Flight Control Engineer
Bluebix Solutions
About the role
Job title: Flight Control Engineer
Location: Austin, TX
Job Type: Full-Time, On-Site
About the Role:
We are seeking an experienced Flight Control Engineer to lead the development, integration, testing, and optimization of flight control systems for advanced VTOL aircraft platforms. This role is ideal for a hands-on engineer who can bridge the gap between propulsion, software, mechanical systems, and flight operations to ensure safe, stable, and reliable aircraft performance.
The selected candidate will play a critical role in taking aircraft from initial system integration through ground testing, flight testing, and operational deployment while contributing to the long-term development of custom, certifiable flight control architectures.
Key Responsibilities:
Own the end-to-end flight control development process for VTOL aircraft platforms.
Configure, tune, and optimize autopilot systems, including Cube Autopilot, ArduPilot, or PX4.
Collaborate closely with software, propulsion, mechanical, and flight operations teams to ensure seamless system integration.
Conduct flight control system bring-up, ground testing, troubleshooting, and validation activities.
Support flight-test operations, including data collection, analysis, and control-system tuning.
Analyze flight logs and performance data to identify improvements and resolve technical issues.
Develop and implement custom flight-control solutions to enhance aircraft performance and reliability.
Contribute to the design and transition toward advanced, safety-critical, FAA-auditable flight control architectures.
Document system configurations, testing procedures, and engineering findings.
Required Qualifications:
Proven hands-on experience with flight controls and aircraft systems integration on real-world aircraft platforms.
Strong expertise in ArduPilot, PX4, or similar autopilot systems.
Experience configuring, tuning, troubleshooting, and analyzing flight-control systems.
Demonstrated success bringing rotorcraft or VTOL aircraft from initial power-up to stable flight operations.
Strong systems engineering mindset with the ability to coordinate across multidisciplinary teams.
Experience conducting flight tests, debugging issues, and optimizing aircraft performance.
Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to work in fast-paced development environments.
Self-motivated, adaptable, and capable of taking ownership of critical technical challenges.
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience with tandem-rotor aircraft, helicopters, or other complex VTOL platforms.
Knowledge of turbine engines, micro-turbines, turboshaft engines, FADEC, or ECU integration.
Background in embedded systems or safety-critical aerospace software.
Familiarity with aviation certification standards, including DO-178C.
Experience developing custom flight-control hardware or software solutions.
Knowledge of autonomous systems, guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) principles.
Skills:
Flight Controls Engineering
VTOL Systems
ArduPilot
PX4
Cube Autopilot
Aircraft Integration
Flight Testing
Control System Tuning
Log Analysis
Embedded Systems
FADEC Integration
Systems Engineering
Aerospace Engineering
Autonomous Flight Systems
Safety-Critical Software
Education:
Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field is preferred. Equivalent hands-on industry experience will also be considered.