Chief Systems Engineer

Acron Aviation Analytics Limited•Phoenix, AZ

7h•Onsite

About The Position

Acron Aviation designs, engineers, and manufactures certified avionics systems that support safety‑critical flight operations across commercial and military aviation. Within Avionics, the Surveillance product line develops and sustains systems that enable aircraft awareness, collision avoidance, and airspace interoperability. Our Surveillance portfolio includes ADS‑B, Mode S transponders, Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems (TCAS), and integrated surveillance solutions deployed across commercial, military, and rotorcraft platforms. This work is performed in highly regulated environments and demands deep expertise across systems, hardware, software, and RF throughout the full product lifecycle—from requirements and certification through production and in‑service support. Acron Aviation is seeking an experienced Chief Systems Engineer to lead product and technology initiatives within the Surveillance product line. This role is responsible for defining and driving the technology strategy, shaping system architectures, and ensuring technical excellence across development programs. The Chief Systems Engineer leads technology roadmap development, coordinates technical pursuits, supports R&D investment planning, and evaluates the R&D portfolio to identify technology discriminators and capability gaps. This role serves as the technical approver for major product development design reviews and leads root cause investigations for significant technical issues. Close collaboration with engineering leadership, program management, and customers is central to success in this role.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a STEM‑related field with a minimum of 12 years of experience in an aviation product development environment, or a graduate degree with a minimum of 10 years of related experience
Demonstrated experience in technology management, strategy development, and driving innovation aligned with business growth objectives
Experience conducting independent technology development reviews and technical assessments
Strong analytical skills with the ability to develop data‑driven conclusions and recommendations
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Highly collaborative team player with strong critical‑thinking skills
Self‑motivated, results‑driven professional requiring limited direction
Experience with R&D portfolio management and technology road‑mapping for complex hardware/software systems
U.S. citizenship required
Expertise in one or more of the following surveillance domains is required: Transponder Systems: Mode S and Mode C design, test, and evaluation; ADS‑B Systems and Applications: requirements definition, modeling, test, evaluation, and qualification; Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems (TCAS): requirements definition, modeling, test, evaluation, and qualification; Terrain Awareness and Warning Systems (TAWS): requirements definition, modeling, test, evaluation, qualification, and database management

Nice To Haves

Strong project and technical leadership skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
Experience with intellectual property development and management
Operational experience within the National Airspace System (e.g., pilot, air traffic control, or related roles)
Knowledge of aerospace regulatory and development standards, including 14 CFR, ARP4754A/B, DO‑178B/C, DO‑160, and DO‑254

Responsibilities

Lead identification, development, and execution of Surveillance technology roadmaps
Maintain awareness of disruptive technologies, emerging trends, innovation opportunities, and competitive landscapes
Coordinate engineering pursuit activities including solution architectures, risk mitigation plans, and technical estimates
Develop top‑level system specifications and manage requirements flow‑down to lower‑level specifications
Develop Concepts of Operations (CONOPS) and system use cases
Partner with business and engineering leadership to align technology strategy with business priorities and growth opportunities
Establish initial design requirements and guide risk‑reduction activities to ensure timely, high‑quality, compliant product designs
Ensure system designs are traceable to customer, regulatory, and industry requirements
Work directly with customers, operators, and partners to define requirements and develop competitive technical solutions
Serve as technical authority and approver for product design reviews and major engineering decisions
Lead root cause investigations and corrective action strategy for system‑level issues