Flight Control Engineer (m/f/d)

At Nova Sky Stories , we empower artists and producers to bring awe and wonder to live audiences around the world. As the global leader in drone entertainment , we’ve been redefining live shows for over a decade—merging cutting‑edge drone technology with imaginative artistry.

With a veteran team of engineers and creatives, we design and operate lightweight, small, precise, and safe drones that perform in the most demanding environments—urban centers, extreme temperatures, and high winds. The result? Sky Stories that inspire, captivate, and transform the sky into a canvas of imagination.

Headquartered in the U.S. with teams across Europe and the UAE, Nova Sky Stories works with the world’s leading brands, venues, and events.
Follow us: @NovaSkyStories

About the job

About this role:

Join our energetic and highly effective team with a start‑up spirit in Gilching (near Munich)! We are building cutting‑edge technology at the intersection of technology, art, and creative experiences. If you love solving tough challenges , working hands‑on , and pushing technology forward with passion and fun , this role is for you!

At Nova Sky Stories there’s no daily hierarchy looking over your shoulder — you’ll take real responsibility for your projects, work independently, and deliver reliably. We’re looking for people who are self‑reliant, hands‑on, and genuinely excited about what they do.

As a Flight Control Engineer (m/f/d), you’ll be responsible for:

• Design and improve flight control algorithms and architecture for drones in challenging environments: strong wind, downwash, dynamic trajectories, high accuracy requirements
• Develop embedded C/C++ software for onboard flight controllers (STM32).
• Build and validate algorithms using simulation, SIL, and HIL environments.
• Test your work in real flight conditions on tens and later hundreds of drones.
• Analyze flight data, tune parameters, and continuously improve system behavior.
• Help shape the technology powering one of the world's largest autonomous drone fleets.

You’ll need to have:

• Studying or recently completed a degree in Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, Control Systems, or a related field.
• Strong understanding of control theory and flight dynamics.
• Experience with PID and at least one advanced control method (INDI, MPC, LQR, adaptive or learning-based control).
• Experience with sensor fusion or Kalman filters.
• Embedded C/C++ experience (STM32 is a plus).
• Python, MATLAB, or similar tools for simulation and analysis.
• Curious, hands‑on, and excited to solve difficult engineering problems.

Why Nova?

• Your work flies in live productions around the world.
• Own meaningful technical challenges from day one.
• Small, highly technical team with real autonomy.
• Startup culture where your ideas matter.
• Technology, engineering, art, and live entertainment all in one place.

• Health Insurance
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Paid Holidays