As our Controls Engineering Manager, you’ll wear two hats: a hands-on individual contributor driving control algorithm development and a leader building out our controls team from the ground up. You will personally design, implement, and validate control loops for gimbal systems and VTOL platforms, set the overall architecture, define embedded C++ best practices in control projects, and work closely with hardware, firmware, and software teams to bring innovative products to market.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- VTOL Controls: Architect and validate flight control loops (attitude, position, transition modes) for multirotor/VTOL vehicles.
- Embedded C++: Establish and enforce modern C++ coding standards, unit-testing frameworks, and continuous-integration workflows for real-time systems.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with mechanical, electrical, and firmware teams to define interfaces, run hardware-in-the-loop tests, and iterate control performance.
- System Validation: Develop hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) and software-in-the-loop (SIL) test benches; analyze performance data and drive tuning cycles.
- Gimbal Product Development: Assist in the end-to-end creation of new gimbal products, focusing on core drive motor architecture and sensor system design and integration.
- Other duties as assigned.
Over the next 6 months, this candidate will:
- Develop a simulation environment for the Overload product to support early testing and iteration.
- Begin contributing to the core control algorithms, with a focus on stability, responsiveness, and system integration.
- Review and refine the Overwatch control loop, identifying areas for improvement and implementing necessary changes.
- Analyze the PX4 control stack to understand existing architecture and challenges relevant to our objectives.
- Build a dedicated simulation environment for Overwatch to accelerate development and validation of new control strategies.
Required Qualifications -
- Control Systems Expertise: 5+ years designing and implementing control algorithms for gimbals, stabilizers, or aerial vehicles.
- Embedded Robotics Background: Proven experience shipping embedded robotics products in C++ on microcontrollers (ARM Cortex-M, STM32, etc.).
- Strong C++ Skills: Deep understanding of modern C++ (14/17/20), real-time constraints, memory management, and multithreading.
- Geometry & Transformations: Solid grasp of 3D kinematics, coordinate frames, quaternions, and homogeneous transforms.
- Frame-Level Expertise: Experience in one or more of attitude control, sensor fusion, target tracking or other complex frame-transformation problems, perception, and related system performance metrics.
- Sensor Integration Expertise: Hands-on experience integrating feedback sensors—such as IMUs, encoders, and related sensing hardware—into drive-system control loops.
- Leadership & Project Ownership: 1+ year(s) leadership experience as a technical lead—mentoring peers, driving design reviews, and owning projects end-to-end from requirements through delivery.
Additional Desired Qualifications -
- PX4 Flight Stack: Hands-on with PX4 middleware, MAVLink, and QGroundControl integration.
- Simulation & URDF: Experience working with URDF-based modeling and robotics simulation environments.
- Hardware Debugging: Proficient with oscilloscope, logic analyzer, and hardware debugging tools.
- RTOS Proficiency: Experience with FreeRTOS, Zephyr, or similar real-time operating systems.
Physical Requirements and Working Conditions -
- Primarily office-based with regular access to engineering labs, test benches, and light manufacturing areas.
- Ability to sit, stand, and move about within an office and lab setting for extended periods. Must be able to move between workstations, test setups, and collaborative team spaces.
- Frequent use of hands and fingers for computer work (keyboarding, mouse use), assembling and adjusting hardware components, and operating instrumentation or testing equipment.
- Adequate vision for reading technical documentation, programming on-screen, inspecting hardware, and performing precision work. Adequate hearing for team collaboration, virtual meetings, and hardware testing environments.
- Occasionally lift and transport equipment or hardware components weighing up to 25 pounds.
Background Check
This position will require successfully completing a post-offer background check. Qualified candidates with a criminal history will be considered and are not automatically disqualified, consistent with federal and state law.
EEO and ITAR/EAR Work Authorization Disclosure
Red Cat Holdings provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This position requires direct or indirect access to hardware, software, technology or technical data controlled under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Successful candidates for positions subject to ITAR/EAR restrictions must provide proof of U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Residence and must not require sponsorship for export-restricted work authorization.
E-Verify
The company participates E-Verify ensure eligibility for employment and compliance with Right to Work rules.
Salary: $130-175K and generous annual equity package
