Senior Flight Controls Engineer
About Odys
Our mission at Odys is simple - we build safe, sustainable aircraft to cut travel time in half on the world's busiest corridors. Our flagship aircraft Alta enables travelers to skip the big-airport hassle by using city helipads and local airports to connect cities less than 1,000 miles apart (approx 40% of flights). And on average cut CO2 by 76% on tens of billions of flight miles globally.
To get there, we start with our UAV called Laila for commercial logistics, medical transport, humanitarian aid, disaster relief, and defense missions. We鈥檙e deploying aircraft with launch partners (Fiji Airways, Honeywell, Aramex, US Navy) beginning in late 2025 and already have firm orders for aircraft under contract.
We鈥檙e a team of expert engineers from deep tech and aerospace that focus on fast iterations loops (completed transition flight faster than our peers) combined with mastery of the aircraft certification process. Previously, our team developed custom drones, brought multiple automotive platforms into production, and electrified transportation vehicles that magnetically levitate, that roll, that fly. Together, we鈥檝e been learning, developing, building, testing, and preparing for this challenge our entire lives.
About The Role
As a Senior Flight Controls Engineer, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the behavior of our UAVs, from initial concept to real-world flight. Our Flight Dynamics and Controls team is responsible for designing, implementing, and validating control algorithms that enable precise, stable, and agile flight. You will work closely with our aerodynamics, mechanical, software, and flight test teams to ensure seamless integration and execution of control strategies. This role offers the opportunity to directly impact the way our UAVs fly, through hands-on development, real-time testing, and flight validation.
Responsibilities
Design, implement, and tune flight control laws for a large UAV
Develop and refine autopilot architecture, guidance and navigation algorithms
Improve full system simulation model to support development needs
Closely collaborate with aerodynamics, controls and mechanical design teams to rapidly iterate on designs
Plan and execute model/software/hardware-in-the-loop (MIL/SIL/HIL) simulations, ground tests, and flight tests
Develop test procedures and analyze flight data to validate control system performance
Work closely with the flight test team to ensure safe and efficient execution of test campaigns
Required Qualifications
Master鈥檚 or Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field
5+ years of experience in flight control system development for UAVs
Strong understanding of flight dynamics, control theory, and system identification
Experience with modern flight control architectures and FBW (Fly-by-Wire) systems
Solid understanding of guidance, navigation and state estimation algorithms
Proficiency in MATLAB/Simulink, C/C++, Python, and real-time embedded control implementation
Hands-on experience with HIL/SIL testing, flight testing, and data analysis
Experience with safety-critical systems development (e.g., DO-178C, DO-254)
Able to work with minimal supervision in a fast-paced environment
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with Embention flight computer hardware
Experience with aircraft system identification tools (e.g., CIFER, SIDPAC)
Experience with vertical takeoff and landing aircraft
Previous experience certifying a UAV or manned aircraft flight control system
Knowledge of actuator dynamics, redundancy management, and sensor fusion
Familiarity with UAV certification and design approval standards and processes (e.g., EASA SORA)
RC/Remote/Crewed pilot experience