Avionics & Electrical Lead
About The Position
Airo is seeking an Avionics & Electrical Engineering Lead to lead end-to-end electrical architecture, rapid prototyping, and flight-critical systems integration for advanced unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), from initial concept through field deployment. The role works across defense modernization and commercial autonomy in a fast-growing, agile engineering environment and includes mentoring an engineering team. The position involves designing and laying out high-performance, multilayer PCBs; architecting and integrating UAS avionics into airframes; prototyping and bringing up hardware; troubleshooting hardware-software issues; conducting environmental and flight qualification testing; and supporting field tests and live deployments. The role also includes company security and information-handling responsibilities.
Requirements
- Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering.
- At least 8 years designing and troubleshooting complex embedded systems.
- Expertise in Altium for multilayer PCBA layouts, high-speed digital design, and mixed-signal circuit design.
- Experience architecting ultra-low-noise avionics and integrating high-integrity payload buses.
- Hands-on design experience with high-power systems, Battery Management Systems (BMS), and ESCs.
- A track record mitigating EMI/EMC issues and engineering wire-harness safety for harsh environments.
- Proficiency with lab instrumentation, including oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and probes, and with test automation.
- Demonstrated success taking rapid R&D prototypes through flight testing and scaled production.
- Ability to meet the stated physical demands, including extended sitting, standing, or walking; manual dexterity and repetitive hand tasks; bending, stooping, reaching, pushing, pulling, and lifting; and the visual, auditory, communication, and safety requirements of the position.
Nice To Haves
- End-to-end technical ownership and team leadership for complex unit- and subsystem-level payloads or aerospace products.
- Experience with system-level engineering, SWaP-C trade studies, and requirements allocation for advanced UAS architectures.
- Experience designing for high-reliability, safety-critical environments involving human-in-the-loop (HITL) operations and fail-safe architectures.
- Proficiency in embedded software and firmware development using C/C++ in real-time or embedded Linux environments.
- Working knowledge of low-level embedded protocols and peripheral interfaces, including SPI, I2C, UART, and CAN, as well as timers, interrupts, and ADC integration.
- Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related discipline.
Responsibilities
- Design schematics and multilayer PCB layouts for high-speed digital, analog, power-distribution, and RF circuits optimized for SWaP and rugged aerospace conditions.
- Build and integrate flight-critical electrical systems into new airframes, interfacing embedded controllers, power systems, propulsion electronics, and sensors with mechanical and software teams.
- Build, assemble, and bring up prototype hardware to support transition from R&D concepts to production.
- Troubleshoot system-level faults using lab instrumentation and software or firmware debugging tools.
- Conduct thermal, vibration, and EMI/EMC testing to support aerospace compliance, environmental sealing, and flight safety.
- Support field testing and live deployments with flight operators, analyze real-time telemetry, and deliver hardware updates to active UAS platforms.
- Mentor a fast-growing engineering team.
- Comply with company information and security policies and procedures; protect proprietary information, share information on a need-to-know basis, and adhere to nondisclosure requirements.
- Perform other reasonably related duties as assigned and, as needed, duties outside normal responsibilities.
Benefits
- Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Paid Holidays
- Parental Leave
- Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
- Health Savings Account (HSA)
- 401(k) with company match
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Commuter Benefits
- Basic Life Insurance fully paid by the company for employees and their dependents
- Long-Term Disability Insurance fully paid by the company
- Voluntary Short-Term Disability Insurance
- Supplemental Life Insurance options
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
