Controls Researcher W/M/D

We are recruiting on behalf of our client, an innovative deeptech startup operating in the renewable energy sector, a Controls Researcher (W/M/D) to support the development and continuous improvement of advanced control functions, contributing the robustness, safety, and performance of the autopilot across all operational phases within a highly technological, collaborative, and international environment.

The company develops breakthrough technologies aimed at contributing to a more sustainable energy future and promotes a culture built around innovation, environmental awareness, integrity, ambition, and personal development.

Reporting directly to the Department Manager, you will contribute to the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of advanced control and guidance systems for an innovative airborne renewable energy platform. You will exchange with colleagues, the CTO, and external researchers in the framework of internal and external collaboration.

Working at the intersection of control engineering, simulation, embedded systems, and real-time deployment, you will play an important role in the design and validation of the system’s autopilot and operational control architecture.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Developing and improving physics-based models of the system dynamics for control-oriented applications and simulation purposes.
• Designing, implementing, and optimizing guidance, trajectory tracking, and control algorithms (PID, nonlinear control and data-driven methods.).
• Define, maintain, and evolve the overall control architecture, including trajectory generation and operational mode management (take-off, production, landing, degraded modes, alarms, and flight phase transitions)
• Developing and improving simulation environments representative of the real system behavior to support controller validation and performance analysis.
• Developing estimation, filtering, and data fusion algorithms (observers, estimators, Kalman Filters, Extended Kalman Filters, etc.) to reconstruct non-measurable states and aerodynamic parameters.
• Leveraging sensor data and experimental measurements to improve models, simulations, estimation methods, and control strategies.
• Applying optimization methods to improve system performance, robustness, and energy production.
• Contributing to the validation and experimental testing of algorithms on prototypes and real-world systems.
• Participating in the transition from simulation environments to rapid control prototyping and real-time experimental deployment.
• Collaborating closely with mechanical, electrical, and instrumentation teams to ensure overall system integration.
• Contributing to scientific collaborations with academic and research partners related to control systems, estimation, and dynamic modeling.

This permanent position (CDI) is based in Grenoble, France, within a highly technological, international, and fast-evolving environment.

You hold a Master’s degree or PhD in Control Systems, Robotics, Aerospace Engineering, Dynamic Systems, Applied Mathematics, or a related field, with 5 to 10 years of experience in advanced control engineering or autonomous systems. Experience in a startup or fast-growing deeptech environment would be appreciated.

We are looking for candidates with experience working on complex dynamic systems and a strong interest in modeling, estimation, simulation, and control engineering. Experience in drones, robotics, aerospace, autonomous systems, or renewable energy systems would be particularly relevant.

You bring solid knowledge in applied mathematics, dynamic systems modeling, control systems, estimation, filtering, and data fusion techniques.

You are comfortable contributing across the full development workflow, from modeling and simulation to algorithm validation and experimental testing.

Proficiency in MATLAB/Simulink and/or Python is required. Familiarity with CasADi and optimization or simulation frameworks is considered a plus. Exposure to rapid control prototyping, embedded deployment, or HIL/RCP environments is considered a plus.

You enjoy solving complex technical challenges in a pragmatic and collaborative way. You are comfortable working within multidisciplinary and international teams and contributing in innovative and evolving environments. Fluency in English or French is required in order to interact effectively with international teams and partners.

If you are looking to join an innovative deeptech company and contribute to the development of breakthrough autonomous renewable energy technologies, we would be delighted to hear from you.