ESAero is seeking an experienced Flight Sciences Manager to lead our multidisciplinary engineering team. In this role, you will oversee the Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC), Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), and Aerodynamic Performance disciplines. You will be responsible for the teams that develop the flight physics, control laws, and aerodynamic optimization of our rapidly evolving vehicle portfolio. You will balance technical mentorship and architectural ownership with tactical execution, ensuring our vehicles fly safely, precisely, and predictably.
Responsibilities and Duties:
- Provide top-level technical oversight, independent mission-readiness reviews, and strategic guidance across all active flight platforms.
- Drive engineering excellence across key specialized disciplines, including Guidance, Navigation & Controls (GNC), Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis, high-fidelity flight simulation, and aerodynamic structural design.
- Direct the development, verification, and validation of hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) environments, ensuring seamless deployment of embedded flight control software via modern software deployment methodologies (e.g., automated Simulink Embedded Coder pipelines, C/C++ builds).
- Guide the team to rapidly mature concepts from early initial sketches into operational hardware integrated with intelligent operating systems.
- Actively manage a high-performing engineering team, providing mentoring, performance evaluations, and structured technical career pathing.
- Coordinate closely with Project leaders to monitor future program demands, execute strategic resource staffing, screen high-caliber engineering talent, and close crucial technical skills gaps.
- Collaborate dynamically with Flight Test to plan, coordinate, and execute wind tunnel campaigns and real-world field-testing environments.
- Support Flight Sciences Reviews (FSR), and Test Readiness Reviews (TRR).
Required Qualifications and Skills:
- Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a highly relevant Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) discipline.
- A minimum of 10+ years of professional engineering experience in an aerospace vehicle development environment, with a demonstrable background in Flight Sciences, aerodynamic design, or flight control systems.
- 3+ years of formal leadership or functional management experience directing engineering teams within an integrated aerospace project lifecycle.
- Deep expertise in aerodynamics, flight dynamics, and aircraft stability/control for fixed-wing, rotary-wing, or hybrid missile/UAV systems.
- Proven capability utilizing modern analytical platforms, such as MATLAB/Simulink, low/high-order CFD packages, and embedded C/C++ environments.
- Must be a U.S. Person as defined by ITAR/EAR.
- Master’s degree or a Ph.D. with a research focus in flight physics, fluid dynamics, or advanced control laws.
- Familiarity with open-source flight software frameworks and their application to complex edge-case navigation (e.g., GPS-denied environments).
- Active U.S. Government Secret Security Clearance, with immediate eligibility for Top Secret (TS) and Special Access Programs (SAP) highly preferred.
- Prior hands-on experience managing complex wind tunnel testing, scaling models, or live-fly uncrewed systems testing operations.
- Health & Wellness: Choose from three health, dental, and vision plans - including a 100% employer-paid option covering both employees and their families.
- Paid Time Off: Enjoy 120 hours of PTO, 80 hours accrued plus an additional 40 hours of holiday break pay in addition to Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day off.
- Life Insurance: $25,000 employer-paid life insurance policy, with the option to purchase additional coverage for employees and their families.
- Supplemental Coverage: Access optional benefits such as Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, Accident Insurance, and Critical Illness with Skin Cancer coverage.
- Health Savings Account (HSA): Take advantage of a tax-advantaged HSA to manage medical expenses.
- Retirement Savings: 401(k) with a company match to support your financial future.
- Paid Holidays: Enjoy 9 paid holidays throughout the year.
- Work Environment: A casual dress code, complimentary snacks, and a welcoming company culture.
- Ideal Location: Work in an area that offers an outstanding quality of life - a perfect place to live, work, and play!
Company Overview
Empirical Systems Aerospace, Inc (ESAero) is a leader in aerospace engineering, product development, and manufacturing, dedicated to delivering high-quality, innovative, and cost-effective solutions to the industry. We specialize in cutting-edge system design, rapid product development, precision manufacturing, comprehensive testing, and technology demonstrations to support the evolving needs of the aerospace community. Committed to excellence, on-time delivery, and continuous growth, we invest in infrastructure to expand our manufacturing and aftermarket capabilities while maintaining the highest standards of engineering services.
At ESAero, we don’t just build products, we engineer solutions that propel
the aerospace industry forward.
**This position is fully on-site at ESAero in San Luis Obispo, CA**
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ESAero is an equal opportunity employer.
E-Verify participation required for employment.
Must present proof of authorization to work in the United States.
Must be able to pass background check.
Pay Range: $118,000-$175,000 Salary Exempt
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a relevant STEM discipline
- 10+ years of professional engineering experience in an aerospace vehicle development environment
- Background in flight sciences, aerodynamic design, or flight control systems
- 3+ years of formal leadership or functional management experience directing engineering teams
- Expertise in aerodynamics, flight dynamics, and aircraft stability and control for fixed-wing, rotary-wing, hybrid, missile, or UAV systems
- Experience with MATLAB/Simulink, low- or high-order CFD packages, and embedded C/C++ environments
- Must be a U.S. Person under ITAR/EAR
- Master's degree or Ph.D. focused on flight physics, fluid dynamics, or advanced control laws
- Familiarity with open-source flight software frameworks and GPS-denied navigation
- Active U.S. Government Secret clearance and eligibility for Top Secret and SAP access
- Experience managing wind tunnel testing, scaling models, or live-fly uncrewed systems testing
What We Do
Empirical Systems Aerospace, Inc. (ESAero), an aerospace engineering design and manufacturing company, specializes in cost-effective development of innovative and advanced concepts, with emphasis on simple honesty and a track record of commitment. Since 2003, ESAero has served the needs of the engineering industry through its work on military and commercial conceptual air vehicle designs, electric and hybrid propulsion system development, aircraft modifications, sub-scale technology demonstrators, rapid system prototyping, design for manufacturing, low-rate initial production, manufacturing, and niche engineering support. An “Advanced Design Group to Advanced Design Groups”, ESAero is the Prime Contractor and Integrator of the NASA X-57 “Maxwell” all-electric airplane. ESAero customers include multiple NASA Centers, AFRL, AMRDEC, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, General Atomics, Electricore, and AeroVironment. With a 32,000 sq.ft. design & manufacturing facility located in San Luis Obispo, CA and an 8,000 sq.ft. integration and test location at the Oceano (CA) County Airport (L52), ESAero has expanded operations and airport space for system testing and product development. ESAero will continue to provide the aviation and aerospace industries with cutting-edge systems solutions and optimized manufacturing practices. With an emphasis on quality, cost, and/or time, ESAero performs design, analytical, prototyping, and testing services for systems ranging from conceptual aerospace designs to aircraft seeking supplemental type certificates. • Proven solutions that focus on the quality of results • Rapid system development • Hands-on development/testing to achieve customer goals • “Out-of-the-Box” thinking and engineering • Customized project plans structured for efficiency to meet larger program goals of cost or time • On-demand niche engineering team to supplement ongoing projects For more information, please visit our website at www.esaero.com or call (805) 275-1053.
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