Principal Avionics Engineer

Venus Aerospace•Houston, TX

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Venus Aerospace is revolutionizing rocket engine propulsion. With the first generational leap in rocket engine technology since Apollo, our proprietary Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine and Venus Detonation Ramjets deliver historic efficiency and performance across aerospace applications. We are building the next generation of propulsion platforms that enable breakthrough capabilities in space, defense, and commercial high-speed flight. Our team thrives on solving the toughest engineering challenges and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in aerospace. At Venus, we’re looking for bold engineers and innovators who want to make history and redefine the future of propulsion. Join us as a Principal Avionics Engineer and help design, build and flight test revolutionary propulsion technology. You’ll lead the design and integration of flight computers, sensors, power systems, and communication interfaces; owning everything from architecture to flight test support. This role blends engineering leadership, hands‑on engineering, hardware‑in‑the‑loop testing, and cross‑disciplinary collaboration to deliver reliable, flight‑ready systems. If you excel at systems thinking, solving hard problems, and driving technical leadership, you’ll thrive here.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field (Master’s preferred).
10+ years of experience in avionics or aerospace electrical systems engineering
Extensive experience in rocket propulsion, flight test and launch
Proven experience in systems design and architecture and requirement writing
Proven experience with flight computer hardware design and/or selection
Strong background in hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) testing and integration
Hands-on experience defining and implementing interfaces between flight components
Demonstrated experience with battery sizing, power budgets, and power system design
Experience working with and managing outside vendors, including technical evaluations and supplier coordination
Proficiency reading and creating schematics, wiring diagrams, and interface documentation
Strong troubleshooting and systems-level thinking skills
Experience with environmental testing and qualification
systems-level avionics expertise
cross-functional collaboration
vendor and supplier management
technical leadership and mentorship
clear technical communication
U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State

Nice To Haves

Experience with DO-160, DO-254, DO-178, or similar aerospace standards.
Familiarity with embedded systems, buses and protocols (CAN, UART, SPI, I2C, Ethernet, MIL-STD-1553, etc.)
Experience managing contractors for consulting or hardware production
Experience supporting flight test campaigns
Background in launch vehicles, missiles, propulsion systems, space systems, eVTOL, UAV or experimental aircraft

Responsibilities

Design, build and fly your systems
Lead the architecture, design, and selection of avionics hardware, including flight computers, sensors, power systems, and communication interfaces
Assess system risks and recommend mitigations
Define and implement interfaces between flight components (e.g., flight computers, sensors, actuators, power systems, radios)
Develop and maintain hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) test environments to support software development, integration, and verification
Own battery sizing and power system analysis, including load analysis, margins, thermal considerations, and mission profiles
Support system integration, ground testing, and flight testing, including troubleshooting and root cause analysis
Collaborate with external vendors and suppliers to define requirements, evaluate components, manage technical trade studies, and support procurement
Author and review technical documentation, including requirements, interface control documents (ICDs), schematics, test plans, and verification reports
Ensure avionics designs meet aerospace standards, reliability, safety, and environmental requirements
Mentor junior engineers and provide technical leadership across avionics and flight systems teams
Collaborate with Flight Software, GN&C, Aerodynamics, and Structures engineering disciplines to ascertain system requirements and meet technical program needs
Collaborate with Manufacturing and Quality to ensure your systems are ready to fly