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- Tasks: Design and validate cutting-edge UAV flight control systems for advanced aerial vehicles.
- Company: Join a pioneering aerospace company in Shaftesbury, Dorset.
- Benefits: Competitive pay, hands-on experience, and the chance to work on innovative projects.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for professional growth and development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the future of defence and aerospace technology.
- Qualifications: 3+ years in UAV or aerospace engineering with strong analytical skills.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 £ per year.
I seek a UAV Flight Controls Engineer to support the development, integration, and validation of advanced unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flight control systems across fixed-wing, VTOL, and hybrid platforms. The successful candidate will play a key role in the design and optimisation of flight dynamics, control algorithms, autopilot systems, and autonomous flight behaviours for next-generation defence and aerospace platforms. This position requires strong analytical capability, practical systems engineering experience, and a hands-on approach to flight testing and vehicle integration.
Responsibilities:
- Design, develop, and validate UAV flight control systems for rotary-wing, fixed-wing, and VTOL aircraft.
- Develop control laws, guidance algorithms, and stability augmentation systems.
- Support autopilot integration using PX4, ArduPilot, or proprietary flight control architectures.
- Build and maintain simulation environments for software-in-the-loop (SIL) and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing.
- Conduct flight dynamics modelling and aerodynamic analysis.
- Tune and optimise PID, adaptive, and model-based control systems.
- Analyse telemetry and flight-test data to improve vehicle performance and reliability.
- Collaborate with avionics, propulsion, software, and systems engineering teams.
- Support ground testing, integration activities, and live flight trials.
- Produce engineering documentation, verification reports, and compliance evidence.
- Contribute to autonomous behaviours including waypoint navigation, mission execution, failsafe logic, and swarm/cooperative systems.
Essential Skills:
- 3+ years' ability in UAV, aerospace, robotics, or autonomous systems engineering.
- Flight dynamics and aircraft stability.
- Classical and modern control theory.
- Sensor fusion and state estimation.
- Guidance, navigation, and control (GNC).
- Experience with MATLAB/Simulink and control system modelling.
- Proficiency in C/C++ and/or Python.
- Integrating IMUs, GPS, magnetometers, air-data systems, and other avionics sensors.
- Familiarity with MAVLink, CAN bus, serial protocols, and embedded systems.
- Supporting flight-test campaigns and troubleshooting airborne systems.
Desirables:
- PX4, ArduPilot, ROS, or proprietary autopilot systems.
- VTOL transition control and hybrid aircraft architectures.
- Kalman filtering, EKF/UKF, and sensor fusion frameworks.
- Real-time operating systems (RTOS).
- Familiarity with DO-178C, DO-254, ARP4754, or equivalent aerospace standards.
- Experience using Git, CI/CD pipelines, and agile engineering workflows.
UAV FLIGHT CONTROLS ENGINEER in Shaftesbury employer: Morson Edge
Contact Detail:
Morson Edge Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land UAV FLIGHT CONTROLS ENGINEER in Shaftesbury
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the UAV and aerospace industry on LinkedIn or at local meetups. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can refer you directly.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio showcasing your projects, especially those related to flight control systems or UAVs. This will give potential employers a taste of what you can bring to the table.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your technical knowledge. Be ready to discuss your experience with control algorithms, flight dynamics, and any hands-on testing you've done. Confidence is key!
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! We’ve got some fantastic opportunities waiting for talented engineers like you. Plus, it’s a great way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people.
We think you need these skills to ace UAV FLIGHT CONTROLS ENGINEER in Shaftesbury
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the UAV Flight Controls Engineer role. Highlight your experience with flight dynamics, control algorithms, and any relevant projects you've worked on. We want to see how your skills match what we're looking for!
Show Off Your Skills: In your cover letter, don’t just list your skills—show us how you’ve applied them in real-world scenarios. Talk about your experience with MATLAB/Simulink or any autopilot systems like PX4 or ArduPilot. We love seeing practical examples!
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and concise. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to read. We appreciate straightforward communication, especially when it comes to technical details!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it makes the whole process smoother for everyone involved.
How to prepare for a job interview at Morson Edge
✨Know Your UAV Systems
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of UAV flight control systems, especially the specific platforms mentioned in the job description. Be ready to discuss your experience with fixed-wing, VTOL, and hybrid aircraft, as well as any relevant projects you've worked on.
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
Prepare to demonstrate your analytical capabilities by discussing past experiences where you've tackled complex problems in flight dynamics or control algorithms. Use specific examples to illustrate how you approached these challenges and what the outcomes were.
✨Familiarise Yourself with Tools and Technologies
Since the role requires proficiency in tools like MATLAB/Simulink and programming languages such as C/C++ or Python, make sure you're comfortable discussing your experience with these. If you’ve worked with PX4 or ArduPilot, be ready to share insights on those as well.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Expect technical questions related to control theory, sensor fusion, and flight testing. Brush up on PID tuning and model-based control systems, and be prepared to explain your thought process when analysing telemetry data or conducting flight tests.