Flight Systems Engineer

Senior / Principal Control Systems Engineer UAS Flight Control & Precision Pointing

UK SC Clearance Required

We are seeking an experienced Control Systems Engineer to lead the development of advanced flight control laws and precision pointing algorithms for next-generation UAS platforms. This role goes beyond PID tuning you will architect robust, high-performance control strategies for demanding, high-dynamic missions.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and implement advanced flight control laws (LQR/LQG, Robust, Adaptive, MPC) for autonomous flight from take-off to landing.

• Develop high-precision sensor pointing and gimbal stabilisation algorithms for EO/IR ISR payloads.

• Build and validate high-fidelity 6-DOF aircraft models, accounting for disturbances, latency, and structural dynamics.

• Define handling qualities, stability margins, and safety envelopes.

• Transition algorithms from simulation to flight-ready code, supporting HIL testing and flight-test campaigns.

• Lead control strategy in the UK and mentor engineers on complex dynamical systems.

• Ensure rigorous verification & validation, including degraded and failure modes.

Qualifications & Experience

• 8+ years (Senior) or 12+ years (Principal) in flight dynamics and control within UAS or aerospace.

• Deep expertise in classical and modern control theory.

• Experience with gimbal servo loops, jitter compensation, and LOS stabilisation.

• Strong modelling and simulation capability; flight-test data analysis experience.

• Degree in Control Theory, Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, or related field.

• UK national eligible for SC Clearance.