Principal Engineer, Controls

Beehive Industries is dedicated to Powering American Defense by revolutionizing the design, development, and delivery of jet propulsion systems to support the warfighter. Through the integration of additive manufacturing, the company aims to meet the growing and urgent needs for unmanned aerial defense by dramatically improving a jet engine’s speed to market, fuel efficiency, and cost.  

Founded in 2020, the company is headquartered in Centennial, Colorado, with additional facilities in Knoxville, Tennessee, Loveland Ohio, and Mount Vernon, Ohio. Beehive is committed to grow and advance the defense industrial base while manufacturing exclusively in the USA. This role will be located at our Loveland, Ohio or Centennial, Colorado facility but can also be remote.

·      Lead the design, analysis, development, and evaluation of aviation gas turbine engine control systems across both hardware and software domains.

·      Define and mature engine control system requirements, including requirements for software, sensors, actuators, pumps, electronic engine controls, FADEC systems, fuel systems, lube systems, accessories, and auxiliary systems.

·      Develop, tune, and validate gas turbine control laws using modeling, simulation, time-domain analysis, frequency-domain analysis, test data, and engine/actuator dynamic response.

·      Support or lead the development of engine control software, including software requirements, logic development, block diagrams, code generation, test vectors, configuration control, and formal software release processes.

·      Support or lead controls hardware development, including requirements definition, design, procurement, integration, and validation of control system hardware.

·      Lead software-in-the-loop and hardware-in-the-loop simulator design, commissioning, integration, and test activities.

·      Integrate engine performance, operability, transient, and control system models into simulation environments to predict, validate, and improve engine performance and operability.

·      Support electronic hardware design efforts, including enclosures, electronics integration, PCB layout/design, electric motors, BLDC motor controls, and power electronics where applicable.

·      Lead engine system and component test programs from a controls perspective, including setting test objectives, test limits, instrumentation requirements, data requirements, and validation plans.

·      Analyze engine, component, actuator, and controls test data to identify performance gaps, tune models, validate requirements, and drive design iteration.

·      Serve as a controls subject matter expert within a cross-functional advanced programs team, ensuring the control system supports overall engine, mission, and program objectives.

·      Coordinate with performance, operability, transient, mechanical, aero, electrical, software, additive manufacturing, materials, and systems engineering teams to optimize the overall engine control system.

·      Lead and participate in design reviews, technical reviews, trade studies, and program reviews.

·      Participate in the research and development of advanced technologies, methodologies, and design approaches associated with additive manufacturing and advanced propulsion systems.

·      Identify opportunities to improve product design, system performance, packaging, manufacturability, and speed of development through the exploitation of additive manufacturing.

·      Provide timely communication on technical risks, significant issues, design progress, and program developments.

·      Ensure proper documentation of technical data, analyses, requirements, designs, reviews, and test results consistent with engineering best practices.

·      Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from an accredited university or college.

·      12+ years of experience in engine control systems, gas turbine controls, propulsion controls, or a closely related field.

·      Strong understanding of gas turbine engine control systems, including control laws, sensors, actuators, fuel systems, electronic engine controls, FADEC systems, and related auxiliary systems.

·      Experience designing, developing, integrating, validating, or testing engine control software and/or controls hardware.

·      Proficiency with engine control modeling, simulation, and analysis tools, including MATLAB/Simulink or similar tools.

·      Experience with control law tuning, system response, stability assessment, dynamic modeling, and test-data correlation.

·      Experience supporting engine, system, component, hardware-in-the-loop, or software-in-the-loop testing.

·      Ability to work effectively in advanced technology or early-stage development environments where requirements, architectures, and solutions may be evolving.

·      Strong cross-functional collaboration skills with the ability to work across engineering disciplines and translate system-level needs into controls requirements and solutions.

·      Passion for additive technology and willingness to challenge current design limitations to further exploit the benefits of additive capability.

·      Strong oral and written communication, interpersonal, and technical leadership skills.

·      Demonstrated problem-solving ability, program execution discipline, and sound engineering judgment.

·      Proven self-starter and quick learner who can work in fast-paced, cross-functional teams.

·      The ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government-issued security clearance is required. U.S. Citizenship is required, as only U.S. Citizens are eligible for a security clearance.

·      Experience with electronic engine control, FADEC, or propulsion control system development from concept through test.

·      Experience with PCB layout and design, electronics integration, enclosures, electric motors, BLDC motor controls, or power electronics.

·      Experience with electric machine design.

·      Experience working with additive manufacturing technologies and familiarity with design for additive manufacturing principles.

·      Experience in advanced development, rapid prototyping, demonstrator programs, or new engine architecture development.

·      Experience taking control system concepts from requirements definition through integration, test, validation, and release under configuration control.

·      Familiarity with aerospace development processes, controls safety considerations, verification and validation practices, and technical documentation standards.

This role is well suited for someone who:

·      Is first and foremost a doer

·      Thrives in ambiguity and can make progress without excessive structure

·      Can identify the real problem, not just the stated one

·      Speaks up with ideas and objections when needed

·      Works across a broad range of technical problems with speed and sound judgment

If this sounds like you, please submit an application with your resume. This could be the opportunity you are looking for to expand your skills, contribute to a winning team, and work with talented people who love what they do and take pride in our mission. 

In compliance with Colorado’s Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, the salary range for this position is $175,000-$215,000 base salary.  Please note that wage information is a general guideline only, and we will consider factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, and market conditions when extending an offer.  

Beehive Industries offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes group Medical, Dental, Life, and Short and Long-Term disability coverage from day one. We also offer a generous 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with a Company match. Every role at Beehive Industries is bonus eligible and will also receive equity in the company.

Beehive Industries is committed to full compliance with applicable anti-discrimination laws. We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We strive to create an inclusive work environment and will not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.