Autonomy - Controls Engineer

Who we are

Neros is a defense technology company rebuilding America’s drone industrial base. We design and manufacture high-performance unmanned systems that are tested in combat, iterated at startup speed, and built at massive scale. Our team culture is fast, hands-on, and obsessed with closing the gap between design and deployment.

As drones transform the character of warfare, Neros is delivering the systems the West needs to compete on the modern battlefield and deter the adversaries of democracy. We’re hiring engineers, operators, and builders who want to move fast, take on extreme ownership, and get capability into the hands of warfighters in months, not years.

What you will be doing

• Develop, implement, and tune flight control algorithms for autonomous features onboard the Neros Archer.

• Integrate control laws with state estimation, sensor fusion, and computer vision stacks to deliver robust real-time performance.

• Test and validate algorithms in simulation and live flight.

• Work closely with autonomy, perception, and embedded software teams to translate mission requirements into production features.

• Own critical control primitives that directly enable advanced autonomy onboard Neros systems.

You should have the following

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or related field.

• 3+ years of experience in controls engineering for robotics, drones, or similar autonomous systems.

• Strong background in classical and modern control theory (PID, LQR, observers, nonlinear control).

• Proficiency in C++ and Python for real-time algorithm development.

• Hands-on experience with PX4, ArduPilot, or similar autopilot frameworks.

• Experience with sensor fusion and state estimation (e.g., EKF, visual-inertial odometry).

• Demonstrated ability to validate control algorithms in both simulation and hardware flight tests.

• Solid understanding of embedded real-time systems, latency, and safety considerations.

Nice to have

• PhD in controls, robotics, or related field.

• Experience with GPS-denied navigation methods (vision, LiDAR, terrain-relative navigation).

• Familiarity with model predictive control (MPC) or advanced guidance laws.

• Background in aerospace flight dynamics and trajectory optimization.

• Experience with Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testing environments.

• Familiarity with modern simulation tools (Unreal Engine, AirSim, PyBullet, Gazebo).

• Contributions to open-source autopilot or robotics projects.

US Salary Range

$150,000 - $210,000 USD

The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are considered part of Neros' total compensation package.

We’re an equal opportunity employer. We welcome all applicants without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.