Principal Controls Engineer at Mach Industries

Huntington Beach, California, United States

Apply Now

$180,000 – $220,000Compensation

Senior (5 to 8 years), Expert & Leadership (9+ years)Experience Level

Full TimeJob Type

UnknownVisa

Defense, AerospaceIndustries

Requirements

Bachelor's in Engineering, Physics, Mathematics
8+ years designing and fielding flight control systems for fixed-wing aircraft or high-performance UAVs, including flight test
Deep knowledge of flight dynamics, stability/controllability, and actuator/sensor modeling
Proficiency in modern C++ for embedded real-time implementations; strong MATLAB/Python for modeling, ID, and analysis
Demonstrated ownership of verification workflows (SIL/HIL), requirements traceability, and safety reviews
Familiarity with modern software workflows (git, code review, issue tracking) and data/telemetry analysis

Responsibilities

Define control system architecture and requirements for fixed-wing vehicles (primary flight control, envelope protection, autothrottle/energy mgmt, and mode logic)
Design and implement control laws accounting for actuator limits, time delays, and sensor noise
Lead system identification and aerodynamic model development from wind-tunnel, CFD, and flight-test data; build accurate linearizations
Develop fault-tolerant and reconfiguration strategies (sensor/actuator FDI, control allocation, redundancy mgmt) with graceful degradation
Own verification & validation: SIL/HIL campaigns, Monte Carlo, and flight-readiness criteria; establish performance dashboards
Drive flight-test planning and execution; analyze logs, tune controllers, and iterate safely and quickly
Mentor the controls team, set technical standards, conduct design/code reviews, and influence roadmap and milestones

Skills

Key technologies and capabilities for this role

Control ArchitectureFlight Control LawsSystem IdentificationAerodynamic ModelingCFDWind-Tunnel TestingFlight TestingFault Detection IsolationControl AllocationRedundancy ManagementSILHILMonte Carlo Simulation

Questions & Answers

Common questions about this position

What is the salary range for the Principal Controls Engineer position?

The salary range is $180K - $220K.

Is this role remote or onsite?

This is an onsite position.

What skills and experience are required for this role?

Candidates need a Bachelor's in Engineering, Physics, or Mathematics, 8+ years designing and fielding flight control systems for fixed-wing aircraft or UAVs including flight test, deep knowledge of flight dynamics, proficiency in modern C++ for embedded systems, and strong MATLAB/Python skills.

What is the company culture like at Mach Industries?

Mach Industries operates with startup agility and ambition in a workforce of approximately 180 employees, focused on innovation at speed and national security through cutting-edge manufacturing.

What makes a strong candidate for this Principal Controls Engineer role?

A strong candidate has 8+ years of experience owning flight control systems for fixed-wing aircraft or UAVs, including flight testing, and expertise in control law design, system identification, fault-tolerant strategies, and verification workflows like SIL/HIL.

Mach Industries

About Mach Industries

Austin, TexasHeadquarters

2022Year Founded

$82.4MTotal Funding

SERIES_ACompany Stage

Industrial & Manufacturing, DefenseIndustries

51-200Employees

Benefits

Health Insurance

401(k) Retirement Plan

401(k) Company Match

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Relocation Assistance

Professional Development Budget

Meal Benefits

Risks

Competition from established companies like Anduril could overshadow Mach Industries' growth.

High valuation expectations may pressure Mach Industries to deliver results quickly.

Technical challenges with hydrogen-powered tech could hinder military adoption.

Differentiation

Mach Industries focuses on hydrogen-powered defense technologies, a novel approach in military tech.

The company aims to revolutionize defense procurement with agile, iterative development processes.

Mach Industries' field-sourced hydrogen offers a strategic advantage by reducing logistical burdens.

Upsides

Mach Industries secured $79M in Series A funding, indicating strong investor confidence.

The involvement of top-tier investors like Bedrock Capital highlights the company's market attractiveness.

Silicon Valley's interest in defense tech suggests a favorable environment for Mach Industries.

Land your dream remote job 3x faster with AI

Try Jobo Free