Stability and Controls Engineer - Flight Sciences

BETA Technologies, Inc.; Burlington (NC); Hybrid; USD 145,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

RSUs/PSUs

Onsite healthcare

Medical/dental/vision coverage

Disability insurance

Parental leave

Daily lunch

Flight lessons

Job summary

BETA Technologies, Inc. seeks a Stability and Controls Engineer to develop models, requirements, and test methods ensuring controllable, maneuverable, and safe fixed-wing and VTOL aircraft across the flight envelope.

You will collaborate with Flight Sciences, Flight Controls, Flight Test, Systems Engineering, and Certification to drive design decisions using simulation, wind-tunnel, and flight-test data. 3–5 years’ relevant experience required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
• 3–5 years of experience in aircraft stability and control, flight dynamics, handling qualities, flight controls, or related analysis and test disciplines.
• Understanding of stability/derivatives, handling qualities, and flight-dynamics analysis.
• Experience developing or using aerodynamic, flight-dynamics, and control-system simulation models.
• Experience planning, executing, or analyzing wind-tunnel, laboratory simulation, and/or flight-test activities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Curiosity and ability to apply new analysis and test approaches.

Responsibilities

• Develop stability, controllability, maneuverability, and handling-qualities requirements for normal and failure conditions.
• Perform preliminary control-surface layout and sizing to meet controllability targets.
• Develop and maintain aerodynamic and flight-dynamics simulation models.
• Apply handling-qualities criteria to control-law design and fly-by-wire systems.
• Conduct analyses to verify performance against design and certification requirements.
• Plan and support wind-tunnel, lab, and flight-test campaigns.
• Analyze flight-test data and update models and requirements accordingly.
• Collaborate with teams to define test events and validate models across the flight envelope.
• Support safety and certification activities in line with FAA requirements.
• Work with multiple systems teams to identify design and process improvements.

Skills

Stability & control

Flight dynamics

Handling qualities

Flight controls

MATLAB

Python

Data analysis

Wind-tunnel/tests

Technical writing

Curiosity

Education

B.S. in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering

Tools

MATLAB

Python

Data analysis tools

Job description

At BETA Technologies, we apply our intellectual curiosity, passion for aviation , and commitment to sustainability toward a shared mission of revolutionizing electric aviation. Regardless of the position one holds, each team member brings their talent and desire to positively impact the environment and lives of others in a refreshing, vibrant, and inclusive culture.

The Stability and Controls Engineer will develop the analysis, models, requirements, and test methods that ensure BETA’s fixed-wing and vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft are controllable, maneuverable, and exhibit safe handling qualities throughout the flight envelope—including off-nominal conditions. You will work closely with Flight Sciences, Flight Controls, Flight Test, Systems Engineering, and Certification to develop and validate aerodynamic and flight-dynamics models, inform control-system design, and support vehicle-level development and certification activities. The engineer will use simulation, laboratory, wind-tunnel, and flight-test data to drive design decisions for next‑generation electric aircraft. This position will be based onsite at our South Burlington, VT office location, our Raleigh, NC office. Remote candidates may be considered for a hybrid role, with monthly visits to South Burlington, VT for in person work.

How you will contribute to revolutionizing electric aviation:

• Develop aircraft stability, controllability, maneuverability, and handling‑qualities requirements for normal and failure conditions
• Perform preliminary control‑surface layout and sizing to achieve aircraft controllability requirements
• Develop, document, and maintain aerodynamic and flight‑dynamics simulation models of varying fidelity
• Apply handling‑qualities criteria to aircraft and flight control system design, including fly‑by‑wire control‑law development
• Conduct static, dynamic, and time‑history analyses to evaluate aircraft performance against design and certification requirements
• Plan, support, and reduce data from wind‑tunnel, laboratory simulation, and flight‑test campaigns
• Analyze flight‑test data; compare results with predictions; and use findings to update aerodynamic models, control‑system requirements, and vehicle design
• Collaborate with Flight Test to define and execute test events that validate aerodynamic models, aircraft performance, and handling qualities across the flight envelope
• Support safety, system‑development, and certification activities, including functional hazard assessments and compliance work aligned with applicable FAA requirements
• Work across Flight Sciences, Flight Controls, Structures, and other system teams to proactively identify opportunities to improve aircraft design, analysis methods, and test processes

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field
• At least 3–5 years of experience in aircraft stability and control, flight dynamics, handling qualities, flight controls, or related analysis and test disciplines
• Understanding of aircraft stability and control derivatives, handling qualities, and flight‑dynamics analysis
• Experience developing or using aerodynamic, flight‑dynamics, and control‑system simulation models
• Experience with MATLAB, Python, and data‑analysis tools
• Experience planning, executing, or analyzing results from wind‑tunnel, laboratory simulation, and/or flight‑test activities
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to clearly document technical analyses, test results, findings, and recommendations
• Curiosity and ability to identify and rapidly implement new analysis, modeling, and test approaches for next‑generation aircraft
• Must be a US Person to be considered for the role

Above and Beyond Qualifications:

• Experience with fly‑by‑wire control‑law development and augmented aircraft control systems.
• Experience conducting Handling Qualities Rating (HQR) and pilot‑induced oscillation (PIO) assessments
• Experience with time‑domain simulation, frequency‑domain analysis, signal filtering, system identification, or control‑system analysis
• Experience with stability and control analysis for vertical‑flight or novel aircraft configurations
• Experience with 14 CFR Part 23 , Part 25 , or equivalent EASA certification requirements
• Experience supporting Functional Hazard Assessments, ARP4754A‑based development activities, or other aircraft‑system safety and certification processes
• Flight‑test engineering experience, including test planning, data reduction, data expansion, and report generation
• Experience as an FAA Designated Engineering Representative (DER)

The wage listed here reflects our best faith estimate for this role. We pay competitively and base compensation on a variety of factors including skills, experience, industry background, and the evolving needs of the role. We remain committed to fair and equitable pay and we're happy to discuss during the interview process.

Compensation

$145,000 — $175,000 USD

Build electric airplanes with us!

BETA offers a competitive Total Compensation package designed to support you now and as you grow with us. This role includes both Restricted Stock Units and Performance Stock Units for all full‑time team members, so everyone shares in our success. You’ll have access to onsite healthcare in Vermont, comprehensive medical coverage, dental and vision, short‑and‑long‑term disability, and paid parental leave. We also take care of the everyday details with daily lunch provided, and yes—flight lessons are part of the experience, along with a range of additional perks that make work here genuinely rewarding.

We encourage all driven candidates to apply, even if they do not meet every listed qualification.

We are an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are based on merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner on race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability, veteran or military status, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic under federal, state, or local law. BETA complies with all applicable federal, state and local non‑discrimination laws and does not tolerate discrimination of any kind in our workplace.

Employment offers are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. BETA Technologies participates in E‑Verify.