What are the responsibilities and job description for the Flight Control Engineer (Multicopter) position at Shift Dynamics?
[About Us]
Shift Dynamics Inc. is at the forefront of developing cutting-edge defense technologies, including advanced unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), artificial intelligence (AI) systems, and autonomous flight platforms. We are committed to fostering innovation and pushing the boundaries of what's possible in the aerospace and defense sectors. We are seeking exceptionally talented and driven individuals to join our team and contribute to our mission of developing next-generation technologies.
[Position Overview]
We are seeking a skilled and motivated Flight Control Engineer specializing in multicopter platforms to join our UAV systems team. In this role, you will design, develop, and optimize real-time flight control algorithms to ensure precise, stable, and reliable autonomous operation of multirotor drones. You’ll play a key role in the development of next-generation UAVs used in commercial, industrial, and defense applications.
[Responsibilities]
* Develop and tune flight control algorithms for multicopter platforms (e.g., quadcopters, hexacopters, coaxial systems).
* Implement control strategies for attitude stabilization, altitude hold, position control, and autonomous navigation.
* Integrate sensors (IMU, GPS, barometer, etc.) and ensure robust state estimation.
* Optimize flight performance through controller tuning, parameter calibration, and failure handling.
* Collaborate with software, hardware, and systems engineers to enable seamless integration across the UAV stack.
* Conduct flight tests, analyze logs, and iterate on control performance in real-world environments.
* Contribute to simulator-in-the-loop (SIL) and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing environments.
* Document system designs, parameter sets, and flight control performance results.
[Qualifications]
* Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, Control Systems, or a related field.
* Solid understanding of control theory (PID, LQR, cascaded control) and multirotor flight dynamics.
* Proficiency with MATLAB/Simulink, C/C , and Python for control algorithm development.
* Experience with real-time operating systems and embedded control implementations.
* Hands-on experience with flight testing and log analysis (e.g., using PX4, ArduPilot, or custom stack).
* Familiarity with state estimation algorithms (e.g., EKF) and sensor fusion techniques.
* Strong teamwork, communication, and documentation skills.
[Preferred Qualifications]
* Direct experience working with PX4 or ArduPilot on custom multicopter hardware.
* Knowledge of offboard control via MAVLink, ROS, or companion computer integration.
* Understanding of flight safety, fault-tolerant design, and motor failure recovery strategies.
* Experience with HIL simulation tools (Gazebo, jMAVSim, etc.) or custom simulation environments.
* Background in drone autonomy, mission planning, or obstacle avoidance (optional).
[What We Offer]
* Exciting work on next-gen drone technologies and intelligent flight systems.
* A dynamic and collaborative team environment with talented engineers.
* Competitive compensation, benefits, and flight testing opportunities.
* Access to drone labs, high-performance simulation tools, and cutting-edge hardware.
* Opportunities for career advancement and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
[Additional Information]
* This position may require eligibility for defense-related security clearance.
* Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
