SlipstreamJobs tracks this role from the company's public career site. Apply directly on the employer's site.
Salary: USD 145,000 - 175,000 / annual
BETA Technologies is revolutionizing electric aviation through next-generation fixed-wing and vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft. The Stability and Controls Engineer will develop the analysis, models, requirements, and test methods that ensure 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 teams to develop and validate aerodynamic and flight-dynamics models, inform control-system design, and support vehicle-level development and certification activities. The role leverages simulation, laboratory, wind-tunnel, and flight-test data to drive design decisions for next-generation electric aircraft.
Key responsibilities include:
- 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 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 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 FAA compliance work
- Work across Flight Sciences, Flight Controls, Structures, and other system teams to improve aircraft design, analysis methods, and test processes
The position is based onsite at South Burlington, VT or Raleigh, NC. Remote candidates may be considered for a hybrid role with monthly visits to South Burlington, VT.
REQUIREMENTS:
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field
- 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
Desired 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)
