Flight Sciences Manager

Empirical Systems Aerospace, Inc. • San Luis Obispo, CA

4d • $118,000 - $175,000 • Onsite

About The Position

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.

Requirements

• 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.

Nice To Haves

• 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.

Responsibilities

• 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).

Benefits

• Choose from three health, dental, and vision plans - including a 100% employer-paid option covering both employees and their families.
• 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.
• $25,000 employer-paid life insurance policy, with the option to purchase additional coverage for employees and their families.
• 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.
• 401(k) with a company match to support your financial future.
• 9 paid holidays throughout the year.
• A casual dress code, complimentary snacks, and a welcoming company culture.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager