The aviation sector has witnessed significant progress over the past decades due to advancements in digital technology and advanced computing systems. Modern aircraft now rely heavily on software to manage flight operations and control various onboard systems. The role of software is no longer limited to supporting functions; it has become the backbone of control systems that ensure aircraft stability and flight safety. This highlights the importance of software engineering in designing and developing modern aircraft control systems. Aircraft control systems are considered safety-critical systems that require high accuracy and reliability, as any software error could lead to serious consequences. These systems include the autopilot, the Flight Management System, navigation systems, and engine monitoring and performance systems. They depend on advanced software that processes data from various sensors, such as speed, altitude, and direction, and then issues precise commands to the aircraft’s control surfaces to maintain balance and stability. Software engineering plays a fundamental role in ensuring the quality of these systems by applying structured development methodologies based on requirements analysis, precise design, and continuous testing. During the requirements analysis phase, the essential functions of the control system are defined, such as maintaining the flight path or adjusting altitude and speed. After that, the system is designed using engineering models that ensure clarity of the software architecture and reduce complexity. The system is often divided into independent modules that are easier to develop and maintain. In the implementation phase, software is developed using languages suitable for embedded systems, such as C, C++, or Ada. These languages are known for their efficiency and real-time performance capabilities. This is followed by the testing and verification phase, which is one of the most critical stages in aviation software development. Multiple tests are conducted to ensure the system functions correctly under different conditions, including emergency scenarios. These tests include unit testing, integration testing, and simulation testing. Software engineering also contributes to improving the performance of modern aircraft by enabling more intelligent control systems. Advanced software makes it possible to optimize fuel consumption, precisely adjust flight paths, and reduce human errors through autopilot systems. It has also enabled the integration of modern technologies such as artificial intelligence and predictive maintenance systems, which analyze aircraft data to detect potential problems before they occur. In addition, software engineering plays an important role in protecting aircraft systems from cyber threats. As aircraft become increasingly dependent on digital systems and network connectivity, cybersecurity has become an essential part of aviation software design. Security and encryption mechanisms are therefore integrated into control systems to ensure data integrity and prevent potential intrusions. Despite the significant progress in this field, aviation software engineering still faces several challenges. These include the need for extremely strict safety standards, the high cost of development and testing, and the difficulty of updating systems without affecting aircraft safety. Furthermore, the rapid evolution of technology requires engineers to continuously adapt to new methods in software and control system development. The field of Information Technology, particularly software engineering, contributes directly to the development of aircraft control systems. Students and researchers can work on designing control systems for unmanned aerial vehicles, developing flight simulation software, analyzing flight data, and building cybersecurity solutions for aviation. Integrating software science with aviation technologies opens wide opportunities for innovation and leads to the development of smarter and more efficient systems. In conclusion, software engineering is a fundamental element in the development of modern aircraft control systems, ensuring safety, reliability, and performance improvement. With the continued advancement of artificial intelligence and computing technologies, the role of software in aviation will continue to grow, making it one of the most important future fields that require specialized expertise in software engineering and aviation technologies.