Flight Controls Advanced Programs Engineer

Flight Controls Advanced Programs Engineer

Recruitment began on March 28, 2025

and the job listing Expires on March 27, 2026

Flight Controls Advanced Programs Engineer

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems

California

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), an affiliate of General Atomics, is a world leader in proven, reliable remotely piloted aircraft and tactical reconnaissance radars, as well as advanced high-resolution surveillance systems.

The Advanced Programs group within the Flight Technologies department has an exciting opportunity in San Diego, CA (Poway, CA) for a Flight Controls Advanced Programs Engineer.

The department seeks guidance, navigation, and flight control engineers who are proficient not only in control law design and analysis but also in the flight-critical software production and in all phases of a new aircraft development program, including requirements development, clean-sheet design, software integration and validation, flight test planning, and analysis of flight data through prototype flight tests.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Discrete flight control law design, classical stability analysis, Lyapunov stability analysis, and flying qualities analysis.
• Translate the physics of flight control avionics, the aerodynamic characteristics, and the mass properties of a conceptual aircraft into MATLAB scripts and Simulink models for real-time simulation.
• Construct the MATLAB/Simulink model for automatic code generation.
• Independently verify and validate the embedded control law software on the simulated hardware and on the actual hardware.
• Decompose the mission use cases to the control system requirements that are compliant with adequate MIL Specs.
• Independently setup a flight control subsystem test bench for requirement compliance testing.
• Adapt advanced control theory for special projects.
• Execute selection, development, integration, and flight test of COTS autopilot systems in smaller scale flight vehicles.
• Develop analytic tools as needed for advanced configurations.
• Perform GNC-related tasks for all phases of a new aircraft development program, including requirements development, clean-sheet design, software integration and validation, flight test planning, and analysis of flight data through prototype flight tests.

We recognize and appreciate the value and contributions of individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences and welcome all qualified individuals to apply.

• Typically requires a bachelors degree, masters degree or PhD in engineering or a related technical discipline from an accredited institution and progressive engineering experience as follows; fifteen or more years of experience with a bachelors degree, thirteen or more years of experience with a masters degree, or ten or more years with a PhD. May substitute equivalent engineering experience in lieu of education.
• Degree in aerospace/aeronautical, electrical, mechanical, or related engineering field is highly desirable.
• Demonstrates a detailed and extensive technical expertise and application of engineering principles, concepts, theory, and practice with the ability to organize, plan, schedule, conduct, and coordinate workloads to meet established deadlines or milestones.
• Must possess the ability to understand new concepts quickly and apply them accurately throughout an evolving environment; strong communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills to effectively interface with other departments, customers, government representatives, and/or professionals.
• Must be customer focused and able to work on a self- initiated basis or in a team environment and able to work extended hours and travel as required.
• Comfortable in following a stringent software process for flight code production.
• Comfortable in working with a team of subject matter experts.
• Able to lead less-experienced engineers.
• Above-average documentation and communication skills.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Security clearance is required.
• MATLAB scripting.
• Automatic code generation using Math Works toolset.
• Coding in C or C++ programming language.