Flight Controls Architect

About Sarla Aviation:

Sarla Aviation is at the forefront of revolutionizing urban air mobility with its cutting-edge eVTOL (electric Vertical Take-off and Landing) aircraft featuring innovative tilt-rotor technology. Sarla Aviation, a pioneer in the development of sustainable, efficient, and safe air transportation systems, is dedicated to influencing the future of aviation. We are seeking a skilled and driven Flight Controls Architect to join our expanding team and contribute to the success of our eVTOL program.

Job Overview:

We are looking for an experienced Flight Controls Architect to join our exciting team at Sarla Aviation. This person is responsible for designing and optimizing flight control systems for our eVTOL aircraft. As a Flight Controls Architect, you will leverage your knowledge of eVTOL systems to develop strong, safe, and novel control schemes, while also collaborating closely with our diverse team to guarantee the aircraft operates best under a variety of flying situations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Architect and design flight control systems for eVTOL aircraft, ensuring optimal safety and performance.
• Develop advanced flight control algorithms for stability, sensor fusion, and fault tolerance in eVTOL operations.
• Build and run simulations to assess flight control system performance under a variety of situations.
• Collaborate with the propulsion, avionics, and systems teams to integrate flight control systems into the overall vehicle design.
• Define flight control requirements and confirm compliance with industry standards and regulations (such as DO-178C and DO-254).
• Support test plans and validate flight control systems using PIL/HIL and flying testing, analyzing data to optimize performance.
• Continuously improve flight control systems and address performance issues.
• Prepare and maintain detailed documentation for regulatory authorities to ensure compliance with all applicable aviation standards and certification requirements.
• Keep up with industry developments and use cutting-edge technologies in flight control systems.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Controls Engineering, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
• 8+ years of experience in flight control system design, development, and integration for aircraft, UAVs, or eVTOL systems.
• Strong knowledge of flight dynamics, control theory (linear & nonlinear), estimation, and aircraft stability & handling qualities.
• Demonstrated experience with MATLAB/Simulink, model-based design, control law development, and simulation toolchains.
• Experience with SIL/PIL/HIL testing, system identification, and flight data analysis.
• Ability to write and interpret requirements, ICDs, verification matrices, and architecture documents.
• Familiarity with certification and safety frameworks including DO-178C, DO-254, ARP4754A, and ARP4761.
• Hands-on experience with real-time embedded control systems, autopilots, or flight controllers.
• Strong understanding of sensors (IMUs, GNSS, air data), actuator dynamics, and propulsion–control interactions.
• Excellent communication skills and demonstrated ability to work in multi-disciplinary engineering teams.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in control systems, flight dynamics, robotics, or related field.
• Experience architecting flight control systems for tiltrotor, hybrid-lift, or distributed electric propulsion eVTOL platforms.
• Expertise in robust control, adaptive control, MPC, fault-tolerant control, or nonlinear guidance.
• Experience with embedded C/C++, real-time OS (RTOS), and autopilot firmware architectures.
• Prior involvement in aircraft certification programs (civil or defense) and familiarity with authority compliance processes.
• Experience with hardware integration, actuator/motor controller interfacing, or powertrain-control coupling.
• Hands-on experience with flight testing, including envelope expansion, tuning, or instrumentation.
• Knowledge of electrical propulsion systems, battery management interactions, and HV-LV control interfaces.
• Experience using version control, CI/CD, and modern software development workflows.
• Publications, patents, or contributions in advanced flight control algorithms, GNC, or eVTOL systems.

Why Join Us?

Be a part of a world-class team in an environment where your work directly contributes to shaping the future of urban air mobility.

Thrive in our culture of diversity, inclusion, and innovation, where your unique perspectives and ideas are valued.

Enjoy a competitive compensation package, with opportunities for growth and development in a rapidly evolving industry.

Sarla Aviation is dedicated to creating a diverse and inclusive workspace, championing equality, and empowering every individual. We believe that our strength lies in our differences, not just our similarities. Therefore, we warmly welcome applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of their ethnicity, gender, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or age. Join us at Sarla Aviation, where your unique background and perspective are not just welcomed—they are celebrated.