Flight Control Systems Engineer

Salary: £40,000 - 73,000 per year

Requirements:

• Degree in aerospace engineering or similar.
• Understanding of aerodynamics and flight mechanics, and their impact on flight control.
• Experience using MATLAB/Simulink for developing algorithms and control laws.
• Hands-on experience in designing and commissioning control systems.
• Existing SC Clearance.
• Experience designing and implementing guidance, navigation and control algorithms for fixed and/or rotary wing vehicles is desirable.
• Knowledge of the state of the art for sensing systems is desirable.
• Hands-on experience with small UAS is desirable.
• Knowledge of MathWorks Stateflow, Simulink Coder and Embedded Coder is desirable.
• Experience developing mathematical algorithms such as data fusion and state estimation is desirable.
• Experience working with embedded systems, real-time systems, and safety critical systems is desirable.
• Knowledge of communication systems is desirable.
• Experience with version control systems such as git is desirable.
• C++, Java, and Python development skills are desirable.
• Experience with quality standards for software such as DO-178 and ED-20x is desirable.
• Ability to hold National Security Vetting clearance to SC level or the ability to gain it.

Responsibilities:

• Support a mixture of R&D and product development activities within our autonomy and unmanned systems business.
• Develop, maintain and test safety critical software that contributes to the flight systems of our aircraft.
• Contribute to requirements definition.
• Use MATLAB/Simulink tools to generate software such as flight control laws and data manipulation algorithms.
• Perform verification and validation using bespoke simulations.
• Deploy software onto target hardware.
• Conduct real world flight testing at our test facility near the office.
• Present findings of testing in reports or customer-facing presentations.
• Contribute to the development of standard operating processes.
• Drive continuous improvement of methods and techniques.
• Ensure quality targets are satisfied.
• Work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Technologies:

• Embedded
• Git
• Hardware
• Support
• Java
• Matlab
• Python
• Security
• AI
• LESS
• Robotics

More:

We are Saab UK, part of Scandinavias largest defence company, bringing together Swedish and British innovation to deliver world-leading solutions and services in defence, aviation, space, and civil security. Our UK presence has been growing at pace, and we offer a wide range of opportunities for personal fulfilment and career growth across more than 600 employees at eight UK sites. This role sits within Saab Bluebear Business in Bedfordshire and supports cutting-edge autonomy and unmanned systems development, with exposure to advanced flight control work, real-world flight testing, and strong opportunities for career development.

last updated 36 week of 2026