Systems Engineer - Flight Controls | Sensors & Systems
BETA Technologies
Software Engineering
South Burlington, VT, USA
Posted on Oct 22, 2025
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.
As a Flight Controls Systems Engineer at BETA, you will be a part of the Systems Engineering & Airworthiness team, which is responsible for developing safety-critical system architectures and driving them through design, integration, validation, and test to certification. Specifically, you will be a key stakeholder contributing to the development and certification of BETA’s fly-by-wire flight control system, working with an experienced, multi-disciplinary team of Flight Sciences, Control Laws, Flight Test, Airborne Hardware & Software, Systems, Safety, and Certification engineers. You will perform technical trade studies, design reviews, requirements and interface definition and management, modeling/simulation/analysis, and test development and execution required to safely fly and certify the flight control system on BETA’s aircraft.
How you will contribute to revolutionizing electric aviation:
- Digital fly-by-wire (FBW) flight control system architecture, design, validation, integration, testing, and certification for electric fixed wing (Part 23) and electric powered lift/eVTOL (Special Class) aircraft programs
- Aircraft, system, and component design and requirements development, integration/linkage/tracing, review, and validation
- System integration and lab/system/ground/flight test activities including test case and procedure development and execution and issue reporting/tracking/resolution. Hands-on testing using system test environment, ironbird, ground, and flight testing
- Frequent collaboration with component suppliers, internal engineering & flight test teams, DERs, and the FAA
Minimum Qualifications:
- B.S. in Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, or Computer Science required. Preferred areas of study are Aerospace, Electrical/Computer, or Mechanical Engineering.
- Excellent communication, writing, and organizational skills. Team player that works cohesively with a diverse team. Self-starter & results-oriented problem solver with bias for action. Positive attitude with eagerness to learn and mentor.
- Familiarity with product lifecycle management tools, such as Polarion/DOORS/TNG, and common office tools, such as Microsoft Office, Google GSuite (Gmail, Calendar, Drive), Slack, JIRA, Confluence, etc.
- Safety-critical systems design experience for failure modes and effects, including aerospace, automotive, nuclear, industrial, or related
Above and Beyond Qualifications:
- The ideal candidate has 5+ years of experience in control systems for commercial aviation applications
- Digital fly-by-wire, augmented mechanical flight controls, FADEC development, and/or equivalent safety critical industrial or automotive control systems; testing, certification, and/or fleet support experience at aircraft/rotorcraft/spacecraft OEM(s) and/or suppliers
- Knowledge and experience in any or multiple of the following technical domains: pilot controls design, flight sciences, aircraft stability/control/performance analysis, aircraft flying qualities and pilot-in-the-loop handling qualities, stability augmentation features, control law design and analysis, airborne hardware and/or software development, flight control computer development, air data systems, electromechanical actuators, electric motors and inverters, databuses/protocols/digital interfaces, human factors, system safety, aircraft certification
- Flight testing and/or system-level ironbird/lab testing experience
- System design, integration, and testing considering system functional architectures, availability, integrity, independence, dissimilarity, and other system safety concepts; system functional hazard assessment (SFHA) development and review experience
- Aviation human factors knowledge as applied to the development and certification of the pilot-aircraft interface, including crew alerting, flight indications and displays, pilot controls ergonomics, crew workload evaluation, and pilot operating handbook development
- Experience and familiarity with the FAA certification process, including Part 23 Amendment 64, ASTM standards, Part 25, Part 27/29, Part 21.17(b)/Special Class, issue papers, technical standard orders (TSOs), means & methods of compliance, certification plans and test reports, interaction with FAA specialists
- Personal flying experience including private pilot license (or higher rating) and/or eagerness to learn to fly
- Familiarity with any or multiple of the following relevant industry standards: DO-160, DO-331, DO-254, DO-178, ARP4754, ARP4761, FAA Regulations and Advisory Circulars or equivalent industrial or automotive standards (ASIL / ISO 26262 / IEC 61508)
- Familiarity with common embedded communication buses such as: Serial (RS422/RS232), CAN, CAN-FD, ARINC429, SPI, and I2C
- Familiarity with design definition/documentation (JIRA, Confluence, 3DExperience or CATIA/Enovia), configuration (Git/SVN), and testing tools (MATLAB/Simulink/Python, or similar)
Build electric airplanes with us!
We encourage all driven candidates to apply, even if they do not meet every listed qualification.
We are an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are based on merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner on race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability, veteran or military status, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic under federal, state, or local law. BETA complies with all applicable federal, state and local non-discrimination laws and does not tolerate discrimination of any kind in our workplace.
Employment offers are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. BETA Technologies participates in E-Verify.