# Staff Engineer, Flight Controls - X-BAT (R4813)

**Company:** [Shield AI](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/shield-ai)
**Location:** Dallas, TX
**Role:** Embedded Engineering
**Salary:** $180k – $280k/yr
**Experience:** 6+ years
**Skills:** C++, MATLAB, Simulink, Python, 6Dof Simulation, Flight Controls, Gnc, Control Law Design, Control Allocation, Hil, Matlab/Simulink, CI/CD, DevSecOps, Npss, Linux
**Posted:** 2026-04-15

> Designs and implements flight control laws for eVTOL aircraft across all flight phases, builds 6DOF simulations, executes verification/validation, supports flight tests, and mentors engineers. Requires 6+ years GNC experience on real vehicles and proficiency in C++, MATLAB/Simulink, Python.

## Job Description

## Responsibilities
- Design and implement flight control laws and supporting logic across multiple flight regimes.
- Build and mature high-fidelity 6DOF simulation environments for control development and accurate pre-flight performance predictions.
- Execute verification activities, including linear analysis, Monte Carlo campaigns, disturbance/sensitivity/degraded operation testing, and HIL validation.
- Diagnose and resolve simulation-to-test mismatches, including unidentified dynamics and modeling gaps.
- Support flight test operations and contribute to rapid iteration between flights.
- Work closely with propulsion, aero, actuation, sensors, state estimation, and autonomy teams for integrated system performance in 6DOF simulation.
- Mentor, teach, and up-skill younger engineers.

## Requirements
- **6+ years** of experience in flight controls / GNC on real flight vehicles, from design through test.
- Experience in **one or more** of: vehicle modeling and simulation (6DOF environments), control law design (classical/modern for fixed-wing), control allocation (over-actuated systems), guidance/autonomy integration, verification/validation (linear/nonlinear/Monte Carlo analyses, sensitivity studies, MIL-HDBK-516), flight test support, post-flight analysis.
- Strong background in aircraft flight dynamics and 6DOF simulation.
- Strong problem-solving skills; ability to mentor junior engineers.
- Proficiency in **C++**, **MATLAB/Simulink**, and/or **Python**.
- Ability to obtain/maintain U.S. security clearance.

## Preferred
- Autonomous systems or missile/UAV GNC background.
- Familiarity with sensor/air data systems, CI/CD pipelines, modern DevSecOps.
- Experience integrating NPSS propulsion models into 6DOF simulation.
- Experience with HIL/integrated simulation/test environments, Linux-based workflows (Git), rapid development with tight iteration loops.

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