Collins Aerospace, an RTX company, is recruiting an experienced Unmanned Systems Modelling & Control Engineer to lead and mentor a growing team working on autonomy and unmanned systems across air, land and maritime domains. Based at our Winnersh site near Reading with flexible/hybrid working, you will take systems from first principles through to detailed requirements, test and validation, using Model-Based Systems Engineering and Agile methods.
You’ll collaborate with Collins and Raytheon teams in the UK and internationally, with regular overseas travel for trials and demonstrations, and see your work turn into real‑world capability that enhances safety and security.
What You Will Do
* Lead the modelling & control discipline for unmanned systems, acting as technical leader and mentor for a growing team.
* Turn customer needs into system requirements and architectures, using MBSE to drive and verify design decisions.
* Develop high‑fidelity 6‑DOF models and flight‑critical control/autonomy algorithms (guidance, mission tasking, GNSS‑denied navigation, payload/sensor/comms models).
* Build and run integrated simulation and HIL/"Iron Bird" environments, bringing together models, control laws and embedded code for V&V and system integration.
* Implement and integrate control & autonomy code on embedded systems, defining data links, comms interfaces and human control interfaces for operators.
* Plan, support and participate in flight tests, trials and demonstrations, including live tuning and simulation‑backed test scenarios.
* Analyse flight/test data and resolve issues, using rapid analysis tools for debugging and fault‑finding in lab and field environments.
* Own technical quality, risk and compliance, including work with export‑controlled technologies (e.g. US ITAR).
Travel & Work Environment
* Regular UK and occasional international travel for trials, integration and customer demonstrations.
* Mix of office, lab, hangar and outdoor test range work, including time at remote or secure sites during campaigns.
Physical Requirements
* Ability to work around aircraft, vehicles and test rigs, stand for periods during tests, and handle light test equipment in lab and field conditions.
What You’ll Learn and Develop
* Deeper expertise in high‑fidelity UAS modelling – building and validating 6‑DOF digital twin models using flight data, CFD outputs and real‑world test results.
* Advanced Model‑Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) – using models to drive system architecture, CONOPS, requirements capture and verification across complex, multi‑domain unmanned systems.
* State‑of‑the‑art control & autonomy – designing, tuning and deploying flight‑critical control laws, resilient guidance, mission tasking and GNSS‑denied navigation algorithms (A‑PNT, sensor fusion, etc.).
* End‑to‑end verification in the loop – developing and using Iron Bird testbeds, Hardware‑in‑the‑Loop rigs, embedded code integration and real‑time simulation environments for V&V.
* Flight test campaign design & execution – writing flight test protocols, supporting live tuning in the field, and using rapid post‑flight analysis tools and scripts to close the loop between model and reality.
* Robust communication & human‑machine interfaces – defining data links between onboard and ground systems, and shaping human control interfaces for test pilots and multi‑UAS operators.
* Diagnostics in real environments – systematic fault‑finding and repair of complex UAS control, comms and payload systems in both lab and demanding field conditions.
* Leadership in a high‑end technical team – mentoring junior engineers, growing their modelling, control and systems thinking skills, and sharpening your own customer‑facing, risk and compliance (incl. ITAR) experience.
Qualifications We Prefer
* Field and flight‑test experience
o Significant hands‑on field engineering for diagnostics and repairs supporting remote multi‑UAS deployments.
o Practical experience organising and executing UAV flight test campaigns / flight demonstrations.
o Familiarity with UAS flight test & deployment regulation, including drafting/submitting Operational Safety Case (OSC) documentation.
o Experience as GCS operator and/or UAV safety pilot during single or multi‑UAS deployments.
* Advanced simulation & networking
o Experience interfacing dynamic vehicle models with live synthetic environments (e.g. Ansys, VR‑Forces) for motion display, operator training or multi‑asset CONOPS simulations.
o Familiarity with communication systems, datalinks (e.g. Link 16), networks and protocols.
* Governance, certification & defence domain
o Knowledge of engineering governance and aerospace certification standards (e.g. DO‑178B/C).
o Knowledge of the UK MOD customer landscape and MOD procurement processes.
* Strong UAS modelling & control background
* Expert in MATLAB / Simulink
o Projects (requirements, version control, data dictionaries, test harnesses) and RTW / code generation for embedded processors.
* Proven experience designing and validating 6‑DOF dynamic models and simulation model test harnesses
* Expertise in UAV Flight Control Computer (autopilot) / FMS integration and validation
* Experience defining and implementing onboard data interfaces (e.g. CAN, serial, Ethernet)
* Experience integrating and testing UAS payloads and sensors (EO/IR/EW/LIDAR etc.) and comms/RC/datalink systems, including RF cabling
* Control, navigation and A‑PNT expertise
o Demonstrable experience with A‑PNT sensor sources for stabilisation and control.
o Proven ability to create and deploy GNSS‑denied / contested resilient guidance and navigation algorithms.
* Verification, test and analysis skills
o Proficient in SIL / HIL test design and execution tied to 6‑DOF models and Iron Bird / bench test setups.
o Strong in test data processing and automated analysis scripts, and experimental flight testing including in‑flight control tuning and basic flight dynamics system ID.
o Significant experience with FMEA / FHA and implementation of redundancy and safety architectures for unmanned systems.
* Systems architecture & leadership
o Experience designing complex unmanned control system architectures from base requirements and CONOPS, including flight‑critical information pathways.
o Modelling & Simulation team leadership/management experience and a clear willingness to train and mentor more junior engineers.
* Software & technical skills
o Proficient in C/C++ for APIs and embedded applications.
o Familiarity with CFD outputs and their application to 6‑DOF models.
* Soft skills & eligibility
o Strong team player with solid customer/stakeholder‑facing presence; able to maintain cohesion under pressure.
o Eligible for SC security clearance (or already cleared).
o Valid passport and ability to travel internationally without restriction.
Benefits
* Competitive Salary
* Company Pension Plan
* Corporate Health Insurance
* Employee selectable top‑up benefits
* Flexible working from day one
* 25 days annual leave
* Internal and external training opportunities to promote continuous learning and development
* International team working with people from many different countries
Collins Aerospace, a Raytheon Technologies company, is a leader in technologically advanced and intelligent solutions for the global aerospace and defence industry. Collins Aerospace has the capabilities, comprehensive portfolio and expertise to solve customers’ toughest challenges and to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving global market.
Do you want to be a part of something bigger? A team whose impact stretches across the world, and even beyond? At Collins Aerospace, our Mission Systems team helps civilian, military and government customers complete their most complex missions – whatever and wherever they may be. Our customers depend on us for intelligent and secure communications, mission systems for the multi‑domain. By joining our team, you’ll have your own critical part to play in ensuring our customer succeeds today while anticipating their needs for tomorrow. Are you up for the challenge?
Join our mission today. At Collins, the paths we pave together lead to limitless possibility. And the bonds we form – with our customers and with each other – propel us all higher, again and again.
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