Principal Engineer, Fly-By-Wire

Executive Recruiting Group • San Luis Obispo, CA

7d • $170,000 - $220,000

About The Position

We are seeking a Fly-By-Wire Engineer to support flight performance and safety. The Principal Engineer will support research and development of Vehicle Management Systems (VMS), including critical electronics such as the VMS computer that operates critical subsystems, including flight control propulsion, flight control surface actuation, power supply, and avionics systems. The role is responsible for VMS and Fly-By-Wire system development, integration, and verification, and serves as an onsite technical focal point for issue resolution, supplier coordination, and alignment on schedule and risk.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in electrical engineering, computer science, aerospace engineering, or a related area.
• 10+ years of hands-on experience in Vehicle Management System and/or Fly-By-Wire Systems development, physical/control architecture design, and testing in military, commercial, or business aircraft development programs.
• 10+ years of experience in Vehicle Management System and/or Fly-By-Wire System integration, flight control computers, electric motors/inverters, electromechanical actuation, and associated technologies, including managing system suppliers as the technical point of contact.
• Experience integrating control laws, monitors, and redundancy management.
• Familiarity with FAA and EASA certification processes.
• In-depth, current knowledge of Part 23/25/27 and/or 29 regulatory requirements, including system development per ARP4754A and ARP4761.
• Experience with all phases of aircraft development from concept to certification and entry into service.
• Experience with hardware and software system or equipment development per ARP-4754A, DO-254, and DO-178C.
• Familiarity with Model-Based Design and DO-331.
• Experience qualifying equipment per DO-160G and other MIL standards.

Responsibilities

• Own VMS/Fly-By-Wire system architecture, functional decomposition, requirements allocation, and interface control document development for prototype and type-certification aircraft.
• Define and manage VMS interfaces with sensors, actuators, avionics, propulsion, PSS/FCPS, and other aircraft systems, coordinating with cross-functional teams and suppliers.
• Develop and mature safety-critical Fly-By-Wire system and software logic, including state management, redundancy management, synchronization, health monitoring, and reversionary modes.
• Develop model-based software requirements and models aligned with DO-178C/DO-331, and support software/hardware integration through closed-loop VMSC operation.
• Plan and support verification and validation from requirements through certification, including SIL, HIL, PIL, laboratory, ground, and flight testing.
• Develop test procedures, pass/fail criteria, and data analysis to verify safety-critical functions, failure management, timing, and robustness.
• Support safety assessments and certification activities, including FHA/PSSA/SSA, FTA/FMEA, compliance documentation, SOI readiness, and design reviews.
• Serve as the onsite technical focal point for issue resolution, dependency management, supplier coordination, and schedule/risk alignment.
• Guide engineers and drive technical decisions, communicate status and risks to leadership, and support IDR/PDR/CDR and certification review readiness.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Principal