Distinguished Flight Controls Engineer

Shape the next generation of autonomous flight control technologies.

The Distinguished Flight Controls Engineer serves as a senior technical leader and principal investigator responsible for advancing state-of-the-art autonomous flight control capabilities across a broad portfolio of multi-vehicle research and development efforts. This role leads the conception development integration and maturation of practical autonomous solutions for coordinated groups of unmanned aerial vehicles leveraging deep expertise in flight controls guidance and navigation cooperative autonomy and robust control architectures.

This positions primary focus is on multi-vehicle autonomous controls including the coordination synchronization and mission-level management of heterogeneous autonomous platforms. Work in this area spans advanced control theory real-time decision systems distributed computing verification and validation of autonomous behaviors and the integration of humanmachine teaming principles.
As a technical authority the Distinguished Engineer will provide strategic direction technical oversight and mentorship to project teams ensuring the successful transition of autonomy technologies from research concepts to operationally viable capabilities. The role also requires proactively identifying shaping and advocating for new research initiatives and sustained investment in autonomy development across AFRL and partner organizations. This includes articulating technical vision influencing internal and external stakeholders and fostering collaborations across government industry and academia.

Through thought leadership deep flight controls expertise and cross-organizational engagement this position will drive the next generation of UAV autonomy solutions and strengthen the broader autonomy research ecosystem.

Ph.D. in Flight Mechanics Aerospace Engineering Control Systems or a closely related discipline.
A minimum of 15 years of experience conducting research and development.
Expertise in the design analysis and implementation of autonomous decision-making and control algorithms.
Deep technical proficiency in flight control system design verification and real-time implementation.
Experience with the Open Mission Systems (OMS) architecture and integration of autonomy components within OMS-compliant frameworks.
Extensive hands-on experience planning coordinating and executing UAS flight test campaigns.
Proven track record serving as a principal investigator technical lead or equivalent senior role on complex autonomy or flight control research programs.
Ability to transition research concepts into fielded or operationally relevant capability demonstrations.
Experience mentoring teams providing technical direction and shaping long-term research strategies.
Strong written and oral communication skills with the ability to articulate technical concepts to diverse audiences including leadership collaborators and external partners.
Ability to collaborate across multidisciplinary teams involving controls software sensing AI/ML modeling and simulation and humanmachine teaming.
Due to the requirements of our research contracts with the U.S. federal government candidates for this position must be a U.S. citizen.

While not everyone may possess all of the preferred qualifications the ideal candidate will bring many of the following:

Demonstrated experience influencing technical direction investment priorities or research strategy within the U.S. Air Force Department of Defense or similar large-scale organizations.
Experience developing implementing and maintaining Verification and Validation (V&V) tools frameworks or automated test environments for autonomous systems.
Proven capability in designing tuning and integrating advanced autopilot systems for unmanned or autonomous aircraft.
Established record of effective collaboration with diverse stakeholders across government agencies industry partners and contractor organizations.
Experience planning coordinating and participating in integrated flight demonstrations including multi-vehicle or autonomy-focused events.
Active TS/SCI security clearance.
Experience transitioning autonomy technologies to operational programs of record or field experimentation campaigns.
Familiarity with digital engineering approaches including high-fidelity modeling simulation and virtual test environments for autonomy.
Experience leading or contributing to cross-organizational working groups technical exchanges or standards development related to autonomy or mission systems.
Recognition as a technical expert through publications invited talks patents or participation in advisory panels.

To apply please submit a cover letter addressing each minimum qualification and any applicable preferred qualifications that you meet.

Informed by its Catholic and Marianist mission the University is committed to the dignity of every human being. Informed by this commitment we seek to increase diversity in all of its forms achieve fair outcomes and model inclusion across our campus community. The University is committed to policies of affirmative action designed to increase the employment opportunities of individuals with disabilities and protected veterans in compliance with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act of 1973.