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Summer Flight Controls Engineer Jobs in New York

Mosaic.tech

Flight Controls Engineer

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$140 - $190/hr

We're seeking a Flight Controls & GNC Engineer to own the guidance, navigation, and control stack on our VTOL platform. This is a senior individual contributor role with direct ownership of flight ...

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Summer Flight Controls Engineer information

What is a summer flight controls engineer?

Summer Flight Controls Engineers are typically interns or temporary employees who work with aerospace engineering teams during the summer months, focusing on the design, analysis, testing, and improvement of flight control systems in aircraft or spacecraft. Their responsibilities often include assisting with simulations, debugging software, running experiments, and supporting the development of control algorithms that ensure safe and efficient vehicle operation. This role provides hands-on experience and helps students or early-career engineers gain insight into the aerospace industry and the complexities of flight control systems.

What types of projects and responsibilities can a summer flight controls engineer expect during an internship?

As a Summer Flight Controls Engineer, you can expect to work on projects involving the design, simulation, and testing of flight control systems for aircraft or drones. Typical responsibilities include supporting model development, running hardware-in-the-loop simulations, analyzing flight test data, and assisting with troubleshooting control algorithms. You'll often collaborate with senior engineers, software teams, and test pilots to ensure the systems meet safety and performance standards. This hands-on experience provides valuable exposure to the aerospace industry's tools and processes, which can be a strong stepping stone for future career growth.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a summer flight controls engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Summer Flight Controls Engineer, you need a solid understanding of aerospace engineering principles, control systems, and typically enrollment in a relevant engineering program. Familiarity with tools like MATLAB/Simulink, flight simulation software, and version control systems is commonly required. Strong problem-solving abilities, teamwork, and effective communication help you excel in collaborative and fast-paced project environments. These competencies are crucial for designing and testing reliable flight control systems that ensure aircraft safety and optimal performance.

What is the difference between Summer Flight Controls Engineer vs Summer Avionics Engineer?

AspectSummer Flight Controls EngineerSummer Avionics Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Electrical Engineering; relevant certificationsBachelor's in Electrical, Electronics, or Aerospace Engineering; certifications may vary
Work EnvironmentDesign, testing, and integration of flight control systems in aircraftDevelopment and testing of avionic systems and electronic components in aircraft
Industry UsagePrimarily in aerospace and aircraft manufacturing companiesIn aerospace, defense, and avionics system providers

The Summer Flight Controls Engineer focuses on designing and testing aircraft control systems, while the Summer Avionics Engineer specializes in electronic systems within aircraft. Both roles require similar technical backgrounds and work environments, but their specific responsibilities differ in system focus.

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Summer Flight Controls Engineer jobs near you

Flight Controls Engineer

New York, NY • On-site

Valinor Enterprises
See more jobs at Valinor Enterprisesexternal

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 10 days ago

Job description

Valinor is a new type of defense and government tech company focused on solving the problems others don't. Our model of centralized go-to-market and decentralized engineering lets us move fast: identify unmet needs, build right-sized solutions, and get products into the hands of users. While others chase the flashy problems, Valinor exists to solve the quiet, unaddressed ones, the small but significant problems that lead to cracks in the country's strength, stability, and security.
Backed by General Catalyst, Founders Fund, and Friends & Family Capital, Valinor was founded in 2024 and has strategic partnerships with Palantir, Anduril, and Helsing. We're building the dream team, and we want you on it.
About The Role
Valinor Condor is building the next generation of autonomous VTOL aircraft for defense and enterprise. We're a small, technical team moving fast. Our vehicle is flying, our customers are real, and the work spans simulation to the field.
We're looking for a Flight Controls Engineer to own the guidance, navigation, and control stack on our VTOL platform. This is a senior individual contributor role with direct ownership of flight performance, from control law architecture to day-of-demo tuning. You'll work directly with the Chief Engineer as our technical authority on everything from transition logic and rate controller design to aero modeling and stability analysis.
What You'll Do
Flight Controls & Tuning
  • Own the full flight controls / GNC stack: PX4 code, VTOL transition logic, fixed-wing control laws (TECS, NPFG, attitude/rate loops), and the multicopter controller
  • Design, implement, and iterate on control laws; translate controller designs into flight-validated parameters and tune the aircraft in the field
  • Run structured flight test campaigns: define test cards, instrument logging, execute in-field, and close the loop with data-driven analysis
  • Debug flight anomalies from logs, root-causing across the sensor, estimator, controller, and actuator layers

Dynamics & Aero Modeling
  • Build and maintain the flight dynamics model; extract and validate aero coefficients from flight data and CFD outputs
  • Write precise scopes of work for CFD contractors; review and integrate their outputs into the aero model
  • Develop and maintain a Simulink-based 6DOF simulation environment for control law prototyping, linearization, and stability margin analysis, de-risking parameter changes before they hit hardware

Systems & Integration
  • Partner with the software team on autopilot integration, sensor fusion, and estimator config (EKF tuning, IMU/GPS/baro)
  • Support customer demonstrations; ensure the vehicle performs reliably under operational conditions

What We're Looking For
Required
  • 4+ years of hands-on flight controls / GNC experience on real flying hardware
  • Deep familiarity with PX4 (or a comparable open-source autopilot): you've tuned it, debugged it, and modified it
  • Fixed-wing or VTOL platform experience
  • Ability to read flight logs to diagnose control system issues (PX4 log analysis, PlotJuggler)
  • Familiarity with aero modeling pipelines (CFD output → stability derivatives → flight dynamics model)
  • Python for log analysis, simulation, and tooling; MATLAB/Simulink for control design and 6DOF modeling equally valued
  • Strong fundamentals: classical and modern control theory, rigid body dynamics, state estimation
  • Comfortable in the field. You've executed flight tests, not just designed them on paper

Preferred
  • TECS, NPFG, or L1 guidance implementations
  • EKF-based state estimators (GPS/IMU/baro fusion)
  • MAVLink or similar UAV communication protocols
  • Familiarity with NDAA compliance for UAS hardware
  • Experience supporting operational customer demonstrations or field deployments

What Valinor Offers
  • Competitive salary, equity, and benefits: health, dental, and vision fully covered for employees, 401(k), development stipends, and more
  • Unlimited PTO and a two-week company holiday at the end of every year
  • A pro-mental-health, pro-family company. We encourage employees to spend real time with themselves and their families, and provide fertility benefits for those beginning that journey
  • A fun environment. We laugh and take care of each other, and we deeply respect the mission in front of us

This role requires the candidate be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance. Active clearance preferred, but not required.
Valinor is an equal-opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. The Valinor team is made up of incredibly talented and unique individuals, who together are disrupting industry norms by creating new paths towards the future of defense and government technology. All qualified applicants will be treated with respect and receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, uniform service, Veteran status, age, or any other protected characteristic per federal, state, or local law, including those with a criminal history, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the CA Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. We actively encourage members of recognized minorities, women, Veterans, and those with disabilities to apply, and we work to create a welcoming and supportive environment for all applicants throughout the interview process. If you are someone passionate about working on problems that have a real-world impact, we'd love to hear from you!

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