National AI Awards 2025Discover AI's trailblazers! Join us to celebrate innovation and nominate industry leaders.

Nominate & Attend

Flight Control Systems Engineer

Bedford
3 days ago
Create job alert

Flight Control Systems Engineer

Job type: Full-time

Role purpose:

In this exciting, dynamic role you will support a mixture of R&D and product development activities within a leading autonomy and unmanned systems company. Our client continuously innovates within the core area of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS/UAV) such as flight management systems, autopilots, mission systems, ground control stations, and all supporting systems and infrastructure. Your role as a Flight Control Systems Engineer will involve developing, maintaining, and testing safety critical software that contribute to the flight systems of our aircraft. You will contribute to requirements definition, and use MATLAB/Simulink tools to generate software such as novel flight control laws and data manipulation algorithms. After verification and validation performed using bespoke simulations, you will then be expected deploy the software on to the target hardware and conduct real world flight testing at our test facility less than 1km from the office. You may be asked to present the findings of the testing in reports or customer facing presentations. As well as undertaking technical tasks, you will be expected to take an active role in the team. This will include contribution to the development of standard operating processes, continuous improvement of methods and techniques, and ensuring quality targets are satisfied. Working as part of a team in a multidisciplinary environment you will have good communication skills. A can-do attitude and a genuine passion for innovative technology. The opportunity will enable the successful candidate to gain knowledge of cutting-edge autonomous systems and offer a large scope for career development.

Essential:

Degree in aerospace engineering or similar.
Understanding of aerodynamics and flight mechanics, and their impact on flight control.
Experience in using MATLAB/Simulink for developing algorithms and control laws.
Hands-on experience in designing and commissioning control systems.

Desirable:

Experience designing and implementing guidance, navigation, and control algorithms for fixed and/or rotary wing vehicles.
Knowledge of state-of-the-art for sensing systems.
Hands-on experience with small UAS.
MathWorks' Stateflow, Simulink Coder and Embedded Coder packages.
Experience developing mathematical algorithms e.g., Data fusion, state estimation etc.
Experience working with embedded systems, real-time systems, safety critical systems.
Knowledge of communication systems.
Version control systems e.g., git.
C++, Java, Python development skills.

Other useful skills for this role:

Experience with quality standards for software (e.g., DO-178, ED-20x).
Existing SC Clearance.

Other Duties and Responsibilities:

To undertake such other duties and responsibilities as may be reasonably required within the grade and level of the post.
To actively participate in the company's Performance Management Scheme.
You will be expected to perform different tasks as necessitated by your evolving role within the company and the overall business objectives of the company.
Some travel within the UK may be required.

What's in it for you:

Work in a highly motivated SME at the cutting edge of Engineering.
See your work rapidly progress to live testing in a matter of months not years.
Hybrid working available.
Pensions.
Health Cash Plan.
Employee Assistance Programme.
Refer a Friend Reward Scheme.
Competitive Salary.

Suitable candidates should apply immediately by calling our Managing Consultant for this vacancy James on (phone number removed).

We regret that this client is not prepared to sponsor work permit or work permit transfer applications. Candidates must be able to prove their eligibility to work in the UK.

The Electronics Group is an employment consultancy and currently has permanent vacancies for Electrical, Electronics and Engineering professionals throughout the United Kingdom. If you are looking for work in this area we may be able to assist you. Contact us directly on (phone number removed) and discuss your requirements with one of our dedicated consultants

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Embedded Systems Engineer (Autonomy & Drones)

Drone Pilot Operator

Drone Pilot Operator - Graduate

Research Associate / Senior Research Associate in Drone Control, AI and Flight Testing

(NC48) Offshore Drone Pilot

UAV Programme Training Manager

National AI Awards 2025

Subscribe to Future Tech Insights for the latest jobs & insights, direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.

Industry Insights

Discover insightful articles, industry insights, expert tips, and curated resources.

UAV Jobs Skills Radar 2026: Emerging Tools, Platforms & Technologies to Learn Now

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are no longer just military assets—they're transforming agriculture, infrastructure inspection, logistics, filmmaking, and public safety. As commercial drone operations scale in the UK, the demand for skilled UAV professionals is rising sharply across engineering, flight operations, data analysis, and autonomous systems. Welcome to the UAV Jobs Skills Radar 2026—your annual guide to the tools, platforms, certifications, and technologies that are shaping UAV careers in the UK. Whether you're a drone pilot, systems engineer, or AI developer working on autonomous navigation, this radar shows you what to focus on to remain in-demand.

How to Find Hidden UAV Jobs in the UK Using Professional Bodies like IMechE, RAeS & More

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, are transforming industries in the UK—from surveying, inspection, and agriculture to emergency services, logistics, and defence. As the sector evolves, so too does the demand for skilled UAV professionals: pilots, systems engineers, data analysts, AI specialists, and regulatory experts. Yet many of the best UAV jobs—especially in R&D, government contracts, and specialist commercial operations—are never advertised publicly. They’re often filled through trusted networks, working group referrals, pilot programmes, and specialist community engagement. In this guide, you’ll discover how to access hidden UAV jobs in the UK by engaging with professional bodies like the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS), APRIL (UK), and regional drone networks. You’ll learn how to use directories, CPD events, special interest groups (SIGs), and industry clusters to position yourself at the forefront of opportunity—before roles are even published.

How to Get a Better UAV Job After a Lay-Off or Redundancy

Being made redundant from a role in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drone technology can be disheartening—especially in such a cutting-edge and evolving sector. But with the growing adoption of UAVs in defence, surveying, logistics, agriculture, inspection, and emergency response, your skills remain in demand. Whether you're a drone pilot, UAV systems engineer, geospatial analyst, flight software developer, or mechanical integrator, this guide will help you bounce back stronger after redundancy.