies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering or related field required.
• Five (5) years of relevant experience in flight dynamics, controls, or handling qualities.
• Experience with MATLAB/Simulink for modeling, simulation and control integration.
• Experience with engineering simulation environments for aircraft or similar systems.
• Familiarity with real-time or pilot-in-the-loop simulation and hardware-in-the-loop testing.

Responsibilities

• Develop and analyze control laws, assess flight control law behavior and closed-loop response.
• Evaluate stability, controllability, handling qualities, and aircraft response using models and simulations.
• Support analysis of stability augmentation, envelope protection, mode transitions, and fault behaviors.
• Document findings, risks, assumptions, and recommendations for design reviews and discussions.
• Collaborate across groups for integrated aircraft-level technical reviews.

Skills

Flight dynamics

Control law analysis

Handling qualities

MATLAB/Simulink

Real-time simulation

Pilot in the loop

Test planning

Engineering communication

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering

Tools

FLIGHTLAB

Job description

Rise above. Are you ready to take human possibility to a new dimension with us?
The Sr. Engineer, Control Law (CLAWS) & Handling Qualities Engineer supports air vehicle design, simulation, component test, and flight test activities through flight dynamics analysis, control law assessment, and handling qualities evaluation. This role executes CLAWS model development, simulation integration, and handling qualities assessment throughout development stages as part of the Flight Sciences team. The engineer collaborates regularly with the other groups in Supernal.

What you can do:

• Control Laws Development & Analysis
• Review and assess flight control law behavior, control modes, gain schedules, and closed loop aircraft response
• Use flight dynamics models and simulation results to evaluate stability, controllability, handling qualities, and aircraft response characteristics
• Support analysis of stability augmentation, attitude hold, envelope protection, mode transition, and selected failure mode behavior
• Document technical findings, risks, assumptions, and recommendations for design reviews and technical discussions

• Handling Qualities Evaluation
• Support handling qualities evaluations using simulation results, pilot feedback, flight dynamics analysis, and applicable industry guidance
• Assist in defining evaluation maneuvers, simulation cases, assessment criteria, and data review methods
• Support pilot in the loop simulation activities to assess vehicle response, workload, controllability, and pilot vehicle interaction
• Provide technical input to aircraft level design decisions influenced by handling qualities or pilot vehicle interaction

• Simulation, Verification and Test Support
• Support the development, maintenance, and use of flight simulation environments for CLAWS and handling qualities evaluations
• Review simulation model assumptions, control law integration, interfaces, and model fidelity for aircraft response assessment
• Support requirement verification activities using analysis, simulation, ground test data, and flight test data
• Assist with test planning, preflight simulation, and post test data review related to control law and handling qualities evaluations

• Cross‑Functional Collaboration
• Work with other groups in Supernal to support integrated aircraft level technical reviews
• Support multidisciplinary trade studies where control law behavior, vehicle dynamics, or handling qualities affect aircraft design decisions
• Perform additional duties as assigned in support of Flight Sciences and aircraft development activities

What you can contribute:

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, control systems engineering, or a related technical field required
• Minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience
• Experience in flight dynamics, flight controls, control law analysis, handling qualities evaluation, aircraft simulation, or flight test support
• Experience using MATLAB/Simulink for modeling, simulation, control law integration, or dynamic system analysis
• Experience developing, using, or reviewing engineering simulation environments for aircraft, rotorcraft, powered lift aircraft, or other complex vehicle systems
• Experience with physics-based flight dynamics simulation tools such as FLIGHTLAB, or similar aircraft modeling and simulation tools
• Experience with real time simulation, pilot in the loop simulation, hardware in the loop testing, or integrated simulation environments preferred
• Familiarity with aircraft handling qualities, flight control modes, stability and control, system interfaces, or flight test data analysis preferred
• Familiarity with interface messaging, avionics communication protocols, or simulation interface standards such as CIGI preferred
• Experience reviewing supplier, partner, or cross functional engineering deliverables preferred
• General understanding of engineering simulation fundamentals, especially as applied to aircraft flight simulation and vehicle response evaluation
• Strong understanding of flight dynamics, stability and control, and aircraft response characteristics
• Working knowledge of flight control law concepts, including control modes, gain scheduling, stability augmentation, and mode transition behavior
• Understanding of handling qualities fundamentals, including controllability, pilot workload, and pilot vehicle interaction
• Ability to evaluate closed loop aircraft response using simulation results, flight dynamics models, and engineering judgment
• Ability to review simulation model assumptions, control law behavior, test data, and technical limitations
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to independently prioritize and accomplish work within time constraints
• Travel up to approximately 10% domestically and internationally to support simulation events, design reviews, test activities, and program milestones

Base pay offered may vary depending on skills, experience, job-related knowledge and location. This position is also eligible for a bonus as part of total compensation.

The pay range for this position is:

$134,636—$164,555 USD

Click HERE or visit: https://jobs.supernal.aero/benefits to view our benefits!

Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a background check. We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status or any other category or class protected under applicable federal, state or local law. Individuals with disabilities may request a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation at: [e-mail]

This position may include access to certain technology and/or software source code subject to U.S. export controls laws and regulations. If an export authorization from an applicable US regulatory agency is required in connection with your employment, your employment is contingent upon Supernal’s receipt of such regulatory authorization(s) and your continued compliance with all conditions and limitations pursuant to such authorization(s).