Research Engineer in Aerial Robotics for Atlas Project

The **ENAC Dynamic Systems Research Axis** has been at the forefront of research on fixed-wing and rotary-wing outdoor flights since 2005, with a focus on its open-source autopilot system, Paparazzi (wiki.paparazziuav.org). Our expertise spans aerodynamics, control, guidance, decision-making, and multidisciplinary optimization of flying vehicles for various missions. These capabilities have been demonstrated in several national and international projects, including VOLTIGE, SKYSCANNER, BACCHUS, MISTRALE, NEPHELAE, PANACHE, and most recently, FIREFLIES and FLYHIGH.

Our **Drones & UTM Research Chair**, sponsored by Airbus and Sopra Steria, addresses the critical challenge of integrating unmanned aerial systems (UAS) safely into controlled and uncontrolled airspace. We believe that a comprehensive understanding of UAS design, control, guidance, and intelligence is essential for tackling these challenges from a research perspective.

At **ENAC**, we are equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure to bring our ideas to life:

- Indoor Flight Arena: A 10m x 10m x 10m space with an OptiTrack motion capture system.
- Outdoor Flight Facility: Located at the Muret radio-controlled model aircraft field, south of Toulouse, France.
- Open-Source Autopilot System: Full access to Paparazzi, developed in-house.
- Expertise in UAS design, control, and guidance.

These resources allow us to transform concepts into realistic demonstrations in both controlled and outdoor environments. If you are passionate about artificial intelligence in aviation, multi-agent systems, trajectory optimization, agile control, robotics, computer vision, new guidance and mitigation methods, autonomy, learning-based solutions, or any other topics related to advancing UAS technology, you will find exciting opportunities within our group

**Why We’re Hiring**

**What we offer**
- Work on an **ambitious and visible European project**:

- Collaborate with a skilled research team in **one of Europe’s top UAV research centers**:

- Access to **advanced facilities** including outdoor flight fields, testbeds, and hardware labs
- Opportunity to contribute to **open-source codebases and scientific publications**:

- Located in **Toulouse**, the European capital of aerospace innovation

**Responsibilities of the Software Engineer**
- ️ **Simulator Development**: Extend or build from scratch a realistic simulation environment for fixed-wing convertible UAVs carrying a suspended payload.
- ✈️ **Control and Guidance**: Develop and integrate advanced flight control algorithms, including transition handling (hover to wingborne flight) and cooperative multi-UAV guidance strategies.
- **Trajectory Tracking & Autonomy**: Implement accurate and robust tracking control systems to enable quasi-static payload manipulation in real-world conditions.
- **Field Testing**: Participate in indoor/outdoor flight campaigns, data collection, and system refinement through iterative testing.

**Required Qualities and Qualifications**
- MSc or PhD in Robotics, Aerospace Engineering, Control Systems, or a related field
- Strong proficiency in **Python** and **C++**:

- Experience in UAV modeling, guidance & control, and simulation
- Familiarity with at least one autopilot system**:Paparazzi**, **ArduPilot**, or **PX4**:

- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a research-focused team
- ✍️ Strong documentation and communication skills in English

**Bonus Skills**
- Experience with **flight testing** or **hardware-in-the-loop simulation**:

- Background in **multi-agent systems** or **aerial manipulation**:

- Knowledge of **ROS** or **Gazebo** for UAV simulation

**Application Process**: