Sr. Mechanical Engineer, Control Algorithm & Simulation

Date Posted: 2026-08-20 | Location: Tucson, AZ (or Huntsville, AZ) | Onsite role | U.S. citizenship required for active and transferable DoD Secret security clearance on day 1.

About the Role

The Precision Control Actuation System (PCAS) department is seeking an expert controls systems engineer to support the development, build, and verification of control actuation systems. You will provide controls engineering support across various programs, including flight actuation control system architecture, advanced control law implementation, hardware test design, and air performance simulation analysis. Responsibilities will flex based on organizational needs and your skill set.

At this level, you will work autonomously with periodic oversight and are expected to have advanced knowledge in air vehicle gear train dynamics, flight motor control, advanced control techniques, inertial sensors, digital communications, and missile servo position performance analysis in simulation, ground, and flight test.

Responsibilities

• Develop flight actuation control system architectures and implement advanced control laws to maximize performance.
• Design and execute hardware tests to verify system performance against requirements.
• Analyze air performance simulations and anchor models with test data.
• Develop high-fidelity motor and flexible gear train models incorporating nonlinearity and temperature dependencies.
• Deconstruct higher-level tasks into discrete work packages and tasks.
• Operate independently with minimal supervision and communicate effectively with senior leadership and cross-disciplinary teams.

What You Will Learn

• Hands-on hardware experience, including integration, testing, tuning, and verification.
• Exposure to a strong technical learning environment with access to engineering fellows and subject matter experts for accelerated technical growth.

Requirements

• Degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) with a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience, or an Advanced Degree with 3 years of experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in air vehicle or missile flight actuation control design and/or analysis, including control architecture design, requirements development, or performance analysis.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with servo controls in systems or mechanical engineering.
• Development of CAS requirements, architecture, verification, validation, system performance, safety, and environmental compliance.
• Experience with control actuation systems using permanent magnet brush and brushless DC motor technology.
• Proficiency in MATLAB and Simulink for code development or modification.
• Testing high-power actuation systems under load and temperature conditions.
• Experience with feedback control systems, including sizing, testing, integration, and kinematic/dynamic simulation.
• Research or applied experience in advanced control techniques (nonlinear, robust, optimal, adaptive, fault-tolerant, real-time).
• Experience with encoders, resolvers, gyros, power systems, and serial communication interfaces.
• System identification techniques for flexible body dynamics, motor control, and nonlinear systems.
• Familiarity with gimbaled and line-of-sight pointing/stabilization systems.
• Knowledge of embedded software development and hardware/software integration.
• Experience with system engineering design methods, including requirements analysis, specification derivation, and interface control documentation.
• Performance analysis via simulation, including verification and validation techniques.
• Leadership experience on a control actuation development team.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Life insurance, short-term and long-term disability coverage.
• 401(k) match.
• Flexible spending accounts.
• Flexible work schedules.
• Employee assistance program.
• Employee Scholar Program for educational support.
• Parental leave, paid time off, and holidays.
• Eligibility for annual short-term and/or long-term incentive compensation programs (dependent on role and performance).

Pay

The salary range for this role is $86,800 – $165,200 USD, dependent on experience, location, and other factors.