Stability and Controls Engineer - Flight Sciences

About the role

At BETA Technologies, we apply our intellectual curiosity, passion for aviation, and commitment to sustainability toward a shared mission of revolutionizing electric aviation. Regardless of the position one holds, each team member brings their talent and desire to positively impact the environment and lives of others in a refreshing, vibrant, and inclusive culture. The Stability and Controls Engineer will develop the analysis, models, requirements, and test methods that ensure BETA’s fixed-wing and vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft are controllable, maneuverable, and exhibit safe handling qualities throughout the flight envelope—including off-nominal conditions. You will work closely with Flight Sciences, Flight Controls, Flight Test, Systems Engineering, and Certification to develop and validate aerodynamic and flight-dynamics models, inform control-system design, and support vehicle-level development and certification activities. The engineer will use simulation, laboratory, wind-tunnel, and flight-test data to drive design decisions for next-generation electric aircraft. This position will be based onsite at our South Burlington, VT office location, our Raleigh, NC office. Remote candidates may be considered for a hybrid role, with monthly visits to South Burlington, VT for in person work. We encourage all driven candidates to apply, even if they do not meet every listed qualification.

Responsibilities

• Develop aircraft stability, controllability, maneuverability, and handling-qualities requirements for normal and failure conditions
• Perform preliminary control-surface layout and sizing to achieve aircraft controllability requirements
• Develop, document, and maintain aerodynamic and flight-dynamics simulation models of varying fidelity
• Apply handling-qualities criteria to aircraft and flight control system design, including fly-by-wire control-law development
• Conduct static, dynamic, and time-history analyses to evaluate aircraft performance against design and certification requirements
• Plan, support, and reduce data from wind-tunnel, laboratory simulation, and flight-test campaigns
• Analyze flight-test data; compare results with predictions; and use findings to update aerodynamic models, control-system requirements, and vehicle design
• Collaborate with Flight Test to define and execute test events that validate aerodynamic models, aircraft performance, and handling qualities across the flight envelope
• Support safety, system-development, and certification activities, including functional hazard assessments and compliance work aligned with applicable FAA requirements
• Work across Flight Sciences, Flight Controls, Structures, and other system teams to proactively identify opportunities to improve aircraft design, analysis methods, and test processes

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field
• At least 3–5