Senior Stability & Controls Engineer

• Los Angeles
• On-site
• Yearly salary: $140,000 - $176,000

Job Description

At Heart Aerospace we develop the ES-30, a regional hybrid-electric airplane with a capacity of 30 passengers, an electric zero-emission range of 200 km and an extended hybrid range of 800 km. Heart is targeting type certification of the ES-30 by the end of the decade.

We are expanding our R&D hub in Los Angeles, where we are advancing Heart’s hybrid-electric propulsion system and other key technologies.

Your mission:

We are seeking a highly motivated Senior Stability and Controls Engineer to join our Flight Science team. You will play a crucial role in the flight dynamics design, analysis, and development of control laws for our electric aircraft. Your work will directly impact aircraft safety, performance, and certification.

This role requires a strong background in aircraft dynamics, control theory, and simulation, with an emphasis on supporting both preliminary and detailed design phases. You will collaborate closely with aerodynamics, flight controls, flight tests, and certification teams.

Key responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Develop and validate linear and nonlinear aircraft dynamic models (6DOF).
• Analyze static and dynamic stability characteristics in all flight regimes.
• Conduct handling qualities evaluations and ensure compliance with FAA Part 25 standards.
• Define design requirements for structures and flight controls.
• Integrate models into engineering simulators.
• Contribute to safety assessments (e.g., FHA, PSSA) with control system stability inputs.

You will initially report to the CTO and your place of work will be at our office located in El Segundo, CA (Los Angeles).

Skills & Requirements

You'll Bring These Qualifications:

• 3+ years of experience in flight dynamics, stability, control analysis, or related disciplines.
• Proficiency in MATLAB/Simulink, Python, or similar tools for modeling and simulation.
• Experience with flight control law development or evaluation.
• Strong understanding of aircraft stability, control theory, and flight mechanics.
• Familiarity with aviation regulatory standards (e.g., EASA/FAA Part 23 or 25).
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work in a multidisciplinary environment.

These Qualifications Would Be Nice to Have:

• Hands-on flight test experience or support.
• Experience with hybrid-electric or unconventional aircraft configurations.
• Familiarity with control system certification processes (DO-178C/DO-160G/DO-331).

Education

• M.Sc. or Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering or a related field.