Flight Control Systems

3 days ago

Montreal administrative region, QC, Canada Katalyst CRO Full-time $150,000 - $210,000 Contract
  • Lead the Flight Control Systems (FCS) IPT and ensure alignment with aircraft program milestones.
  • Own scope, schedule, cost, quality, and technical delivery of FCS programs.
  • Coordinate with Aerodynamics, Structures, Avionics, Software, and V&V teams. Serve as the primary technical interface with customers and stakeholders.
  • Define FCS architecture including fly-by-wire/fly-by-light systems, actuation systems, and sensors.
  • Lead control law development, stability and control analysis, flight dynamics modeling, gain scheduling, and redundancy management.
  • Ensure compliance with ARP4754A and ARP4761 standards.
  • Develop and manage System Requirement Documents (SRD), control laws, simulation models, and Interface Control Documents (ICD).
  • Lead MIL, SIL, and HIL integration activities and oversee ground testing, iron bird testing, and flight test support.
  • Ensure seamless integration with avionics systems, actuation systems, and cockpit interfaces.
  • Lead certification efforts in accordance with FAA, EASA, and DGCA regulations.
  • Ensure compliance with DO-178C and DO-254 standards.
  • Manage certification deliverables including PSAC, PHAC, SAS, safety assessments, and compliance reports.
  • Interface with certification authorities, DERs, and ARs.
  • Conduct safety analyses including FHA, FMEA, and FTA.
  • Drive fail-safe, fail-operational, and fault-tolerant flight control system designs.
  • Present technical solutions, performance metrics, risks, and mitigation plans to stakeholders.
  • Support RFQs, proposals, effort estimation, and technical reviews.
  • Ensure adherence to configuration control and change management processes.
  • Identify and mitigate technical and integration risks while managing dependencies across IPTs.

Responsibilities

  • Lead the Flight Control Systems (FCS) IPT and ensure alignment with aircraft program milestones.
  • Own scope, schedule, cost, quality, and technical delivery of FCS programs.
  • Coordinate with Aerodynamics, Structures, Avionics, Software, and V&V teams. Serve as the primary technical interface with customers and stakeholders.
  • Define FCS architecture including fly-by-wire/fly-by-light systems, actuation systems, and sensors.
  • Lead control law development, stability and control analysis, flight dynamics modeling, gain scheduling, and redundancy management.
  • Ensure compliance with ARP4754A and ARP4761 standards.
  • Develop and manage System Requirement Documents (SRD), control laws, simulation models, and Interface Control Documents (ICD).
  • Lead MIL, SIL, and HIL integration activities and oversee ground testing, iron bird testing, and flight test support.
  • Ensure seamless integration with avionics systems, actuation systems, and cockpit interfaces.
  • Lead certification efforts in accordance with FAA, EASA, and DGCA regulations.
  • Ensure compliance with DO-178C and DO-254 standards.
  • Manage certification deliverables including PSAC, PHAC, SAS, safety assessments, and compliance reports.
  • Interface with certification authorities, DERs, and ARs.
  • Conduct safety analyses including FHA, FMEA, and FTA.
  • Drive fail-safe, fail-operational, and fault-tolerant flight control system designs.
  • Present technical solutions, performance metrics, risks, and mitigation plans to stakeholders.
  • Support RFQs, proposals, effort estimation, and technical reviews.
  • Ensure adherence to configuration control and change management processes.
  • Identify and mitigate technical and integration risks while managing dependencies across IPTs.

Required Qualifications

  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Control Systems Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Electrical Engineering.
  • 12-18+ years of experience in the aerospace domain.
  • Strong experience in flight control system development and aircraft NPD programs.
  • Proven experience leading cross-functional engineering teams or IPTs.

Technical Skills

  • Strong expertise in Flight Dynamics & Control Theory.
  • Control Law Design, Simulation, and Fly-by-Wire Architectures.
  • Hands-on experience with MATLAB/Simulink and flight simulation environments.
  • Familiarity with MBSE tools such as Cameo and Rhapsody.
  • Knowledge of ARINC/AFDX interfaces, sensors, and actuation systems.

Leadership & Soft Skills

  • Strong technical leadership and program ownership.
  • Effective stakeholder and customer communication skills.
  • Experience managing onsite-offshore delivery teams.
  • Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.

Preferred Skills:

  • Experience with eVTOL, UAV, or Advanced Air Mobility programs.
  • Exposur