Distinguished Flight Controls Engineer

About the Role

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. The primary focus is on multi-vehicle autonomous controls, including coordination, synchronization, and mission-level management of heterogeneous autonomous platforms.

Work spans advanced control theory, real-time decision systems, distributed computing, verification and validation of autonomous behaviors, and integration of human–machine teaming principles. As a technical authority, the Distinguished Engineer will provide strategic direction, technical oversight, and mentorship to project teams, ensuring 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.

Responsibilities

• Lead the conception, development, integration, and maturation of autonomous flight control solutions for multi-vehicle systems.
• Provide strategic direction, technical oversight, and mentorship to project teams.
• Advance autonomy technologies from research concepts to operationally viable capabilities.
• Identify, shape, and advocate for new research initiatives in autonomy development.
• Articulate technical vision and influence stakeholders across government, industry, and academia.
• Foster collaborations to strengthen the autonomy research ecosystem.
• Design, analyze, and implement autonomous decision-making and control algorithms.
• Plan, coordinate, and execute UAS flight test campaigns.
• Serve as a principal investigator or technical lead on complex autonomy or flight control research programs.
• Transition research concepts into fielded or operationally relevant capability demonstrations.
• Mentor teams and shape long-term research strategies.
• Collaborate across multidisciplinary teams involving controls, software, sensing, AI/ML, modeling and simulation, and human–machine teaming.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Flight Mechanics, Aerospace Engineering, Control Systems, or a closely related discipline.
• 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.
• Ability to collaborate across multidisciplinary teams.
• U.S. citizenship (required due to federal government research contracts).

Preferred Qualifications

• 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.