Principal Hardware-in-the-Loop Engineer

AeroVironment•Huntsville, AL

5d•$137,500 - $234,000

About The Position

The Principal Hardware-in-the-Loop (HWIL) Engineer is responsible for the architecture, development, integration, and deployment of NGCM HWIL systems supporting Guidance, Navigation & Control (GNC), avionics, and missile subsystem validation. The role owns the full lifecycle of HWIL system development, from requirements definition through integration, testing, and customer deployment. The engineer leads a small multidisciplinary team and serves as the technical interface between GNC, systems engineering, propulsion, and program management. The role includes defining HWIL system architecture for NGCM baseline and future variants; drafting hardware and software requirements; developing technical and test documentation; and maintaining configuration control of HWIL technical data packages. It also involves designing, building, testing, and deploying HWIL systems, leading subsystem integration, and supporting test events and GNC algorithm verification and validation. The engineer provides program and technical leadership, including estimating new and IRAD work, supporting schedule and resource planning, and coordinating staffing. The role also interfaces with Army, RCCTO, and industry partners; supports proposals and technical capture efforts; and travels to partner sites for HWIL deployment and integration support.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering.
12 or more years of experience in electrical hardware design and avionics integration.
Direct experience designing, building, and deploying HWIL or system test systems.
Experience leading small engineering teams.
Experience with avionics hardware lifecycle management.
Experience with configuration management processes, including ECO, DCO, NCR, MRB, and ERB.
Experience with environmental qualification testing (ATP/QTP).
Experience with OTA proposals and technical capture efforts.
Strong working knowledge of control systems and GNC integration.
Strong working knowledge of electrical system design and hardware integration.
Strong working knowledge of technical data package development.
Must qualify as a U.S. person under ITAR/EAR requirements or be eligible for an export license.
U.S. citizenship is required.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree preferred.
Background in missile or hypersonic systems.
Experience developing HWIL systems for missile flight hardware.
Familiarity with trajectory analysis, radar modeling, or MATLAB-based analysis tools.
Prior hiring manager or section lead experience.
Secret or Top Secret clearance, or the ability to obtain a clearance.

Responsibilities

Define HWIL system architecture for the NGCM baseline and future variants.
Draft hardware and software requirements for HWIL drawers and subsystems.
Develop Interface Control Documents (ICDs), Functional Block Diagrams (FBDs), Wiring Diagrams (WDs), and test procedures.
Ensure configuration control of all HWIL technical data packages (TDPs).
Design, build, test, and deploy complete HWIL systems.
Lead integration of avionics, GEU, seeker, CAS, and propulsion interfaces into the HWIL environment.
Support TRR, ATP, and QTP events.
Develop validation and verification (V&V) strategies for GNC algorithms.
Lead and manage the HWIL engineering team across electrical, software, and integration disciplines.
Develop Basis of Estimate (BOE) documentation for new scope and IRAD efforts.
Support Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) planning and execution.
Coordinate staffing and resource planning for HWIL activities.
Interface with Army, RCCTO, and industry partners.
Support OTA proposals and technical white papers.
Provide technical inputs for future NGCM derivative capture efforts.
Travel to partner sites for HWIL deployment and integration support.