Description
Design, integrate, and test avionics hardware and software for aircraft, spacecraft, and missiles, including navigation, communication, surveillance, and flight-control systems. Conduct applied research and trade studies to assess suitability of components, materials, and architectures for airborne electronic systems and manufacturability. Recommend improvements to test equipment, simulation environments, and verification techniques to enhance reliability, safety, and certification readiness.
- • Direct or coordinate activities of engineering or technical personnel involved in designing, integrating, modifying, or testing avionics systems and LRUs.
- • Plan or conduct lab, hardware-in-the-loop, environmental, EMI/EMC, and flight tests on avionics equipment and integrated aircraft systems.
- • Develop models, simulations, or analytical methods to design, evaluate, or optimize avionics hardware and software per requirements.
- • Write technical documentation, such as interface control documents, test procedures, schematics, and certification artifacts for engineering, management, or regulators.
- • Analyze project requests, proposals, or engineering data to determine feasibility, cost, risk, and schedule for avionics development or upgrades.
- • Evaluate and approve selection of avionics vendors and COTS components by reviewing performance, certifications, and quality history.
- • Plan or coordinate investigation and resolution of field reports and squawks related to avionics performance, integration, or software defects.
- • Maintain configuration management and records of test results, issues, and performance metrics for traceability.
- • Design new or modify existing avionics architectures to improve reliability, safety, SWaP-C, and maintainability.
- • Design or engineer shielding, grounding, and filtering solutions to meet EMI/EMC and lightning protection requirements.
- • Evaluate navigation, communication, surveillance, and sensor system performance to determine suitability for intended aircraft and missions.
- • Formulate conceptual designs and system architectures to meet customer requirements and airworthiness regulations (e.g., DO-178C, DO-254, DO-160, ARP4754A).
- • Evaluate design data, inspections, or test reports for compliance with engineering principles, safety objectives, regulatory, and quality standards.
- • Develop requirements, verification plans, and test methods for avionics systems, including safety analyses per ARP4761.
- • Diagnose avionics hardware or software failures through data review, bench troubleshooting, and root-cause analysis; define corrective actions.
- • Lead avionics research and development programs, technology maturation, and prototyping.
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Advanced Manufacturing
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O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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Last reviewed: Jan 2026
