What You'll Do:- Design and analyze enhancements for Group 2 and Group 3 UAS and their derivatives, ensuring optimized aerodynamics, flight performance, and safety.
- Develop and refine flight control, guidance, and navigation algorithms for UAS, including those supporting autonomous flight and new flight modes.
- Build, validate, and maintain high-fidelity mathematical models, simulations, and analyses tools to ensure accuracy in standalone, Software-In-The-Loop (SIL), and Hardware-In-The-Loop (HIL) simulations.
- Investigate and mitigate mishaps and failure modes through telemetry analysis, root cause investigation, and Monte Carlo simulations.
- Update and customize autopilot and simulation software as needed to support product enhancements and ensure alignment with control system design best practices.
- Collaborate closely with our autopilot supplier to address system integration challenges, improve performance, and design for product effectiveness.
- Stay informed on regulatory trends in unmanned airspace operations and provide design inputs that align with modern regulatory environments and industry advances.
- Support flight test planning, execution, and data analysis for hardware, software, and systems integration.
- Work with engineering, operations, and project management to deliver solutions that meet system performance goals, collaborating cross-functionally while promoting a safety-focused, innovative engineering culture.
Desired Qualifications:- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Aerospace / Mechanical Engineering, or a related field, with an emphasis on aerodynamics, flight dynamics, and control systems.
- Bachelor's degree with 5-8 years of relevant experience in aerodynamics or GNC specific role, or Master's degree with 3-6 years of experience.
- Strong understanding of controls, navigation, and guidance methods as applied to air vehicle flight dynamics.
- Proficiency in MATLAB/Simulink for developing and validating models for standalone, SIL, and HIL simulations.
- Proven experience applying digital-discrete time control laws to air vehicles.
- Excellent problem-solving skills, with a track record of identifying failure modes and developing effective solutions.
- Knowledge of air vehicle performance and design trade-offs, including vehicle layout, propulsion requirements, and stability and control analyses.
- Proficiency in at least one programming language such as C++, with familiarity in implementing and integrating control systems in software environments.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills, as well as the ability to work collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary engineering team.
Preferred Qualifications:- Familiarity with U.S. airspace regulations and operational environments for unmanned systems, including FAA Part 107 guidelines.
- Knowledge of GPS/INS systems and autopilot requirements, as well as experience in their integration into complete air vehicle systems.
- Experience with numerical programming, Python, Matlab/Simulink, C#, and GIT version control systems.
- Background in unmanned aircraft or drone operations, with consideration given to candidates holding a pilot's license or drone operator's license.
- Understanding of unmanned aircraft data links and their operational considerations.
- Experience with advanced navigation methods.
In-Office Requirement Statement:This position is eligible for hybrid work. It is our strong preference that this position is on-site 1-3 days weekly; and therefore, needs to be within commutable distance from Bingen, WA.
Please note that the salary information show below is a general guideline only. Salaries are based upon candidate experience, qualifications and work location.
Typical Hiring Range: 108,500.00 - 149,050.00
