Flight Controls Engineer - Autonomy

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.

We are seeking a Flight Controls Engineer with a strong focus on autonomy to support the development, integration, and validation of advanced flight control systems for next‑generation aircraft. This role sits at the intersection of flight controls, guidance, navigation, and autonomous system development, enabling increasingly capable and certifiable autonomous operations.

The ideal candidate will work closely with control law, software, and systems teams to integrate autonomy functions with the flight control system and broader vehicle architecture. This includes supporting autonomous behaviors such as mission execution, contingency management, and vehicle decision‑making. The role requires close collaboration with simulation, systems engineering, and flight test teams to ensure robust, safe, and scalable autonomy solutions.

• Support integration and validation of flight control systems enabling autonomous and semi‑autonomous operation
• Contribute to autonomy architecture, including mode management, state machines, and decision logic
• Integrate flight control systems with Flight Management Systems (FMS), navigation systems, and offboard/ground control interfaces
• Support system‑level requirements development, traceability, and verification for autonomy features
• Develop and execute test plans across simulation, Iron Bird, and flight test environments
• Analyze flight test data to evaluate control system and autonomy performance
• Ensure compliance with certification standards and safety‑critical development practices
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to mature autonomy capabilities from concept through flight

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or related field
• Experience with flight control systems or guidance, navigation, and control (GNC)
• Strong understanding of control systems and aircraft dynamics
• Experience with MATLAB/Simulink or similar modeling and simulation tools
• Familiarity with embedded systems and real‑time software environments
• Experience developing or integrating autonomous systems, robotics, or decision‑making algorithms

• Experience with eVTOL, UAV, or advanced aircraft programs
• Familiarity with DO‑178C, DO‑331, ARP
  4754, or similar certification frameworks
• Experience with state estimation, sensor fusion, or path planning algorithms
• Exposure to hardware‑in‑the‑loop (HIL), Iron Bird, or flight test campaigns
• Programming experience in C/C++ or Python
• Understanding of communication systems for autonomy (radio links, datalinks, ground control systems)

Based in South Burlington, VT; on‑site presence required to support labs, rigs, and integrated testing. Occasional travel to test sites and suppliers as needed.

The wage listed here reflects our best faith estimate for this role. We pay competitively and base compensation on a variety of factors including skills, experience, industry background, and the evolving needs of the role. We remain committed to fair and equitable pay and we’re happy to discuss during the interview process.

Compensation

$125,000—$150,000 USD

BETA offers a competitive Total Compensation package designed to support you now and as you grow with us. This role includes both Restricted Stock Units and Performance Stock Units for all full‑time team members, so everyone shares in our success. You’ll have access to onsite healthcare in Vermont, comprehensive medical coverage, dental and vision, short‑and‑long‑term disability, and paid parental leave. We also take care of the everyday details with daily lunch provided, and flight lessons are part of the experience, along with a range of additional…