UAS Avionics Development Engineer

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory•Laurel, MD

About The Position

The UAS Avionics Development Engineer designs and integrates uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) avionics ecosystems, from concept development and trade studies through delivery to test teams and end users. The role emphasizes hands-on engineering and complete-system ownership, including prototype assembly, custom wiring harness fabrication, soldering, sensor and payload integration, PCB design and checkout, and software and hardware interface development using commercial off-the-shelf components where practical. The engineer translates mission needs and operational constraints into practical, producible avionics and ground-support solutions while balancing performance, mass, power, cost, schedule, reliability, safety, maintainability, and field repairability. Working across mechanical, software, autonomy, test, and operations teams, the engineer plans and executes component-level and integrated testing, analyzes results, investigates failures, and drives iterative improvements informed by test data and operational feedback. The role also communicates technical and schedule risks and creates documentation that supports building, testing, operating, maintaining, repairing, and improving systems. The position is with the Intelligent Combat Systems Group at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. The group develops and tests autonomous systems and uncrewed aircraft for defense missions, moving from concepts and models through hardware integration, ground and flight testing, redesign, and delivery. Work takes place in laboratory and field environments and involves collaboration among engineers, technicians, operators, and analysts.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or a related engineering field.
Demonstrated professional, military, or substantial hands-on project experience designing, building, integrating, and testing custom uncrewed aerial systems, aircraft, robotics, or other complex hardware systems deployed for users, operators, customers, or mission demonstrations.
Experience owning technical solutions through build, testing, troubleshooting, and iterative improvement, rather than solely performing analysis or handing off designs.
Strong understanding of UAS subsystems, including avionics, electrical systems, payload integration, and hardware interfaces.
Proficiency with UAS autopilot systems such as PX4 or ArduPilot and their associated ground-control software.
Ability to communicate effectively across mechanical, electrical, software, test, and operations disciplines and make decisions that support integrated-system performance.
Enjoyment of hands-on work in laboratory and field environments, with comfort moving between engineering design, prototype fabrication, system integration, testing, and failure investigation.
Active Secret security clearance and ability to ultimately obtain a TS/SCI clearance; U.S. citizenship is required for eligibility for access to classified information.

Nice To Haves

At least 3 years of relevant professional experience with UAS avionics development or prototype hardware.
Experience integrating avionics, including selecting, installing, checking out, and troubleshooting commercial off-the-shelf components such as sensors, flight computers, and communications equipment.
Leadership or significant technical contributions to multiple prototype build-test-learn cycles, with the ability to describe failures, corrective actions, and resulting improvements.
Current FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate and flight experience across multiple UAS platforms.
Experience supporting field testing or flight operations while managing hardware readiness, logistics, schedule pressure, operators, and evolving prototype hardware.
Experience developing CONEMPs (Concepts of Employment) and mission-system architectures for UAS.
Active TS/SCI security clearance; U.S. citizenship is required for eligibility for access to classified information.

Responsibilities

Own UAS avionics ecosystem design and integration from concept development and trade studies through delivery to test teams and end users.
Participate in hands-on assembly and integration of UAS platforms, including component installation, custom wiring harness fabrication, soldering, sensor integration, and payload integration.
Develop avionics ecosystems for mission-specific UAS, including PCB design, build, and checkout, as well as software development and hardware interface designs such as UART, RS232, and RS485.
Use commercial off-the-shelf components to the maximum extent practical.
Translate mission needs and operational constraints into producible avionics and ground-support solutions while balancing performance, mass, power, cost, schedule, reliability, safety, maintainability, and field repairability.
Collaborate with mechanical, software, autonomy, test, and operations teams to support complete integrated-system performance.
Plan, coordinate, and execute component-level and integrated-system testing.
Analyze test results, identify root causes, and drive iterative design improvements using test data and operational feedback.
Communicate technical risks, design issues, integration challenges, and schedule impacts early, and help drive corrective actions.
Create practical documentation, including as-built configurations, test procedures, checklists, and lessons learned, to support building, testing, operating, maintaining, repairing, and improving systems.