Senior Hardware Engineer / Technical Lead – RF & Avionics

Quest Defense Systems & Solutions•Phoenix, AZ

5d•Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking an experienced Senior Hardware Engineer / Hardware Technical Lead to lead development, integration, verification, qualification, and production transition of hardware supporting TCAS, transponder, and airborne surveillance systems. This hands-on role spans RF, digital/mixed-signal electronics, FPGA, verification, manufacturing, and certification. On-site preferred, 3+ days/week.

Requirements

5–15 years of relevant hardware engineering experience, preferably in airborne avionics, RF, or high-reliability electronics.
Hands-on experience developing RF, digital, and/or mixed-signal hardware.
Experience leading or coordinating multidisciplinary hardware development teams.
Experience taking hardware from requirements through design, integration, verification, qualification, and production.
Experience with hardware requirements, decomposition, allocation, validation, traceability, and IBM DOORS or comparable tools.
Experience developing and executing hardware verification plans, procedures, and testing.
Strong hardware integration, troubleshooting, and root-cause analysis skills, including hardware/FPGA/software/system interfaces.
Experience transitioning engineering hardware into manufacturing and production.
Strong technical leadership, communication, mentoring, and problem-solving skills.
Direct experience with TCAS, transponder, ADS-B, or airborne surveillance hardware.
Working knowledge of DO-254, including requirements, design, implementation, verification, configuration management, process assurance, traceability, and design assurance.
Familiarity with DO-160, including EMI/EMC, environmental, lightning, and aircraft installation qualification.
Experience supporting TSO authorization and FAA certification programs.
Must meet U.S. Person requirements.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Mode C and Mode S interrogation and reply systems.
Knowledge of TCAS/surveillance antenna systems, including antenna design, placement, radiation patterns, RF coverage, surveillance performance, interference, and EMI.
Experience designing RF transmit/receive hardware and digital/mixed-signal electronics.
Experience with certification documentation and formal certification reviews.
Experience supporting laboratory, aircraft ground-test, and flight-test activities.
Experience troubleshooting RF or hardware performance issues during aircraft testing.
Experience with aerospace manufacturing and production hardware.
Familiarity with FPGA-based hardware architectures and FPGA/hardware/software interfaces.
Experience with aircraft OEMs, avionics suppliers, certification authorities, or external customers.

Responsibilities

Lead hardware development from requirements and architecture through design, integration, verification, qualification, and production.
Coordinate RF, digital/mixed-signal, FPGA, mechanical, safety, verification, manufacturing, and certification activities.
Develop and manage hardware requirements, traceability, plans, milestones, risks, and technical dependencies using IBM DOORS or comparable tools.
Lead hardware verification plans, procedures, test environments, execution, and anomaly resolution.
Develop/review RF, digital, and mixed-signal designs supporting TCAS, transponder, and surveillance systems.
Lead hardware/software/FPGA integration and troubleshoot complex system issues across laboratory, qualification, aircraft, and flight-test environments.
Support RF/antenna integration, including placement, performance, radiation patterns, interference, and aircraft installation.
Support manufacturing, production testing, engineering-to-production transition, and corrective actions.
Support DO-254, DO-160, TSO, and FAA certification activities and documentation.
Lead technical reviews, customer interactions, issue resolution, and closure of technical actions.
Provide technical direction and mentoring to hardware engineers.