Senior Principal Systems Engineer - Modelling & Simulation, Unmanned Systems

Date Posted:

2026-05-08

Country:

United Kingdom

Location:

Winnersh, Wokingham

Position Role Type:

Hybrid

Collins Aerospace, an RTX business
Location: Winnersh, UK
 

Help shape the future of unmanned systems

At Collins Aerospace, we are advancing technologies that help redefine aerospace and defense. From intelligent systems to complex mission capability, our teams work on solutions that protect, connect and support customers operating in some of the most demanding environments in the world.

We are looking for an experienced Snr Principal Systems Engineer   - Modelling & Simulation– Unmanned Systems to play a key technical leadership role in the design, development, test and demonstration of complex unmanned air systems.

This is a role for someone who enjoys working at the sharp edge of engineering: building high-fidelity models, developing flight-critical control laws, validating systems through SIL/HIL testing, supporting field trials, and mentoring the next generation of modelling and simulation engineers.

You will work across the full lifecycle, from customer requirements and concept development through to simulation, embedded implementation, Iron Bird testing, flight trials and in-field demonstrations.
 

What You Will Do

You will lead modelling, simulation and control activities for complex unmanned systems, helping to turn mission concepts into validated, field-ready capability.

In this role, you will:

• Design high-fidelity 6-DOF digital models of complex unmanned systems, accurately representing vehicle dynamics, behaviours and mission performance.
• Use Model-Based Systems Engineering to inform, drive and verify system design decisions.
• Develop, test, tune and deploy flight-critical control laws and autonomy functions for unmanned aircraft.
• Create resilient trajectory guidance, mission tasking, and GNSS-denied navigation algorithms.
• Build simulation environments that bring together vehicle dynamics, control laws, payloads, sensors, communications and navigation models.
• Support Software-in-the-Loop, Hardware-in-the-Loop and full-scale aircraft systems testbed activity, including Iron Bird development and validation.
• Implement and compile control and autonomy code onto embedded systems.
• Define and integrate onboard data communication interfaces, including CAN bus, serial and Ethernet networks.
• Develop human control interfaces for test pilots and ground operators managing unmanned systems.
• Support experimental flight testing, including test procedures, live control tuning, post-flight analysis and real-time data review.
• Design rapid analysis tools and scripts to process UAS flight logs during trials and debugging activity.
• Diagnose, fault-find and repair complex UAS onboard control systems in both lab and field environments.
• Review and contribute to systems architectures, CONOPS and simulation-based test scenarios.
• Identify technical risks and develop practical mitigation plans.
• Support the use of export-controlled technologies, including designs subject to US ITAR controls.
• Act as a technical mentor, guiding junior engineers through design, verification, validation, system test and demonstration activities.
   

What You Will Learn

This role offers the opportunity to work on advanced unmanned systems in an environment where modelling, simulation, control law design and field validation come together.

You will gain exposure to:

• Complex UAS architecture and mission system development.
• Advanced autonomy and guidance approaches for contested or GNSS-denied environments.
• Multi-asset CONOPS simulation and representative vignette testing.
• Embedded deployment of control and autonomy code.
• Flight test campaigns, field demonstrations and rapid engineering support in live environments.
• Aerospace and defense engineering governance, including safety, certification, export control and customer requirements.
• Leadership of specialist engineering teams delivering high-quality technical output to time, cost and quality expectations.
   

Qualifications You Must Have

We are looking for someone with deep technical experience in modelling, simulation, flight controls or unmanned systems engineering.

You will typically bring:

• A degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics, or equivalent experience.
• Significant relevant experience in complex aerospace, defense, robotics, autonomy or unmanned systems environments.
• Expert capability in MATLAB and Simulink.
• Strong experience using Stateflow for state-machine driven system design.
• Experience using MATLAB/Simulink projects, including requirements, version control, data dictionaries, test harnesses and model validation.
• Experience with MATLAB/Simulink code generation for embedded processor deployment.
• Experience integrating and validating UAV flight control computers, autopilots or flight management systems.
• Experience creating automated scripts for test data processing and analysis.
• Experience developing simulation model test harnesses for verification and validation against requirements.
• Experience with SIL and HIL test design linked to 6-DOF dynamic models.
• Experience with complex unmanned control systems architecture design from requirements and CONOPS.
• Experience defining and implementing onboard system data interfaces such as CAN bus, serial connections and Ethernet networks.
• Experience with FMEA and FHA for unmanned systems, including redundancy and safety-related design considerations.
• Experience integrating, testing or demonstrating UAS payloads, sensors, comms, RF systems or datalink systems.
• Strong stakeholder-facing skills, with the ability to work well under pressure and maintain team cohesion.
• The ability to obtain SC security clearance.
• A valid passport and ability to travel internationally where required.
   

Qualifications We Value

It would be useful, though not essential, if you also have experience in some of the following areas:

• C/C++ coding for APIs and embedded applications.
• A-PNT sensor integration for stabilisation and control.
• GNSS-denied or contested guidance and navigation algorithms.
• Experimental flight testing, in-flight control tuning and flight dynamics system identification.
• CFD outputs and their application to 6-DOF aircraft models.
• Airborne unmanned systems avionics, sensors and payload integration.
• Field engineering support for remote UAS deployment, diagnostics and repairs.
• UAV flight test campaign planning, logistics and demonstration trials.
• UAS deployment regulatory compliance, including Operational Safety Case documentation.
• Ground Control Station operation or UAV safety pilot competency.
• Communication systems, datalinks, networks and protocols, including Link 16.
• Aerospace certification processes, standards and regulations such as DO-178B/C.
• UK MOD customer environments and procurement processes.
• Modelling and simulation team leadership or technical mentoring experience.
   

The Person We Are Looking For

You will be someone who enjoys solving difficult engineering problems where simulation, control, autonomy and real-world testing meet.

You are likely to be:

• Technically curious and comfortable working with complex systems.
• Confident moving between modelling, embedded implementation, lab testing and field trials.
• A calm problem-solver when systems behave unexpectedly.
• Comfortable mentoring others and helping junior engineers grow.
• Able to communicate technical risk clearly to customers, leaders and project teams.
• Practical, hands-on and delivery-focused.
• Motivated by seeing your work tested, proven and deployed in real-world environments.
   

Why Join Collins Aerospace?

At Collins Aerospace, your work will contribute to technologies that support safety, security and mission success across the aerospace and defense sector.

You will join a team where advanced engineering is not just theoretical. Models become simulations. Simulations become testbeds. Testbeds become field trials. And field trials become real-world capability.

This is an opportunity to lead, mentor and deliver technical work that sits right at the frontier of unmanned systems engineering.

Our Benefits

• Competitive Compensation Package

• 25 days Annual Leave + Public Holidays + option to buy / sell up to 5 days per year 

• Generous Employer Contribution Pension Scheme with 2:1 matched contributions up to 10%

• Private Medical Insurance

• Health & Wellbeing Cash Plan - (dental/optical/therapy/chiropody/health screening)

• Life Assurance & Group Income protection scheme participation

• Professional Development & Growth 

• Support with professional fees 

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) 

• Employee Discounts & Flexible Benefits Platform

• Employee Recognition & Referral Bonuses 

• and much more!
   

Apply Today

If you are an experienced modelling, simulation or flight controls engineer with a passion for unmanned systems, autonomy and real-world engineering delivery, we would like to hear from you.

Join Collins Aerospace and help shape the future of aerospace and defense.

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