Autonomy & Controls Lead

At AIRO, we bring together aircraft, autonomy, avionics, and mission services into one integrated platform designed for the environments where failure is not an option. Our technology supports contested logistics, tactical and long-range ISTAR, and operations that demand precision under pressure, so the people who depend on it can get where they need to be when it matters most. Here, you will work alongside innovators, engineers, operators, and industry leaders who share a passion for solving hard problems and building what comes next in aerospace and defense. Join us and be part of something extraordinary. This role is located in Phoenix, AZ and No Sponsorship. Position Overview: Airo is seeking a visionary, hands-on Autonomy and Controls Engineering Lead to direct the development of next-generation intelligent flight software, guidance architectures, and precision stabilization algorithms for our advanced UAS platforms. In this critical technical leadership role, you will bridge modern control theory and embedded hardware execution to deliver safe, reliable, and high-performance autonomous flight in demanding operational environments. You will take end-to-end ownership of core flight software, including state estimation, trajectory planning, and low-level stabilization loops while guiding a fast-moving team of robotics and firmware engineers from simulation through real-world flight testing. Working at the intersection of aerospace dynamics and robotics, your primary focus will be delivering robust flight controller stability, comprehensive fail-safes, and production-grade GPS-denied navigation firmware. Key Responsibilities: Architect & Tune Flight Control Systems: Design, implement, and tune classical and non-linear control algorithms, trajectory optimization routines, and dynamic 6-DOF stabilization loops for novel UAS platforms. Deliver GPS-Denied Navigation: Build and optimize multi-sensor fusion pipelines incorporating Extended Kalman Filters (EKF), factor graphs, and Visual-Inertial Odometry (VIO) to achieve resilient navigation in contested or GPS-denied environments. Integrate & Customize Flight Stacks: Direct the architectural customization, integration, and deployment of open and proprietary flight stacks, including PX4, ArduPilot, ROS, and ROS 2. Lead SIL / HIL Simulation Campaigns: Own Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) and Software-in-the-Loop (SIL) simulation infrastructure to validate flight critical software and fail-safes prior to live flight operations. Define Hardware-Software Interfaces: Collaborate across disciplines to specify compute, avionics, sensor, and actuator requirements, ensuring seamless embedded integration across the airframe. Technical Leadership & Team Scaling: Mentor, lead, and scale a high-performing controls and autonomy engineering team while enforcing robust software architecture and code review standards. Qualifications: BS, MS in Robotics, Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science, or a related discipline paired with 5+ years of hands-on experience building and shipping real-time control or autonomy software for physical robotic or aerospace systems. Expert proficiency in C/C++ and Python, with demonstrated expertise developing within embedded real-time flight environments. Deep theoretical mastery of control theory, including linear/non-linear control design, state estimation, dynamic programming, and 6-DOF aircraft/rotorcraft dynamics modeling. Proven track record with open-source autopilots, specifically building, modifying, and tuning PX4 or ArduPilot flight controllers. Hands-on expertise in sensor fusion pipelines, developing and deploying robust EKF-based state estimation algorithms. Extensive experience with simulation frameworks, including SIL and HIL validation workflows for safety-critical autonomous systems. Experience integrating autonomous systems into operational, test, or simulation environments Preferred Qualifications Direct experience fielding GPS-denied navigation solutions on operational UAV platforms using VIO, lidar odometry, or optical flow. Demonstrated background developing safety-critical fail-safes, contingency management, and fault-tolerant control architectures for autonomous drones. Experience deploying modern robotic frameworks (ROS/ROS 2, DDS) on embedded Linux computing targets. SECURITY & COMPLIANCE Comply with all company information, security policies and procedures Ensure proper handling and protection of proprietary information Share information only on a need-to-know basis Adhere to company non-disclosure requirements Physical Requirements: Ability to sit, stand, and/or walk for extended periods Ability to use hands and fingers for manual dexterity and repetitive tasks Ability to bend, stoop, reach, push, pull, and lift as required by the position Ability to safely lift, carry, push, or pull objects within the requirements of the position Ability to perform the visual, auditory, and communication requirements necessary to perform the essential functions of the position Ability to work safely in the physical and environmental conditions applicable to the position Company Benefits: Parental Leave Health Savings Account (HSA) 401(k) with company match Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Basic Life Insurance – fully paid by the company for employees and their dependents Long-Term Disability Insurance – fully paid by the company Voluntary Short-Term Disability Insurance #J-18808-Ljbffr AIRO