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Salary: USD 198,000 - 300,000 / annual
CHAOS Industries is seeking a Principal Avionics Systems Engineer to own the end-to-end avionics architecture for the Massed Modular Aircraft (MMA) program—an unmanned aircraft system spanning both onboard (air vehicle) avionics and the associated Ground Control Station (GCS). This is a single-threaded technical ownership role ensuring the onboard avionics and GCS are designed, developed, integrated, and qualified as a coherent, interoperable system.
Key Responsibilities:
- Own overall avionics architecture spanning air vehicle and GCS, ensuring end-to-end consistency across the air-ground system boundary
- Define avionics system architecture including flight management, navigation, data links/command-and-control (C2) links, sensor/payload interfaces, power distribution, and health monitoring/diagnostics
- Define and own GCS architecture, including operator interfaces, mission planning, vehicle command/control, telemetry display, and data link ground equipment
- Establish and maintain interface control documents (ICDs) governing air-ground data link, command/telemetry protocols, and critical avionics interfaces
- Drive modular avionics architecture (open architecture/modular open systems approach) supporting interchangeable line replaceable units (LRUs) and scalable configuration variants
- Lead design and integration of onboard avionics subsystems: flight control computer interfaces, navigation sensors (GPS/INS), communications/data link equipment, avionics bus architecture (MIL-STD-1553, ARINC 429, Ethernet-based), and payload/sensor integration
- Define avionics packaging, wiring, and installation approach in coordination with Structures/Mechanical to support modular production and maintainability
- Oversee avionics software/hardware integration with flight control, propulsion, and mission systems
- Own GCS hardware and software architecture, including operator workstation design, mission planning and command/control software, and data link ground terminal integration
- Ensure GCS human-machine interface (HMI) design supports safe, effective command and control across all mission phases
- Define GCS interoperability requirements with relevant command and control networks
- Lead integration and test activities validating air vehicle/GCS interoperability prior to flight test and qualification
- Apply design-for-manufacture and design-for-assembly (DFM/DFA) principles to enable high-rate, distributed production
- Partner with Manufacturing Engineering and Supply Chain to identify COTS and modified-COTS avionics components that reduce cost, lead time, and supply chain risk
- Lead or oversee avionics system analysis including link budget analysis, latency/bandwidth analysis, reliability/FMEA analysis, and electromagnetic environmental effects (E3)/EMI-EMC analysis
- Define and execute the avionics and GCS test program (bench, hardware-in-the-loop/HWIL, ground, and flight test)
- Support airworthiness/qualification activities in accordance with applicable military standards for UAS avionics and command/control links
- Serve as senior technical authority for avionics on the program, representing the discipline at Preliminary Design Review (PDR), Critical Design Review (CDR), and government technical interchange meetings
- Partner with Systems Engineering, Structures/Mechanical, Flight Controls, Software, Program Management, Manufacturing, and Quality to align avionics maturity with program schedule and cost targets
- Some travel required to support flight test events, supplier visits, and government program reviews
Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Avionics Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related discipline; advanced degree preferred
- 15+ years of aircraft avionics design experience with direct, hands-on experience on unmanned aircraft system (UAS) programs spanning both onboard avionics and Ground Control Station segments
- Demonstrated experience owning or architecting the air-ground interface (command/control data link, telemetry, interface control documents) for a UAS program
- Strong background in avionics system architecture, including navigation, communications/data links, and avionics bus architectures
- Experience supporting avionics system test and integration, including hardware-in-the-loop (HWIL) testing and flight test support
- Familiarity with Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) principles as applied to avionics architecture
Preferred:
- Direct experience with modular aircraft, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), or multi-mission/multi-variant platform architectures
- Experience designing avionics for distributed or multi-site production
- Experience with cybersecurity/Risk Management Framework (RMF) requirements for UAS avionics and GCS software
- Experience with GCS human-machine interface (HMI) design and operator workflow for unmanned systems
- Ability to obtain/maintain Secret/Top Secret/SCI clearance
