About the job
Mach Industries, founded in 2022 and based in Huntington Beach, focuses on developing next-generation autonomous defense platforms. The company’s mission centers on building scalable, decentralized defense systems that strengthen the strategic capabilities of the United States and its allies. With a team of about 220 professionals, Mach Industries combines startup agility with a commitment to rapid innovation in defense technology.
Role overview
The GNC Engineer (Controls) supports the design and evaluation of control systems for Mach’s fixed-wing aircraft. This position covers the full lifecycle of control law development, from initial design through implementation and validation, ensuring reliable performance throughout all phases of flight.
What you will do
- Develop control systems that meet architecture and requirements for fixed-wing vehicles.
- Create and implement control laws, taking into account actuator limits, time delays, and sensor noise.
- Contribute to system identification and aerodynamic model development using data from wind-tunnel tests, CFD, and flight tests.
- Carry out verification and validation activities, including SIL/HIL campaigns, Monte Carlo simulations, and flight-readiness assessments; present findings to team members and program leadership.
- Participate in flight-test planning and execution; analyze flight logs, adjust controllers, and iterate on designs quickly and safely.
- Work closely with the controls team to ensure alignment with design and code reviews, supporting project goals and milestones.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Physics, or Mathematics.
- 0-5 years of experience designing, analyzing, and implementing flight control systems for fixed-wing aircraft or high-performance UAVs, including flight test involvement.
- Strong foundation in flight dynamics, stability, controllability, and actuator/sensor modeling.
- Proficiency in modern C++ for embedded real-time applications; strong skills in MATLAB, Simulink, and Python for modeling, identification, and analysis.
