Flight Controls Engineer Development Programs

General Atomics
Poway, CA Full Time
POSTED ON 6/5/2024 CLOSED ON 7/4/2024

What are the responsibilities and job description for the Flight Controls Engineer Development Programs position at General Atomics?

Job Summary

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.

We have an exciting opportunity in San Diego, CA (Poway) to join our Development Programs group within the Flight Technologies department. 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 the 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 set up a flight control subsystem test bench for requirement compliance test.
  • 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.

Job Qualifications

  • 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; six or more years of experience with a bachelors degree, four or more years of experience with a masters degree, or two 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 skill.
  • MATLAB scripting.
  • Simulink model programming.
  • Stateflow model programming.
  • Automatic code generation using MathWorks toolset.
  • Coding in C or C programming language.


Job Type: Full-Time Salary

Salary range: 98,100 - 171,398

Salary : $98,100 - $171,398

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