Stability and Controls Engineer - Flight Sciences
The Stability and Controls Engineer will develop the analysis, models, requirements, and test methods that ensure BETA’s fixed-wing and vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft are controllable, maneuverable, and exhibit safe handling qualities throughout the flight envelope—including off-nominal conditions. You will work closely with Flight Sciences, Flight Controls, Flight Test, Systems Engineering, and Certification to develop and validate aerodynamic and flight-dynamics models, inform control-system design, and support vehicle-level development and certification activities. The engineer will use simulation, laboratory, wind-tunnel, and flight-test data to drive design decisions for next-generation electric aircraft. This position will be based onsite at our South Burlington, VT office location, our Raleigh, NC office. Remote candidates may be considered for a hybrid role, with monthly visits to South Burlington, VT for in person work.
How you will contribute to revolutionizing electric aviation:
Develop aircraft stability, controllability, maneuverability, and handling-qualities requirements for normal and failure conditions
Perform preliminary control-surface layout and sizing to achieve aircraft controllability requirements
Develop, document, and maintain aerodynamic and flight-dynamics simulation models of varying fidelity
Apply handling-qualities criteria to aircraft and flight control system design, including fly-by-wire control-law development
Conduct static, dynamic, and time-history analyses to evaluate aircraft performance against design and certification requirements
Plan, support, and reduce data from wind-tunnel, laboratory simulation, and flight-test campaigns
Analyze flight-test data; compare results with predictions; and use findings to update aerodynamic models, control-system requirements, and vehicle design
Collaborate with Flight Test to define and execute test events that validate aerodynamic models, aircraft performance, and handling qualities across the flight envelope
Support safety, system-development, and certification activities, including functional hazard assessments and compliance work aligned with applicable FAA requirements
Work across Flight Sciences, Flight Controls, Structures, and other system teams to proactively identify opportunities to improve aircraft design, analysis methods, and test processes
Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field
At least 3–5 years of experience in aircraft stability and control, flight dynamics, handling qualities, flight controls, or related analysis and test disciplines
Understanding of aircraft stability and control derivatives, handling qualities, and flight-dynamics analysis
Experience developing or using aerodynamic, flight-dynamics, and control-system simulation models
Experience with MATLAB, Python, and data-analysis tools
Experience planning, executing, or analyzing results from wind-tunnel, laboratory simulation, and/or flight-test activities
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to clearly document technical analyses, test results, findings, and recommendations
Curiosity and ability to identify and rapidly implement new analysis, modeling, and test approaches for next-generation aircraft
Must be a US Person to be considered for the role
Above and Beyond Qualifications:
Experience with fly-by-wire control-law development and augmented aircraft control systems.
Experience conducting Handling Qualities Rating (HQR) and pilot-induced oscillation (PIO) assessments
Experience with time-domain simulation, frequency-domain analysis, signal filtering, system identification, or control-system analysis
Experience with stability and control analysis for vertical-flight or novel aircraft configurations
Experience with 14 CFR Part 23, Part 25, or equivalent EASA certification requirements
Experience supporting Functional Hazard Assessments, ARP4754A-based development activities, or other aircraft-system safety and certification processes
Flight-test engineering experience, including test planning, data reduction, data expansion, and report generation
Experience as an FAA Designated Engineering Representative (DER)
The wage listed here reflects our best faith estimate for this role. We pay competitively and base compensation on a variety of factors including skills, experience, industry background, and the evolving needs of the role. We remain committed to fair and equitable pay and we're happy to discuss during the interview process.
Compensation
$145,000—$175,000 USD