Key Skills

Job Description

Imagine this: you own the flight-control architecture behind a jet-powered autonomous interceptor approaching Mach 1. Aerlijn is developing a new generation of high-speed unmanned interceptors for counter-UAS and air-defence applications. Our systems combine extreme vehicle performance with autonomous guidance, onboard perception, and modern flight-control software. We are looking for a UAV Lead Engineer to take technical ownership of the flight-control stack behind these systems. This is not a role focused on configuring an off-the-shelf autopilot for a conventional drone. You will work at the boundary between UAV engineering and high-performance aerospace: extending and adapting ArduPilot and/or PX4 for vehicles operating at speeds and dynamic conditions far beyond those of typical fixed-wing UAVs. You will own the path from simulation and control-law development through autopilot implementation, hardware-in-the-loop testing, flight testing, and ultimately operational deployment. What you will do Own the flight-control and autopilot architecture for Aerlijn’s high-speed UAV and interceptor platforms. Develop, modify, and maintain flight-control software based on ArduPilot and/or PX4. Develop and tune control laws for highly dynamic fixed-wing vehicles across launch, acceleration, cruise, terminal manoeuvring, and recovery phases. Extend the autopilot where standard ArduPilot/PX4 functionality is insufficient, working directly with the underlying C/C++ flight-control codebase. Develop and validate navigation, state-estimation, actuator-control, failsafe, and mission-management functionality. Integrate onboard sensors including IMUs, GNSS, air-data sensors, magnetometers, radar/vision inputs, and other navigation sources. Integrate autopilot functionality with Aerlijn’s autonomous guidance and target-interception systems. Build and maintain SITL and HIL/HITL simulation environments for rapid development and validation. Analyse flight logs and telemetry to identify instability, estimator errors, actuator limitations, aerodynamic effects, and other performance constraints. Translate flight-test results into improvements to control laws, vehicle configuration, avionics, and airframe requirements. Work directly with mechanical, avionics, propulsion, autonomy, and computer-vision engineers during vehicle development. 8% monthly holiday allowance Lunch from a Mechlin Chef (no bitterballen) Equity Options

Core Responsibilities

Own and develop the flight-control architecture and autopilot software for high-speed UAVs, including adapting ArduPilot and/or PX4 and developing control laws for demanding flight phases. Validate and improve the systems through simulation, hardware-in-the-loop and flight testing, sensor and autonomy integration, and collaboration across engineering teams.

Requirements

The role calls for senior-level expertise in UAV flight-control systems, ArduPilot and/or PX4, and C/C++ development, with the ability to adapt autopilot software for highly dynamic fixed-wing vehicles. It also requires experience spanning control-law development, simulation and hardware-in-the-loop validation, sensor integration, flight testing, and analysis of flight data.

Benefits

• 8% Monthly Holiday Allowance
• Lunch Provided
• Equity Options