Flight Controls Engineer

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!