Flight Control Systems Engineer (ID: G4k02OZS)

Are you a Flight Control Systems Engineer? We build serious aerospace systems for demanding programmes. The work is fast-moving, technical, and tied closely to aircraft that have to prove themselves in the real world.

As part of BAE Systems, we design, manufacture and deliver high-value aerospace products and systems from our base in Alton, Hampshire. One of the best-known examples is PHASA-35, our high-altitude uncrewed aircraft. It gives a fair picture of the kind of engineering we care about: useful capability, disciplined development, and products that answer real customer needs.

We’re now looking for a Flight Control Systems Engineer to work on the control laws and architectures behind our Uncrewed Aerial Systems. This is not a role where you sit far away from the aircraft. You’ll be involved from requirements and modelling through integration, test, flight trials and certification evidence.

If you like the mix of flight dynamics, control theory, simulation, real hardware and flight test data, this should feel familiar.

Flight Control Systems Engineer Role

You’ll design, develop, integrate, verify and validate flight control laws for UAS platforms. The aircraft could be fixed-wing, rotary-wing or hybrid, and the operating mode may be autonomous, remotely piloted, or a bit of both.
The role follows the full V-model lifecycle. That means turning system needs into control requirements, building and tuning models, supporting software and hardware test rigs, then using test evidence to show the aircraft behaves as intended.
You’ll also work in the context of UK CAA, EASA and military airworthiness requirements where they apply. The paperwork matters because the aircraft matters.

What You’ll Work On

• You’ll develop flight control laws for attitude, rate, navigation and guidance loops, with enough judgement to know when a neat model is hiding an awkward aircraft behaviour.
• You’ll help shape control architectures for autonomous and remotely piloted operations. That includes working with sensor inputs from IMUs, GNSS, air data systems and vision-based navigation where required.

Most of the control algorithm work will be done in MATLAB, Simulink or equivalent model-based design tools. You’ll need to be comfortable moving between model behaviour, requirements, test results and engineering decisions.
On the modelling side, you’ll create and maintain 6-DOF nonlinear aircraft models. You’ll use them for stability and control analysis, gain scheduling, robustness checks, Monte Carlo runs and worst-case analysis. Some days are tidy. Some days are spent chasing the reason a case only fails when three assumptions line up at once.

You’ll support SIL, PIL and HIL testing, including work with real-time rigs and representative hardware. You’ll also interface with avionics, propulsion, mission systems, ground control, autopilot, flight computer and actuator teams.

Systems, Safety And Integration

The FCS work sits inside a wider aircraft system. You’ll translate system-level requirements into control system requirements, then keep those links clear as the design changes.
You’ll support the integration of autopilots, flight computers and actuators. You’ll also contribute to safety work such as FHA, FMEA and FTA activity. We don’t treat that as a separate paper exercise. It feeds back into architecture choices, failure modes, testing and the evidence needed for approval.

Verification, Validation And Flight Test

You’ll help define and run verification and validation plans across ground test, iron bird work and flight test campaigns.
Flight test data will come back messy, useful and occasionally surprising. You’ll analyse it, tune control laws, explain what changed and help produce the evidence needed for certification and airworthiness approval.
The role may involve overseas deployment for up to 8 weeks a year, normally in blocks of around two weeks.

Standards And Compliance

You’ll work with the standards and guidance relevant to the programme, which may include:
•    UK CAA CAP 722 and CAP 1787
•    EASA SC-UAS and CS-23 where applicable
•    Def Stan 00-970 and MAA requirements for military programmes
•    DO-178C and DO-331 objectives where applicable
You do not need to have owned every one of these standards before. You do need to respect why they exist and be willing to build evidence carefully.
You may also be asked to take on other reasonable duties as needed by the business and directed by line management.

What We Need

You’ll need a degree in Aerospace Engineering, Control Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or a similar subject.
We’re looking for someone with a strong grasp of classical and modern control theory, aircraft stability and control, and flight dynamics. You’ll also need hands-on MATLAB and Simulink experience, plus practical exposure to UAS, UAVs or autonomous systems.

Experience of the V-model development lifecycle is important. So is the ability to obtain UK security clearance.

Useful Extra Experience

Autopilot experience helps too, whether that is PX4, ArduPilot or a company-owned stack. If you’ve dealt with model-based design, auto-code, embedded flight control software, HIL rigs or real-time simulation, tell us where that experience came from.
UAS airworthiness and certification knowledge would be useful, especially if you’ve had to turn test results into evidence. AI-assisted control, adaptive control, C, C++ or Python experience would also give you more places to contribute.
Typical tools and technologies include MATLAB, Simulink, flight simulation environments such as X-Plane, requirements tools such as DOORS or Jama, configuration tools such as Git or SVN, and real-time hardware such as dSPACE, NI or Speedgoat systems.

Package And Benefits

The role is permanent and based in Alton, Hampshire.
The working week is 37.5 hours, excluding breaks. Hybrid working is available where the work allows it, and the usual pattern is 3 days a week in the office.
The salary range is £45,000 to £59,000, with the final offer based on experience.

Benefits include:

• Non-contractual company performance-related bonus
• 10% company pension contribution, with salary exchange options for AVCs
• Green Car and EV scheme through salary exchange
• 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, rising to 28 days after 3 years’ service
• Eligibility for the BAE Systems Share Incentive Scheme and Company Performance Free Share awards
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Halfords Trade Discount Card
• On-site parking
• Referral programme
• Work from home where applicable
• Social and employee engagement activities through Prismatic Pulse
• Occupational Health support, including an Employee Assistance Programme

Inclusion

We want people to do good work without having to fit one narrow mould. Background, route into engineering, career stage and lived experience all affect how people solve problems, and that matters on a small technical team.
We also support the Armed Forces community. Prismatic has signed the Armed Forces Covenant and holds the Bronze Award. Veterans, reservists, service leavers, and the partners and families of serving personnel are encouraged to apply.
Military experience can bring discipline, teamwork, problem-solving and resilience into engineering work. Those qualities are valued here.

How to Apply: Please send your CV and a covering email

In your application, please confirm:

• That you have the right to work in the UK and can commute to Alton
• That you have been a UK resident for at least 5 years and can meet any background checks or security clearance requirements that apply
• Your salary expectations
• Your availability or current notice period

Work location: in person in Alton, with hybrid working where applicable.
Position: Flight Control Systems Engineer - Job Type: Full-Time - Salary: £45,000 to £59,000, with the final offer based on experience